By Scout Nelson
The National Wheat Foundation has opened entries for the 2025 National Wheat Yield Contest, now in its 10th year. This contest encourages wheat producers to demonstrate best practices in wheat production and compete for recognition, prizes, and learning opportunities.
There are four main contest categories: dryland winter wheat, irrigated winter wheat, dryland spring wheat, and irrigated spring wheat. All entries must be planted with certified, branded, and newly purchased wheat seed on at least five continuous acres. Contestants are also required to retain a 10-pound grain sample for quality testing.
This year, a new digital yield pilot category is open to producers growing dryland winter wheat. Participants can submit yield data from a 20-acre plot using tools like John Deere Operations Center, Climate FieldView, or Bushel, along with calibrated grain cart scale data. Each producer can submit up to three digital entries.
“The goal of the National Wheat Yield Contest is to recognize the best management practices that help growers achieve high yield and high-quality harvests,” said a representative from Kansas Wheat. The contest highlights how innovative techniques and digital tools can boost both productivity and crop quality.
Top yield entries in each category by state will be recognized, while national winners receive cash awards and travel support to attend the 2026 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. Additional prizes will be awarded for wheat entries with top-quality traits.
All participants must be members of a state wheat grower association or the National Association of Wheat Growers. Entry deadlines are May 15, 2025, for winter wheat and August 1, 2025, for spring wheat. Harvest data must be submitted by October 1, 2025.
Photo Credits:gettyimages-ygrek
Categories: Kansas, Crops, Wheat