Wellston Wheat Grower Is Winner of 2018 National Wheat Yield Contest
December 11, 2018
Jesse Green achieves winning yield with WestBred® wheat
ST. LOUIS (December 13, 2018) – A Lincoln County wheat grower has been recognized for achieving one of the highest 2018 wheat yields in the country. Jesse Green, of Wellston, has been named a national winner of the National Wheat Foundation’s 2018 Wheat Yield Contest. He has also won an all-expenses paid trip to Orlando, Florida, to attend the 2019 Commodity Classic for himself and a guest, courtesy of the National Wheat Foundation and WestBred® wheat.
Green earned second place Nationally and first place State in the Winter Wheat – Dryland Category with a WestBred variety, WB4303. His final yield was 112.69 Bu/A, which is 252.16 percent over the USDA Lincoln county Olympic average. Green purchased his certified WB4303 from Diamond K Seeds LLC.
“Wheat growers face many challenges, from weather to pests to disease, yet season after season they endure these threats to provide an abundant, quality crop,” says Dr. Jeff Koscelny, Global Wheat Commercial Strategy Lead and WestBred Wheat Business Lead. “Green achieved one of the highest wheat yields in the country this year, and we’re proud that he did so with a WestBred variety. We look forward to celebrating his remarkable achievement at Commodity Classic this winter.”
The National Wheat Yield Contest recognizes the top five growers in the sectors of Winter Wheat Dryland, Winter Wheat Irrigated, Spring Wheat Dryland and Spring Wheat Irrigated. Winners were determined by evaluating the yield percentage increase above the USDA NASS county Olympic averages. Only first-place state winners within each sector compete for the national award.
“This was my third year planting WestBred wheat and my third year in a row having very good yields,” says Green. “Despite a rough season with a 66-day stretch without rain after planting, WB4303 had a good stand, good green-up and good growth all season long. I had a feeling it was going to be a high-yielder, but you never really know until harvest — so I was glad to see triple-digit yields with my WestBred wheat.”
About WestBred Wheat
WestBred wheat provides seed suppliers and their growers access to the highest yield potential wheat seed, as well as testing, education, resources and experienced representatives to help maximize their yield potential.