Michigan Wheat Program Announces 2025 Michigan and National Wheat Yield Contest (NWYC) winners, urges growers to sign up for 2026 NWYC

Michigan Wheat Program Announces 2025 Michigan and National Wheat Yield Contest (NWYC) winners, urges growers to sign up for 2026 NWYC - Michigan Wheat Program

Michigan Wheat Program Announces 2025 Michigan and National Wheat Yield Contest (NWYC) winners, urges growers to sign up for 2026 NWYC

Lansing, Mich. (April 14, 2026) - The Michigan Wheat Program recently announced and honored the state's top-yielding wheat growers for the past growing season. The growers honored included entries in the Michigan Wheat Yield Contest that were revealed at the Michigan Wheat Winter Grower Meeting, with one of them receiving a 2^nd place showing in the National Wheat Yield Contest, as well.

The Michigan Wheat Program supports growers' participation in both the state and national yield competitions, which were developed to recognize growers finding new ways to ramp up production. The National Wheat Foundation's (NWF) contest has as its goals to enable knowledge transfer between growers, encourage experimentation with new technologies and support new ideas to increase wheat yield.

When a Michigan wheat farmer enters the NWF contest, he or she is automatically entered into the Michigan Wheat Program State Yield Competition - which seeks to identify the state's "Wheat Warriors," also known as the best producers.

WINNERS IN 2025 MICHIGAN WHEAT YIELD CONTEST

Dryland Soft Red Winter Wheat

#1 Clearview Farms, Nick Suwyn, Allegan County at 162.1 bu./acre

#2 Dick Suwyn, Kent County at 154.7 bu./acre

#3 Bartle Farms, Dwight Bartle, Sanilac County at 148.2 bu./acre

Irrigated Soft Red Winter Wheat

#1 Clearview Farms, Nick Suwyn, Barry County at 185.6 bu./acre

Overall State Winner for Michigan

Nick Suwyn, Barry County for his Irrigated Soft Red Winter Wheat yield (185.6 bu./acre)

MICHIGAN WINNERS IN 2025 NATIONAL WHEAT YIELD CONTEST

Irrigated Soft Red Winter Wheat

#2 in the US - Nick Suwyn, Allegan County at 185.6 bu./acre

The Michigan Wheat Program board extends a hearty congratulations to the 2025 winners, and especially to Nick Suwyn for again shining on the national stage in both the yield and top quality categories!

Wheat growers feeling bullish about this winter wheat crop are reminded to register for the 2026 National Wheat Yield Contest. Registration is now open, with a due date of May 15 for winter wheat. To enter the national (and Michigan) contest visit www.wheatcontest.org . This is a new website and growers will need to register and get an account before putting in their entries. There is a fee of $100 per entry, but many times growers can get this covered by one of the contest's partners such as John Deere, Croplan, DynaGro or BASF.

National winners are judged in winter wheat dryland and winter wheat irrigated categories. There is an additional dryland category for percentage over county average. Top national winners receive a trip to the Commodity Classic. Contestants are all asked to save a 10 lb. sample of wheat for quality analysis, should they be determined to be a National Winner. The contest will provide shipping instructions for the sample which will be analyzed for milling and baking quality. Soft red will be baked into a sugar cookie and soft white will be baked into a sponge cake.

Michigan follows the NWF rules and procedures for entering, collecting data and reporting yields. Winners in the Michigan state contest will be selected in the categories of irrigated and dryland wheat, no matter if they are entering red or white winter wheat. Michigan winners are based on actual yield and are announced at the Michigan Wheat Program's Annual Meeting held each winter. The top winner in each category receives a trip to Michigan's Great Lakes Crop Summit held in January.

The Michigan Wheat Program is funded by 8,000 farmers who grow wheat in 50 of Michigan's
83 counties. The Michigan Wheat Program board seeks to promote the state's wheat industry by funding and supporting the strategic priorities of wheat farmers working with input suppliers, seed producers, millers, end users and consumers. Research on wheat production practices and grower education has been a continued focus for the organization.

About the Michigan Wheat Program

The Michigan Wheat Program is a state-check off program voted in by the state's wheat farmers to assess each bushel of wheat grown and sold. The funds from the program are utilized to further the wheat industry in the state benefitting the state's nearly 8,000 wheat farmers who grow about 450,000 acres of wheat annually producing about a 40 million bushel crop.

Contact Us

P.O. Box 25065
Lansing, MI 48909
1-888-943-2801