NCGA launches 2026 corn contest with short-season corn pilot class
The National Corn Growers Association is opening the door to more farmers with a new addition to its long-running Yield Contest. For 2026, NCGA has introduced a short-season corn pilot class, giving growers who rely on lower-maturity hybrids a chance to compete on a national stage — something that hasn’t always been feasible in a contest traditionally dominated by full-season production systems.
The new class is designed with simplicity in mind. Farmers in any state can enter hybrids with a relative maturity of 99 days or less, reflecting the realities faced by producers in northern climates or regions with tighter growing windows. To keep the pilot manageable, participation is capped at the first 100 entries, encouraging interested growers to act quickly.
For many producers, short-season corn isn’t a choice — it’s a necessity driven by weather, geography, and risk management. Yet those same growers are just as focused on maximizing yield potential as their counterparts in longer-season regions. NCGA leaders say this new category is about recognizing that effort. Michigan corn farmer and NCGA First Vice President Matt Frostic emphasized that short-season growers are deeply committed to “maximizing every day of the season,” and the pilot class offers them well-deserved national visibility.
Now in its 62nd year, the NCGA Yield Contest continues to evolve alongside modern production practices. The addition of the short-season class follows other recent innovations, like the nitrogen management category, showing a broader push to reflect the diversity of today’s corn industry.
Entries for the 2026 contest opened May 1, and growers interested in the new pilot class are encouraged to review the rules and submit early before spots fill. If successful, the short-season category could become a permanent fixture — further leveling the playing field for corn farmers across a wide range of environments.
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