Great Lakes Hybrids won 18 state champions out of its 52 entries in the 2005 National Corn Growers Association’s National Corn Yield Contest. Great Lakes had six winners in Kentucky, three in Michigan and Tennessee, two each in Illinois and Ohio and one in Indiana and Missouri.

For the past 21 years, Great Lakes has the highest winning percentage of every major seed company, winning more than one out of every five times entered. The Great Lakes Hybrids champions will be honored at the Commodity Classic this March in Anaheim, CA.

“We’ve had 74 champions in the past three years alone,” says Mike Stephenson, general manager. “Our proprietary products are leading the way, showcasing the investment we have in our own genetic corn breeding programs.”

Since 1990, Great Lakes Hybrids produced 1,033 entries in the NCGA Corn Yield Contest, with 231 achieving the yields necessary to become state or national champions. The Great Lakes hybrid has won nearly 25-percent of the time.

"Great performance in an unbiased national contest shows the strength of the breeding program we've been developing for years," said Mitch Ray, product manager. “Midwestern farmers demand performance, and the Great Lakes Hybrids line-up has proven itself in an elite, national competition for the last 21 years.”

“With 74 wins in 186 entries over the past three years… that’s a winning percentage of nearly 40%. Those are pretty good odds in today’s marketplace.” adds Stephenson.

To find out more about Great Lakes Hybrids and its winners, visit www.greatlakeshybrids.com.

2005 NCYC State Champions with Great Lakes Hybrids

PlaceGrower                             City/State                               Class                                        Hybrid               Yield Bu/A

1^st          Leo Ratcliff                     Lacon, IL                   No-till irrigated                    5961BtRR     251.0523

1^st          Jerry Griffith                   Mayfield, KY              Ridge-till non-irrigated      6550Bt          224.7382

1^st          John Griffith                   Mayfield, KY              Ridge-till irrigated              6444Bt          221.5037

1^st          Charles Eickholt           Chesaning, MI          No-till non-irrigated            5300Bt          244.7042

1^st          Randy Valentine           Puryear, TN              Ridge-till Irrigated              5961Bt          200.2138

1^st          Jim Motycka                  Napoleon, OH          No-till irrigated                    6344Bt          228.8518

1^st          Hardy Bros. Dairy         Roanoke, IN             Ridge-till non-irrigated      6192BtCL     242.5470

1st         Kent Breedlove             Manito, IL                   Ridge-till irrigated              6444Bt          230.2520

2^nd         Patty Griffith                    Mayfield, KY              No-till irrigated                    6192              221.9636

2^nd         Pete Crawford               Dansville, MI             No-till irrigated                    4689BtRR     234.8074

2^nd         Larry Meienburg           Malinta, OH               No-till irrigated                    5961              224.2937

2^nd         Daniel J Woosley         Calhoun, KY             Ridge-till non-irrigated      6298CL         207.1643

2^nd         Hinkebein Farms         Chaffee, MO             Ridge-till irrigated              5961Bt          249.6036

2^nd         Sue Ann Cloar              Dyersburg, TN          Irrigated                              5691Bt          217.2175

3^rd         Golden Valley Farms   Jasper, MI                     A non-irrigated             5961                   246.9272

3^rd         John Woosley              Calhoun, KY             Ridge-till irrigated              5961              185.8820

3^rd         Deanna Reems            South Fulton, TN      Ridge-till non-irrigated      6298CL         214.4041

3^rd         Reba Griffith                  Mayfield, KY              Irrigated                              6444Bt          220.8005

The NCGA Corn Yield Contest is an annual national competition among corn producers with the goal of producing the highest yields. Growers compete within a broad range of corn production classes. Great Lakes Hybrids is the largest Michigan-based seed corn supplier and a brand of AgReliant Genetics, LLC.  With the industry’s third-largest research program, Great Lakes Hybrids and AgReliant Genetics have been able to produce top-performing conventional genetics for incorporation of new transgenic traits. Great Lakes Hybrids has also produced more winners per entry of any other Midwestern seed company in the National Corn Grower’s annual Corn Yield Contest. For the latest information or to find local dealers, visit www.greatlakeshybrids.com or call 1-800-257-SEED (7333).