JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (DTN) -- Kenny Rathjen is no stranger to yield contests. In fact, entering them is part of the annual routine for him and his father, Richard. Yet while they have achieved recognition several times over the years, the overall top spot in a national contest had eluded the Rathjens -- until now.
On Monday, Dec. 16, the National Sorghum Producers (NSP) announced the winners of the 2024 National Sorghum Yield Contest. K&M Farms, operated by Kenny Rathjen and his farming partner, Monte Simerly, in Dalhart, Texas, earned the Bin Buster Award for producing the year's highest-yielding entry at 240.01 bushels per acre (bpa).
Organized by the National Sorghum Producers since 1985, the yield contest initially began as a means of increasing membership and educating producers on new management techniques, said Tim Lust, the organization's CEO.
"I want to congratulate all of the 2024 National Sorghum Yield Contest winners on their incredible achievements," NSP CEO Tim Lust said in a statement to DTN. "It's exciting to see growers like Kenny Rathjen, this year's Bin Buster with 240.01 bushels per acre, set the bar so high. These results are a testament to the hard work and innovative practices that strengthen the sorghum industry each year. I'm proud of what these farmers have accomplished and look forward to recognizing them at the Commodity Classic."
NSP also will induct a new member into its Hall of Fame when the organization meets at the Commodity Classic in Denver in early March. Joel Spring of Appanoose County, Iowa, placed first in the food grade sorghum category for the third time, earning himself the distinction.
PANHANDLE PROWESS
The winning entry was grown under pivot irrigation in a 50-acre field. Rathjen planted Pioneer 85P75, a 114-day red sorghum hybrid that's characterized as offering excellent top yield potential in both high-yield and tougher dryland environments. Rathjen noted that in 2021, another farming partner, Tom Vogel, earned first place in the Irrigated Western category with the hybrid, finishing third overall.
"It's one that we've used in the past," he said. "It really shines with big water, and on this particular circle, that's what we have. Big water."
The sorghum followed wheatlage in a double-crop rotation. The field received 12 tons of manure before the wheat crop was planted. After the wheatlage was harvested, the wheat stubble was double disked.
"We planted right into that on May 25 at a population of 75,000 seeds per acre on 30-inch rows. It was a very nice seedbed," Rathjen said. "We treat our sorghum like our corn. In addition to the carryover we had from the manure, we dribbled 28-0-0-5 out the back and watered it in. We have a liquid coulter rig, and we put an additional 45 gallons (per acre) through it. We fertigated with 10 gallons at three different times."
Spider mites, grasshoppers and head worms (corn earworm, fall armyworm and sorghum webworm) are the primary pests for sorghum in the region. Rathjen applied Dimilin 2L on June 12 and Steward EC on Aug. 7 to control any infestations. In addition, he applied fungicide twice. A half-rate of Trivapro went on July 26, followed by Absolute Maxx, which was applied with Steward EC on Aug. 7.
"The fungicide really helped keep the plants healthy. I mean, the stay-green on it was just incredible," he said. "It really added to test weight."
However, it was an herbicide application that Rathjen made on July 5 that he thinks contributed greatly to his yield -- even though it had the neighbors wondering if he'd made a mistake.
"The old-timers who grew wheat would burn it (with herbicide) because it yields better. We've done something similar with soybeans; you'll get a shorter, bushier plant with more pods," he explained. "We were getting a few weeds in this milo, so after talking to my agronomist, we decided to smoke it, even though the crop was looking beautiful."
The combination of herbicides -- including Huskie, Medal EC, WeedMaster, atrazine and chelated iron, along with a little ammonium sulfate and an adjuvant -- had the desired effect.
"It looked ugly for a few days, but then we poured the water to it, and within a week, it started to green up," Rathjen said, adding that the crop received 16 inches of irrigation during the season, supplemented by 6 inches of rainfall. "It didn't get quite as tall, but we just had all kind of tillers full of grain. It was unreal. I know that's what gave us our yield."
While he plans to enjoy this year's accolade, Rathjen said he already has an eye toward next season.
"We've got an 80-acre circle that I want to split-plant in 15-inch rows," he said. "I want to try and beat the world record. That's my goal. I really like growing milo. If you've got water and a little help from Mother Nature, you can grow big yields."
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2024 NATIONAL SORGHUM YIELD CONTEST WINNERS
IRRIGATED WESTERN CATEGORY
-- First Place: K&M Farms
Dallam County, Texas
Variety: Pioneer 85P75
Yield: 240.01 bpa
-- Second Place: Darrol Miller Farm Inc.
Comanche County, Kansas
Variety: Dekalb DKS44-07
Yield: 226.18 bpa
-- Third Place: Ormiston Farms
Seward County, Kansas
Variety: Pioneer 85P75
Yield: 185.17 bpa
DRYLAND-TILLAGE WESTERN CATEGORY
-- First Place: Stewart Family Farms LLC
Washington County, Kansas
Variety: Pioneer 84G62
Yield: 183.05 bpa
-- Second Place: Matthew J. Bloss
Pawnee County, Nebraska
Variety: Pioneer 84P72
Yield: 131.88 bpa
-- Third Place: Roger and Marilyn Fischer
Texas County, Oklahoma
Variety: Pioneer 86P20
Yield: 108.78 bpa
DRYLAND-TILLAGE EASTERN CATEGORY
-- First Place: Jeffrey Barlieb
Warren County, New Jersey
Variety: Pioneer 85P58
Yield: 225.18 bpa
-- Second Place: Galt Porter
Mercer County, Missouri
Variety: Pioneer 84G62
Yield: 223.68 bpa
-- Third Place: Williams Bros Farms LLC
Clark County, Illinois
Variety: Dekalb DKS38-16
Yield: 199.48 bpa
DRYLAND NO-TILL WESTERN CATEGORY
-- First Place: Dylan Knoll
Charles Mix County, South Dakota
Variety: Pioneer 88P71
Yield: 192.05 bpa
-- Second Place: David Knoll
Charles Mix County, South Dakota
Variety: Pioneer 89Y79
Yield: 188.65 bpa
-- Third Place: Alma Ag Supply LLC
Harlan County, Nebraska
Variety: Pioneer 85Y88
Yield: 183.10 bpa
DRYLAND NO-TILL EASTERN CATEGORY
-- First Place: Billy H Bowers Farm Trust
Davidson County, North Carolina
Variety: Pioneer 84G62
Yield: 209.73 bpa
-- Second Place: HRB Farming Partnership - Ben Beetsma
Livingston County, Missouri
Variety: Dekalb DKS54-07
Yield: 195.49 bpa
-- Third Place: Santino "Sam" Santini Jr.
Warren County, New Jersey
Variety: Pioneer 85P58
Yield: 181.49 bpa
IRRIGATED EASTERN CATEGORY
-- First Place: Chris Santini
Warren County, New Jersey
Variety: Pioneer 85P58
Yield: 190.35 bpa
-- Second Place: Robert Santini
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Variety: Pioneer 85P58
Yield: 176.39 bpa
-- Third Place: Howie D
Fulton County, Pennsylvania
Variety: Pioneer 85P75
Yield: 156.73 bpa
FOOD GRADE CATEGORY
-- First Place: JnL Farms
Appanoose County, Iowa
Variety: Richardson G37
Yield: 158.94 bpa
A complete list of national, state and county yield contest winners can be found here: https://sorghumgrowers.com/….
Jason Jenkins can be reached at jason.jenkins@dtn.com
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