The winners have been announced for Michigan’s top-yielding wheat growers for the 2022-2023 growing season! Growers were honored in the Michigan Wheat Yield Contest, and two Michigan wheat producers received high honors in the National Wheat Yield Contest as well.
The Michigan Wheat Program sponsors growers to participate in both the state and national yield competitions, which were developed to recognize growers finding new ways to ramp up production.
The National Wheat Foundation’s (NWF) contest has as its goals to enable knowledge transfer between growers, encourage experimentation with new technologies and support new ideas in wheat yield.
When a Michigan wheat farmer enters the NWF contest, he or she is automatically entered in the Michigan Wheat Yield Competition – which seeks to identify the state’s “Wheat Warriors,” also known as the best producers.
. . . . . . .
WINNERS IN 2023 MICHIGAN WHEAT YIELD CONTEST
Dryland Soft White Winter Wheat
#1 – Randy Eschenburg, Lapeer County at 169.8 bu./acre
#2 – Jeff Krohn, Huron County at 167.1 bu./acre
#3 – Dave Milligan, Tuscola County at 136.3 bu./acre
Dryland Soft Red Winter Wheat
#1 – Nick Suwyn, Barry County at 162.9 bu./acre
#2 – Dwight Bartle, Sanilac County at 139.6 bu./acre
#3 – Nancy Bartle, Sanilac County at 137.4 bu./acre
Irrigated Soft Red Winter Wheat
#1 Nick Suwyn, Barry County at 171.1 bu./acre
#2 Gordon Briggs, Mason County at 160.3 bu./acre
#3 Jordan Clover, Ionia County at 141.5 bu./acre
. . . . . . .
MICHIGAN WINNERS IN 2023 NATIONAL WHEAT YIELD CONTEST
Dryland Soft White Winter Wheat
#2 in the US – Randy Eschenburg, Lapeer County at 169.8 bu./acre
Irrigated Soft Red Winter Wheat
#2 in the US – Nick Suwyn, Barry County at 171.1 bu./acre
NWF’s Overall State Winner for Michigan
Nick Suwyn, Barry County for his Irrigated Soft Red Winter Wheat yield (171.1 bu./acre)
. . . . . .
Michigan State University wheat systems specialist Dennis Pennington noted that the Michigan wheat
producers honored had a phenomenal year, especially considering the very dry weather in many parts
of the state during grain fill.
Variety of note. Of particular interest is that two of the winning farmers planted the White Tail variety
developed by Dr. Eric Olson, MSU wheat breeder, whose work is strongly supported by the Michigan
Wheat Program.
Michigan Wheat Program executive director Jody Pollok-Newsom noted that the first- and second-place
varieties in the Dryland category were developed by MSU wheat breeder Dr. Eric Olson.
“The success of the Whitetail variety developed by Dr. Olson is a testament to Michigan wheat growers’
investment in the wheat breeding program at Michigan State University and to Dr. Olson’s dedication
and success in improving wheat production in our state,” Pollok-Newsom said.
“We’ve come a long way in a short time in improving our wheat yields and quality. The innovations
continue to roll out of Dr. Olson’s lab,” she said.
Congratulations to Dr. Olson and these top-producing Michigan wheat growers!