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representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers.
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Ontario Grain Farmer Magazine

A perfect year for the Grain Farmers of Ontario soybean yield challenge

INGERSOLL, ON (December 14, 2010) – Winners of the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) Soybean Yield Challenge were announced today at a banquet in Ingersoll. The three finalists for each of three provincial soybean maturity zone received prizes, for a total of nine winners.

“This was a really exciting year,” says Jaye Atkins, Vice President of Strategic Development at GFO. “We had 60 farmers complete the competition this year, which is nearly double last year’s competitors.”

With an average yield of 61.6 bushels per acre among all challenge participants, there is no doubt that this was a winning year for soybeans. “In many parts of the province, the weather was perfect for soybeans this year. We got lots of heat and many regions received rain at near-perfect times throughout the growing season,” says Crosby Devitt, Manager of Research and Market Development at GFO.

The winners in each zone received a cash prize and all winners and runners up received tickets to Canada’s Outdoor Farm show and their local farm show – London, Toronto or Ottawa.

The overall winner with the highest yield of all zones received a trip for two to the International Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

The 2010 GFO Soybean Yield Challenge Winners are:

Overall Winner

  • Gordon Barrie & Sons, Bowmanville, Pioneer 91Y90, 74.15 bushels per acre

Zone 1 – 2700 CHU and under

Winner

  • Scott Thomson, St. Mary’s, NK S05-T6, 71.56 bushels per acre

Runners Up

  • Dave VanderBorgh, Wroxeter, OAC Drayton, 67.77 bushels per acre

  • John & Beth Nanne, Pakenham, NK S05-T6, 66.21 bushels per acre

Zone 2 – 2750 to 3000 CHU

Winner

  • Gordon Barrie & Sons, Bowmanville, Pioneer 91Y90, 74.15 bushels per acre

Runners Up

  • Frank Van Der Burg, Lancaster, Dekalb 281RY, 72.22 bushels per acre

  • R&J Fraser Farms, Ottawa, Pioneer 91Y90, 70.04 bushels per acre

Zone 3 – 3000 CHU and above

Winner

  • Mailloux Farms, Amherstburg, Pioneer 93Y20, 71.98 bushels per acre

Runners Up

  • Joseph Vanek, Chatham, NK S23-T5, 70.19 bushels per acre

  • Jon-Ern Farms, Blenheim, 5221RR2Y, 69.48 bushels per acre

GFO is the newest and largest commodity organization in Ontario, representing Ontario’s 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers. The three crops cover 5 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output, and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province. GFO is poised to have a significant impact on Ontario agriculture.

The Soybean Yield Challenge would not be possible without our generous sponsors. Special thanks to our Platinum Sponsors: Pride Seeds, Syngenta Seeds, BASF, Hyland Seeds, HiStick, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Monsanto and Dekalb. Thanks to our Gold Sponsors: Bramhill Seeds, Maizex, Country Farm Seeds and SeCan.

Grain Farmers of Ontario

Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.

Contact:

Barry Senft, CEO – 1-800-265-0550; bsenft@gfo.ca

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Grain Farmers of Ontario
Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover over 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $4.1 billion in production value, result in over $27 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 90,000 jobs in the province.