A Washington wheat producer grew nearly 212 bushels per acre on his winter wheat field, easily making him the highest-yielding grower in the National Wheat Foundation's 2023 yield contest.
Chris Gross of Reardan, Washington, was one of two producers to exceed 200 bushels per acre in this year's slate of winners, both of which come from the irrigated winter wheat category. All told, NWF is recognizing 24 winners from 12 states in its four categories: dryland winter wheat, dryland spring wheat, irrigated winter wheat and irrigated spring wheat.
Aside from Reardon, other “Bin Buster” winners included Dick Judah of Carlton, Oregon, who harvested 173.7 bushels per acre on his dryland winter wheat field; Brad Disrud, who produced 129.9 bushels per acre in a dryland spring wheat field in Rolla, North Dakota; and Dallin Wilcox for his 170 bushels-per-acre yield on an irrigated spring wheat field in Rexburg, Idaho.
NWF noted “some dryland category winners are determined by high yield, while others are evaluated based on their percentage over the county average.”
It’s easy to be “in the know” about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news! Simply click here.
“Eastern soft winter wheat areas had tremendous yields this year, and millers are happy with the quality of wheat coming from these areas,” said National Wheat Foundation Chairman Bernard Peterson. “It is exciting to see the potential when the genetics, management, and environment are all aligned in the wheat grower’s favor.”
The 24 national winners will be asked to provide grain samples for a thorough examination of their milling and baking characteristics. Panels of experts will evaluate the wheat samples for their quality. Exceptional quality will be recognized with $250 awards at a reception at the 2024 Commodity Classic in Houston. The names of these outstanding quality winners will be officially revealed in January.
For more news, go to Agri-Pulse.com.
