Lincoln, Nebraska
January 24,  2001

Two NC+ entries have won top honors in the National Grain Sorghum Yield and Management Contest sponsored by the National Grain Sorghum Producers Association (NGSPA).

Elmer Holmes of Byron, Neb., who farms in Republic County, Kan., was second in the national ridge-till irrigated division with his NC+ 8R18 entry at 169.68 bushels per acre. Mark and Ron Clancy of Tyrone, Okla., took third place in the ridge-till irrigated division with NC+ 7R37E at 141.89 bushels per acre. Award winners are determined by how much their entry exceeds the
5-year county average yield.

This is the second year in a row that Holmes has won a NGSPA national yield contest award. He placed third in the same category last year using a different NC+ hybrid. "I went with a fuller season number this year," he said. "I looked at the Republic County yield results from last year and 8R18 was high on the list. It has good head exertion and is a good yielder."

According to Holmes hot, dry weather conditions in his area made for lower than average yields for all crops. But he added that the irrigated grain sorghum withstood the heat better than irrigated corn resulting in a better profit margin for the milo. "I'm going to plant more irrigated sorghum next
year," he said. "I might try a food grade hybrid but haven't decided for sure yet."

For the third time in four years, the Clancys of Oklahoma have won the same national yield contest award using the same NC+ hybrid. "7R37E has been a very consistent performer for us," Mark Clancy said. "It does very well in limited irrigation situations and has stood better than other varieties when we've had greenbug and mite infestations."

Clancy also faced hot and dry conditions during the growing season this year. "I think having ridge till was a big factor for the good yields," he said. "I think the milo would have been a disaster if we had not been able to store the moisture we received earlier in the year."

NC+ NGSPA yield contest state winners include:

Kansas
* Elmer Holmes of Byron, Neb., farms in Republic County, Kan., first place in the ridge-till irrigated division with NC+ 8R18, at 169.68 bushels per acre.
* 3M Farms, Inc. of Sublette, first place in the conventional-till irrigated division with NC+ 8R18, at 142.46 bushels an acre.

Nebraska
* William Mize of Deshler, second place in the conventional-till irrigated division with NC+ 7R83, at 162.36 bushels per acre.

Missouri
* JMT Hagan Farms of Monroe City, second place in the conventional-till non-irrigated division with NC+ 7B47, at 151.57 bushels per acre.

Oklahoma
* Mark and Ron Clancy of Tyrone, first place in the ridge-till irrigated division with NC+ 7R37E, at 141.89 bushels per acre.

NC+ Hybrids, based in Lincoln, Neb., is one of the largest independent seed companies in the United States. Farmer-owned for over 40 years, NC+ nationally markets corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, forage sorghum, sudangrass and alfalfa. For more information contact their web site at
www.nc-plus.com. 

Company news release
N3275