For the second year in a row a Plantersville, Mississippi farm family captured first place in the National Corn Yield Contest using a Golden Acres Genetics corn hybrid.

Mark Oswalt’s winning non-irrigated yield of 247 bushels per acre was obtained with Golden Acres hybrid 27Z07, a 117-day triple-stack variety.  “On behalf of Golden Acres, I want to congratulate Mark Oswalt on his state yield title,” said Lou Buice, president of Golden Acres Genetics, Ltd.  “His winning yield is more than 80 bushels above the USDA’s estimated national yield average of 163 bushels per acre.  That’s very impressive, and we’re pleased and proud that one of our hybrids helped him finish in the top spot.”

The Oswalts are veterans of the National Corn Growers Association-sponsored yield contest.  Mark’s father Kenneth Oswalt took the state title in 2008 with Golden Acres 2850RR, a Roundup Ready variety.  In fact, the father and son duo has placed at the state level nearly every year for more than 20 years, and they have two national wins to their credit.  “We do this to make sure we’re using the best hybrids,” Oswalt said.  “Three years ago we started putting Golden Acres in plots.  The first year we saw that the Golden Acres varieties yielded higher than the Pioneer and DeKalb varieties in the area.  We planted 150 acres of Golden Acres seed in 2008 and the results were the same.  We found that Golden Acres varieties are consistent, in 2009 we more than doubled over last year, planting 500 acres of Golden Acres corn seed.”

Kenneth Oswalt has owned and operated Oswalt Farm since his father’s retirement in the 1960’s, part of a legacy that now spans four generations to include his son, 2009 winner Mark Oswalt.  “Now I’m a partner with my dad and the cycle continues,” Mark said.  “Our whole family is involved,” he remarked.  “We don’t do any outside hiring—we do all the work ourselves.  Even my kids help out.”  Kenneth agrees his grandchildren are already primed to follow his legacy, ready fill their predecessor’s footsteps.

This family factor contributes to the Oswalts’ choice of Golden Acres brand seed, as well.  “Golden Acres is family-owned and farmer-friendly,” Mark said.  “They have products that compete with the larger companies and their employees are easy to work with.  We really like the company.”

Kenneth said he appreciates the personal focus of Golden Acres.  “I’ve known (Golden Acres Representative) Dennis Atkins a long time.  We’ve come to trust his recommendations on seed.  And I’ve spent some time with Lou Buice over the last couple of years and really enjoyed meeting him.  We look forward to many successful years with Golden Acres.”

The feeling is mutual, said Buice. “We are privileged to work with farming families like the Oswalts, who share the same values and focus that we do.  We place great emphasis on living up to our commitments and building positive relationships.  We strive to stay on the cutting edge of technology and still maintain a focus on the principles that guide us such as faith, trust, honesty and respect.”

Oswalt, along with other state and national contest winners, will be honored at the 2010 Commodity Classic to be held this March in Anaheim, CA.