NC+ Hybrids grain sorghum hybrids received two national and six state honors in the 2002 National Grain Sorghum Yield and Management Contest sponsored by the National Grain Sorghum Producers Association (NGSPA).

Bob Dietrick of Tyrone, Oklahoma won second place national honors in the Conventional-Till Non-Irrigated Division. His NC+ 6C21 entry yielded 89.4 bushels per acre, 59.3 bushels over the county (Texas County) average.

"Standability and yield are always the first two things I grade a grain sorghum on," Dietrick said. "The test weight on NC+ 6C21 is excellent as well."

NC+ 6C21 is a medium-season cream grain sorghum with high yield potential. A short and very uniform hybrid, it has performed best in dryland and limited irrigation conditions from central Texas to southern Nebraska.

"I planted NC+ 6C21 because it’s 62 days to mid-bloom and I didn’t have a lot of water out there to get it started," Dietrick said. "I went with what I thought would get there on the water I had available. That’s part of the breeding behind NC+ 6C21. The parentage of it is NC+ 5C35 and NC+ Y363 and they’re both premium sorghums."

Weinheimer Farms of Groom, Texas, won second place national honors in the No-Till Non-Irrigated Division with an NC+ Y363 hybrid entry that yielded 114.22 bushel per acre, 78 bushels over the county (Carson County) average.

Weinheimer said they have experienced a severe drought for two consecutive years but things changed in 2002. "God just opened up the sky and let it rain for us this year," he said. "With the no-till drill we have (Concord air-seeder), we just applied the fertilizer at the same time we planted and that made part of the difference, too."

NC+ Y363 is a yellow, medium-to-early maturing grain sorghum hybrid that is 64 days to mid-bloom. It has been a consistent winner in the NGSPA yield contests and is noted for excellent germination and strong stand establishment.

Other NC+ entry winners in NGSPA state competitions include:

• Larry Bishop, Springfield, Baca County, won first place in the Conventional-Till Non-Irrigated Division with NC+ Y363 at 82.11 bushels per acre.

• Bob Dietrick, Tyrone, Texas County, won first place in the Conventional-Till Non-Irrigated Division with NC+ 6C21 at 89.4 bushels per acre.

• Weinheimer Farms, Groom, Carson County, won first place in the No-Till Non-Irrigated Division with NC+ Y363 with a yield of 114.22 bushels per acre.