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Daily Commodity Report

Great Lakes YEN celebrates another year of winter wheat excellence

Date posted: 2026-10-07

Cross-border initiative showcases the impact of continuous improvement to achieve outstanding results

Guelph, Ont. and Lansing, Michigan, October 7, 2026 – Grain Farmers of Ontario, Michigan State University, Michigan Wheat Program, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, and the University of Guelph are proud to announce the winners of the 2025-2026 Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) program.

Now completing its sixth year, the Great Lakes YEN continues to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among farmers across Ontario and the Great Lakes region of the United States, helping them unlock new potential in winter wheat production. The program continues to showcase the value of data-driven decision-making and attentive crop management, with participants achieving impressive yields.

The winners of the Great Lakes YEN program for the highest yield include:

  1. Jeff Cook (Ontario) – 163.2 bushels per acre
  2. Ben Wilson (Michigan) – 154.0 bushels per acre
  3. Doug Suwyn (Michigan) – 151.2 bushels per acre

The winners of this year’s highest percentage of yield potential achieved include:

  1. Laurent Van Arkel (Ontario) – 108 per cent
  2. Ben Wilson (Michigan) – 98 per cent
  3. Dwight Bartle (Michigan) – 98 per cent

“The Great Lakes YEN continues to demonstrate how curiosity, innovation, and a commitment to learning can help growers unlock new levels of performance in their winter wheat crops,” said Paul Hoekstra, vice president, Strategic Development, Grain Farmers of Ontario.

“We congratulate this year’s winners and all participants for their dedication to pushing the boundaries of winter wheat production. It is especially exciting to see Ontario farmers claim both the top yield and top percentage of yield potential awards for the first time in the program’s. These accomplishments demonstrate what is possible when agronomic expertise, innovation, and attention to detail come together in the field.”

Participants in this year’s program also showed the value of attentive crop management, achieving an average yield of 112 bushels per acre, despite facing weather challenges and insect and disease pressures throughout the season.

Some of the season’s winter wheat highlights were:

  • Winter wheat planting was generally successful across the region, despite dry conditions delaying seeding in some areas
  • Winter survival was strong, with minimal winterkill and good spring stands across most fields
  • A cool, wet spring slowed crop development and delayed field operations, but early disease pressure remained low
  • Stripe rust emerged as the primary disease concern in Ontario, while cereal leaf beetle and true armyworm required increased scouting and management in some areas
  • Favourable moisture supported strong yield potential through flowering and grain fill, although periods of heat may have reduced yields in some fields
  • Despite disease, insect, and grain quality challenges in localized areas, proactive management helped many growers achieve strong yields and good overall crop performance

“With six years of Great Lakes YEN data, we are building a stronger understanding of the factors that contribute to high-performing wheat across a wide range of growing environments,” said Jody Pollok Newsom, executive director of the Michigan Wheat Program. “By comparing actual performance to yield potential, participants gain a clearer understanding of what is driving success in their fields and where additional opportunities exist. The detailed reports provided to each participant, along with the collaborative exchange of ideas and experiences across the network, create a powerful learning environment that helps farmers turn data into action.”

Congratulations to all participants, and thank you to all of the program partners, sponsors, and supporters for another successful year of the Great Lakes YEN. Farmers interested in joining the 2026-2027 Great Lakes YEN can visit https://greatlakesyen.com/how-to-participate/ for details and registration updates. Registration will open in early October and close on February 1, 2027. Follow along on social media using the hashtag #GreatLakesYEN.

Companies interested in sponsoring Great Lakes YEN can contact the Michigan Wheat Program (Jody Pollok-Newsom: jody@miwheat.org) or Grain Farmers of Ontario (Joanne Coulombe: jcoulombe@gfo.ca).

About the Great Lakes YEN

Established in 2021, the Great Lakes YEN was created in partnership with Grain Farmers of Ontario, Michigan State University, Michigan Wheat Program, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, and the University of Guelph. The program helps farmers improve winter wheat returns by deepening their understanding of crop performance and encouraging greater collaboration between industry and growers. For more information, visit www.greatlakesyen.com.

Contacts

Michigan State University contact: Dennis Pennington, Pennin34@msu.edu or 269-832-0497

Michigan Wheat Program contact: Jody Pollok-Newsom, jody@miwheat.org or 1-888-WHEAT01

Grain Farmers of Ontario: Alexandra Dacey, adacey@gfo.ca or 519 830-5633

OMAFA: Joanna Follings, joanna.follings@ontario.ca or 519 400-7124