2008 Michigan State Yield Champion Ron Landis

Since entering his first NCGA State Yield contest six years ago, Ron Landis of Schoolcraft Michigan is always looking for opportunities to improve his productivity. This is the second year in a row as the Michigan State corn yield champion.  He beat his previous 2007 farm yield record of 262 bushels with a new record of 280.4!

“It was my first year with Torque IF™ and though it wasn’t the only thing that led to our record yields in 2008, on the 20 acres that I tested the product, I could see on my yield monitor that it yielded an average of 6 bushels more than my pop-up treatment alone,” states Ron.

“Though we did not see a lot of difference in the roots, we could see it in the larger ear size and better fill and the proof of the value of Torque could be seen on the yield monitor.”

Ron farms 3000 acres with his father and brother, with a significant focus on their seed production business for Monsanto. “We are always looking at new technologies to increase our productivity,” says Ron.  When asked what his three to five “musts haves” to produce higher yields in 2009 are, Ron responded with 4 simple points:

1)     Water/irrigation is a must.

2)     Adjust your fertility/micros and applications for maximum benefit to the crop.

3)     Select hybrid and optimal population for your environment.

4)     Look to new crop technologies available like Torque.