Oslo Wheat Grower Is Winner of 2018 National Wheat Yield Contest

December 17, 2018

Orin Knutson achieves winning yield with WestBred® wheat

ST. LOUIS (Dec. 19, 2018) – A Marshall County, Minnesota, wheat grower has been recognized for achieving one of the highest 2018 wheat yields in the country. Orin Knutson, of Oslo, has been named a national winner of the National Wheat Foundation’s 2018 Wheat Yield Contest. He has also won an all-expenses paid trip to Orlando, Florida, to attend the 2019 Commodity Classic, courtesy of the National Wheat Foundation and WestBred® wheat.

Knutson took the second-highest honor in the nation and first place State in the Spring Wheat – Dryland category with a WestBred variety, WB9590. Although he’s been farming for more than 30 years, this was his first time entering a wheat yield contest — and his first time exceeding the 100 Bu/A mark. He achieved an impressive 104.79 Bu/A yield, which is 90.53 percent higher than his county yield average.

“The WB9590 had very strong vigor, a beautiful stand and good protein, and the yield held up on it, too,” Knutson recalls. “It helped me do something I never thought could be done.” Knutson purchased his certified WB9590 seed from Weinlaeder Seed Company.

Knutson, who farms with his brother, grows wheat, sugarbeets, barley and soybeans. He began planting WestBred wheat in 2018 after seeing it perform well in his neighbors’ fields.

“Wheat growers face many challenges, from weather to pests to disease, yet season after season they endure these threats to provide an abundant, quality crop,” says Dr. Jeff Koscelny, Global Wheat Commercial Strategy Lead and WestBred Wheat Business Lead. “Knutson achieved one of the highest wheat yields in the country this year, and we’re proud that he did so with a WestBred variety. We look forward to celebrating his remarkable achievement at Commodity Classic this winter.”

The National Wheat Yield Contest recognizes the top five growers in the sectors of Winter Wheat Dryland, Winter Wheat Irrigated, Spring Wheat Dryland and Spring Wheat Irrigated. Winners were determined by evaluating the yield percentage increase above the USDA NASS county Olympic averages. Only first-place state winners within each sector compete for the national award.

About WestBred Wheat

WestBred wheat provides seed suppliers and their growers access to the highest yield potential wheat seed, as well as testing, education, resources and experienced representatives to help maximize their yield potential.

Oslo Wheat Grower Is Winner of 2018 National Wheat Yield Contest

Orin Knutson achieves winning yield with WestBred® wheat

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