The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) announced the winners of the 2025 National Wheat Yield Contest at its annual fall meeting in Austin, TX, marking the contest’s 10th anniversary.
Since 2016, the contest has aimed to improve U.S. wheat productivity, quality, and marketability by fostering education and collaboration. Top producers share practices and technologies that lead to exceptional yields, high quality, and increased profitability.
This year, 465 entries were received, including 30 in the pilot Digital Yield categories. Winners were recognized in four traditional 5-Acre categories and two digital yield categories. Seventeen honorees are repeat winners, and eleven are first-time national champions.
Gary Broyles, NWF Chairman, congratulated all participants, noting, “It takes extra work and time, but it pays off in what is learned and then applied to raise productivity on our entire farm’s wheat acres.” He also highlighted winners from new states like Wisconsin and Indiana, in addition to traditional wheat states.
Yields were particularly strong in 2025, with record-high averages in two categories:
* Winter Dryland (Yield Basis): 172.51 bushels per acre (bpa)
* Spring Irrigated: 187.94 bpa
The contest also includes a grain quality component. Each national winner submits a 10-pound wheat sample for testing of grain, flour, and end-use quality. Soft wheat samples will be analyzed at the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland, Oregon, while hard wheat samples will be tested at the Great Plains Analytical Laboratory in Kansas City, Kansas. Testing protocols are consistent with those used by U.S. Wheat Associates for annual crop quality evaluations.
Anne Osborne, NWF Executive Director, stated, “We are learning that with the proper management, environment and variety selection these high yield growers can also achieve industry desired top-quality wheat. That is what the contest encourages everyone to do- strive for high yield, quality and profitability.”
Quality Award winners will be announced in mid-January 2026 after expert evaluation.