In the latest Wheat’s On Your Mind podcast, Aaron Harries chats with Anne Osborne, Executive Director of the National Wheat Foundation, about the value and impact of the National Wheat Yield Contest. 
Anne shares how the contest encourages U.S. wheat farmers to push for both higher yields and better quality, while also promoting innovation through tools like digital yield submissions. 
Whether you're in spring or winter wheat country, irrigated or dryland, there's a category for you—and the contest could even improve your long-term productivity.

Anne also gives us a look into the other initiatives driven by the National Wheat Foundation, from leadership development to on-farm education for congressional staff. 
She shares inspiring stories of Kansas farmers and how contest data is shaping best practices across the country. 
Tune in to learn how you can participate, what to expect, and why growing great wheat isn’t just possible—it’s happening now.

Takeaways

1. The National Wheat Yield Contest began in 2016 and now receives hundreds of entries annually.
2. The contest focuses on yield and quality, promoting sustainable wheat production.
3. A new “digital yield” category allows growers to submit data via precision ag tools.
4. Kansas has consistently performed well in the contest, with winners even during challenging years.
5. Growers must use new seed and be Kansas Wheat members to enter.
6. National winners are rewarded with a trip to the Commodity Classic and recognition.
7. Contest participation leads to long-term yield improvements—even 20 bu/ac increases.
8. The foundation supports education through leadership training and congressional outreach.
9. Data from the contest helps track trends like row spacing and variety performance.
10. Entering the contest helps growers innovate and share knowledge with others.
     

Timestamps:

00:01 – Introduction to Anne Osborne and her ag background
01:18 – What the National Wheat Foundation does
02:22 – Funding sources and history of the foundation
03:19 – Launch of the National Wheat Yield Contest
03:54 – Goals of the contest: yield, quality, and profitability
05:12 – Contest entry categories: spring/winter, irrigated/dryland, digital
06:10 – Entry process and requirements
07:49 – What winter wheat growers need to know before entering
08:50 – Incentives and benefits for participants
10:10 – Adding a quality component to the contest
12:03 – Regional surprises in grower practices (like no herbicides!)
14:00 – The digital yield category explained
16:11 – Kansas participation history and standout winners
18:05 – Sharing best practices and where to find contest data
20:11 – Row spacing and seeding trends from contest data
21:09 – Yield potential: where are we heading?
22:50 – Final encouragement to enter and try something new
23:20 – Other National Wheat Foundation programs: leadership, education, advocacy

Kansas Wheat
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