JOHNSTON, IA, April 18, 2024 – AgVenture brand dealer and farmer Kelby Ross from Plains, Kansas, won the state title in the 2023 National Corn Growers (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest for achieving the highest corn yield in the Kansas no-till, irrigated land class.
Ross’s winning entry of 301.7986 bu/A was with AgVenture brand AV8614AM™ corn planted on a 125-acre irrigated circle in a continuous wheat-corn rotation. Despite challenges like excessive rain, wind and hail, Kelby’s contest plot mostly escaped damage, showcasing the resilience of his cropping system and the favorable conditions provided by Mother Nature. Kelby explains, “We drilled wheat into the soybean field to prevent it from blowing away over the winter, and that allowed us to successfully plant no-till corn in the spring directly into the wheat stand.”
Kelby attributes the farm’s success to the high-quality AgVenture brand seed and his attention to details. In particular, he stresses the importance of consistent plant emergence to maximize yield potential. “AgVenture’s high quality seed gives you the best chance to get that crop started,” adds Kelby.
Kelby employs both precise and practical agricultural practices, which are part of the mindset of AgVenture’s Maximum Profit System™ – a proven system that helps farmers produce more bushels. This includes using a center pivot irrigation system, planting in 20-inch rows with 35,000-36,000 seeds, using a John Deere 251H to reduce soil disturbance, and applying UAN-32 through the center pivot at 20 pounds of nitrogen per application. Kelby says he typically does 2-3 applications, beginning at tassel time or at the R1 growth stage. If it’s a wet year, he said they’ll pump some nitrogen as the crop grows and do the final application up to the brown silk stage.
Kelby first entered the contest in 2018, a year after he started farming right out of college. Now, he and his wife, Rebi, farm about 900 acres and help out Rebi’s father’s operation. Together their operations include growing corn on irrigated land plus wheat and grain sorghum on dry land. They also run a cow-calf operation that utilizes the corn stalks, creating a beneficial cycle for soil health and feed resources.
In addition to farming and livestock, Kelby is also a dealer for AgVenture High Plains and serves customers in Meade and Seward counties in Kansas. AgVenture High Plains is an AgVenture independent seed company based in Hugoton, KS, and Elm Creek, NE, and sell corn, soybean, sorghum, sudangrass, sunflower, and plant nutrition products in southwest Kansas, parts of Nebraska, and surrounding areas.
The 59th NCGA Corn Yield Contest attracted nearly 7,000 entries from 46 states. A complete list of 2023 national and state winners list can be found at at ncga.com/ncyc.
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About AgVenture
AgVenture, Inc. is the nation’s largest network of independently owned and managed seed companies. AgVenture provides its growing network of companies with seed products that surpass industry-required quality standards, as well as leading-edge genetics and technology. Since 1983, this unique marketing approach has allowed each individual company to match the seed products it sells to the specific needs of the geographical area it serves. Based in Johnston, Iowa, AgVenture strives to help every farmer realize more profit from every field with professional seed representation at a local level.
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About Corteva Agriscience
Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that combines industry-leading innovations, high-touch customer engagement and operational execution to profitably deliver solutions for the world’s most pressing agriculture challenges. Corteva generates advantaged market preference through its unique distribution strategy, together with its balanced and globally diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital products and services. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and a technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to maximizing productivity for farmers, while working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. More information can be found at www.corteva.com.
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