The Michigan Wheat Program, Michigan State University, the Grain Farmers of Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness, and the University of Guelph are proud to announce the winners of the 2024-2025 Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) competition!
Great Lakes YEN was established in 2021, as a partnership between farmer-funded wheat organizations on both sides of the US-Canadian border to improve crop returns on winter wheat through greater understanding of crop performance and increased collaboration between industry and wheat producers.
The data-heavy program allows wheat growers to enter and track information on their crop and at year-end, and see how they rank amongst their peers. Participating growers receive a 30+ page report with detailed information to keep them making gains in wheat production.
The winners of the highest yield in 2025 are:
- Nick Suwyn (Wayland, Michigan) – 182.7 bushels/acre
- Wayne Metzger (Proton Station, Ontario) – 170.1 bushels/acre
- Ben Wilson (Carson City, Michigan) – 156.2 bushels/acre
“Farming today is more technical and knowledge-driven than ever before, and programs like the Great Lakes YEN play a vital role in helping farmers understand the science behind their yields,” said Paul Hoekstra, Vice President, Strategic Development, Grain Farmers of Ontario. “We congratulate this year’s winners, including the program’s highest-yielding grower to date, and we look forward to continuing to work with farmers across the region to build on this success.”
The highest-yielding grower in the Great Lakes YEN to date, is Nick Suwyn who farms in Allegan County, Michigan. He is a long-time participant in the YEN and a double winner this year. He also took home the highest percentage of possible yield achievement.
The YEN also recognizes growers’ percentage of possible yield achieved. The variables in this calculation are capture of light energy; conversion efficiency; harvest index and capture of all available water. The winners of the Great Lakes YEN competition for the highest yield potential include:
- Nick Suwyn (Wayland, Michigan) – 118 percent
- Ryan Brink (Caledonia, Michigan) – 107 percent
- Mark Davis (Napanee, Ontario) – 105 percent
Great Lakes YEN participants continue to show that attention to detail when it comes to winter wheat management pays off, with this year’s average yield across all participants reaching over 115 bushels per acre.
Some of the season’s winter wheat highlights were:
- Growers in the region successfully seeded winter wheat in Fall 2024, with timely rains aiding establishment despite some regional dryness.
- Snow cover-protected fields, ensured high survival. Early-seeded Ontario and US fields briefly showed snow mold symptoms but, in most cases, recovered quickly.
- Split nitrogen and sulphur applications supported vigorous growth. Stripe rust emerged in Ontario in May, with significant losses only where fungicides weren’t applied. The US had late-season smut and bunt issues.
- Cool spring conditions extended fungicide spray windows, while late June heat shortened grain fill in Ontario. In the US, windstorms caused localized lodging, but overall yield potential remained strong.
- Ontario reported strong, high-quality yields with very low DON. US harvest quality was mostly excellent, though later rains caused sprouting and falling number issues in some areas. Overall, yields ranged from strong to average, highlighting the benefits of adaptive management.
With five project years now completed, the Great Lakes YEN project has been instrumental in fostering knowledge exchange among farmers seeking innovative methods to enhance their winter wheat yields. This year’s Great Lakes YEN project participants will come together in February for wrap-up meetings, providing them with a valuable opportunity to connect and share successful farming practices with their peers.
“Yield increases and percentage of yield achieved are great monitors for farmers to track their gains in winter wheat production,” said Jody Pollok-Newsom, executive director of the Michigan Wheat Program. “The detailed, written reports that are compiled and sent to growers provide valuable information on the more than 200 data points they enter on their wheat crop during the growing season.”
“Through reviewing those reports to see how their farm stacks up and by participating in our grower networking opportunities, farmers are able to share what works on their farms to enhance their winter wheat yields and decide what they may want to try next year to boost it even more. The Great Lakes YEN is all about gathering data, sharing information and networking with others to grow the best wheat.”
A program of this caliber would not be possible without the support of sponsors. The sponsors for the 2024-2025 YEN program for the US are: Mennel Milling, Star of the West, Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association, King Milling, Eastman, Michigan Ag Commodities, Chelsea Milling, Coop Elevator, Wide Angle Agriculture, Medoc Valley, Inc., and Knappen Milling.
Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to all our participants, partners, and sponsors for such a successful year for the Great Lakes YEN. Farmers interested in participating in the 2025-2026 Great Lakes YEN are encouraged to visit https://greatlakesyen.com/how-to-participate/ for more information. Registration for the program will be opening soon and will close January 30, 2026.
Companies interested in sponsoring Great Lakes YEN can contact the Michigan Wheat Program (Jody Pollok-Newsom: jody@miwheat.org) or the Grain Farmers of Ontario (Joanne Tichborne: Jtichborne@gfo.ca).