Baker Colony, located near MacGregor, Man., has joined an elite group of five-time winners of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association’s yield competition.
The win is their second in a row and sets a new record — breaking their own set during a previous win.
In the 45-year history of the competition there are only two other five-time winners — Rosebank Colony at Miami and Wes Martens of Altona.
Baker Colony’s 2016 winning yield was 274.69 bushels an acre, breaking the old record of 271.69 it set in 2013.
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Competition results were announced at the CropConnect banquet in Winnipeg, Feb. 14.
Mack Waldner, who accepted the award on behalf of Baker Colony, said he was surprised by how high the colony’s yield was.
“I expected 240 (bushels an acre) or 250 at the most,” Waldner said later in an interview. “I didn’t expect 270. The (bushel) weight must’ve been good.”
“It was a roller-coaster year. It started off quite dry, fairly uneven germination, but then the rains did come. There was wind and then there was more wind and then there was more wind and then there was tornado-type wind. We actually broke quite a few (plants). In general we lost about 30 per cent of the corn. But there were enough sheltered areas so we could pick out a plot even though there were some broken cobs and broken stalks.”
Baker Colony received $1,000 from DuPont Pioneer, a wall plaque and its name on the competition trophy, which the colony keeps for a year.
Second-place winners John and Dane Bergen of Roland received $500 and a wall plaque and third-place winner Suderman Bros. of Winkler received $250 and a wall plaque.
Baker Colony’s new corn competition yield record shouldn’t be a complete surprise, despite some challenging weather. Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) 2016 data shows a new provincial average yield record for crop-insured corn of 141 bushels an acre. The previous record — 136 bushels an acre — was set in 2015. (Note: the slightly higher 2016 corn yield reported in Yield Manitoba was based on preliminary information.)
Manitoba’s 10-year average corn yield is 113 bushels an acre and rising steadily.
Corn yield contestants are allowed to select corn from two 50-foot rows. The corn is hand picked. And while the result is a higher yield than would occur if the corn was combined and collected from a larger area, it shows corn’s yield potential in Manitoba.
So how does Baker Colony grow such high corn yields?
“Well, there are a few things you work with — good genetics, good seed, good seed placement,” Waldner said. “We invested in a planter that places the seed evenly so that helped, and worked with the Pioneer corn reps to see which varieties do the best. They coach us. Try this, try that and we kind of go along with them.”
Waldner admitted he was proud the colony broke its own yield competition record, but like every farmer he wants to do even better next year.
“How can I do this better? How can I improve this? That’s the first question to the corn (company) reps.”
Baker Colony grows its corn in 30-inch rows. There is no irrigation and fertilizer is broadcast.
“We are going to try some starter (fertilizer) with the seed next year,” Waldner said.
Asked for advice to new corn growers, Waldner replied: “Your soil has to be ideal for corn. We have ideal conditions. We like corn because it’s kind of simple to grow.
“And it pays pretty good. Five dollars a bushel at those kind of bushels there is some return.”
Corn prices aren’t that high now. But even when prices are low there is still demand for livestock feed and Manitoba’s Husky Energy’s ethanol plant at Minnedosa, Waldner said.
