In its ninth year, the 2024 National Wheat Yield Contest announced 26 national and 94 state winners. There were a record 516 entries.

Phillip Gross of Warden, Washington, achieved 223.08 bushels per acre with irrigated hard red winter wheat. Steve VanGrunsven of Forest Grove, Oregon, produced 170.63 bushels per acre in the dryland category.

New “Bin Buster” winners Jess Blatchford of Baker City, Oregon, and Nick Pfaff of Bismark, North Dakota, excelled with yields of 174.74 bushels per acre and 117.60 bushels per acre in the irrigated soft white spring wheat and dryland spring wheat categories, respectively.

The contest introduced a pilot “Digital Yield” category in four northern states. Brad Disrud of Rolla, North Dakota, won at 102 bushels per acre and John Hofer of Milnor, North Dakota, achieved 98 bushels per acre, nearly 62% above his county average.

Winners’ samples will undergo milling and baking tests, with quality awards announced in January 2025. Contest organizers praised growers’ commitment to innovative wheat practices, aiming to boost yield, quality, and profitability.

Read more about the National Wheat Yield contest here.