Chamberlain farmer records highest corn yield in SD

• Colton corn pile

A Colton Farmers Elevator employee levels out a corn pile west of Colton during the 2012 fall harvest season. Yields varied greatly throughout the state because of the drought. (Photo courtesy of South Dakota Corngrowers Association)

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Despite a drought, several South Dakota farmers who entered the 2012 Corn Yield Contest harvested some of the highest corn yields in history.

Steve Breding, of Chamberlain, recorded the highest yield in the state this year by raising 279.32 bushels per acre in one of his fields. That ranks as the fourth-highest yield ever recorded on irrigated land using no-till or strip-till farming practices.

Randy Svendsen, of Volin, harvested 276.52 bushels per acre in a field, ranking as the second-highest all time in the irrigated classification.

On non-irrigated land, Ronald Johnson, of Alcester, produced 271.49 bushels per acre, which ranks fifth all-time in that category. Jeffery Fliehs had the highest yield in non-irrigated fields using no-till or strip-till farming. His 261.01-bushel yield ranks second on record in that category.

South Dakota had 121 entries in four categories. The contest, conducted by the National Corn Growers Association, is in its 48th year and remains the organization’s most popular program for members. The contest drew a near-record 8,262 entries nationally.

BRAND HYBRID YIELD IRRIGATED

1. Randy Svendsen, Volin Channel 211-99 VT3P 276.52

2. Cary Hajek, Tyndall Pioneer P1151HR 265.22

3. Grant McCann, Springfield Pioneer P1498HR 261.06

NO-TILL/STRIP-TILL IRRIGATED

1. Steve Breding, Chamberlain Dekalb DKC63-07 279.32

2. Val Mosel, Pukwana Dekalb DKC55-24 273.43

3. Prairie Creek Ranch, Yankton Pioneer 34F07 261.46

NO-TILL/STRIP-TILL NON-IRRIGATED

1. Jeffery Fliehs, Groton Dekalb DKC52-59 261.01

2. Steven Dayton, Stratford Dekalb DKC50-66 249.80

3. Mark LaBrie, Frankfort Pioneer P0533AM1 249.00

NON-IRRIGATED

1. Ronald Johnson, Alcester Pioneer 34F07 271.49

2. Huron Farms, Huron Dekalb DKC52-59 249.90

3. Dustin Reiff, Dell Rapids Pioneer P9917AM1 246.39

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