Ontario farmers with top yields receive awards from DuPont Pioneer

Jan 30, 2015

Each farmer used DuPont Pioneer seeds to grow corn

More than 260 farmers from all over Ontario took part DuPont Pioneer’s Ontario Corn Yield Challenge. The farmers were tasked to produce the most yield using DuPont products for the chance to win bragging rights and a trip to the Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Arizona coming up in February.

“The Ontario Corn Yield Challenge is an engaging opportunity for us, it’s always fascinating to see how growers push the limits and reconfirm the trust they put in Pioneer,” said Steve Bent, area manager, DuPont Pioneer Canada in a press release. ”It’s a highlight for the Pioneer team to review so many success stories at the end of harvest.”

The 11 winners were:

Randy Vandeheede
From Simcoe, Ontario, his yield was 334 bu/ac, using Pioneer P0506AM. He also had the largest yield last year with 327 bu/ac.

Joe Lacey
Representing Thedford, Ontario, he produced 326 bu/ac using Pioneer P0216AM.

Jim Soetemans
From Watford, Ontario, his yield was 297 bu/ac with Pioneer P0496AMX.

Greg Squires
Out of Walsingham, Ontario and using Pioneer P1184AM, his yield came in at 250 bu/ac.

Mark & Chris Boersma
From Ridgetown, Ontario, Pioneer P0216AM brought them a yield of 272 bu/ac.

Peter Harvey
Representing Cookstown, Ontario, he got 268 bu/ac using Pioneer P0094AM.

Chris Schouten
This Richmond, Ontario farmer produced a yield of 260 bu/ac with Pioneer P9917AMX.

Dean, Rylan and Clifford Foster
This team out of Picton, Ontario grew 248 bu/ac with Pioneer P1184AM.

Rob Cox
From Uxbridge, Ontario and using Pioneer P0157AM, Cox’s yield was 235 bu/ac.

Stew Martin and Rob Bauman
From Breslau, Ontario, Pioneer P9526AM brought them a yield of 224 bu/ac.

Nick Wilson
Out of Newton, Ontario, a 230 bu/ac yield was the result of using Pioneer P9675AMXT.

Each of the winners received a trip for two to the Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Arizona. The show takes place February 26 – 28 and will feature speakers, auctions, awards banquets and feature Craig Morgan as entertainment for the visitors.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.