5 High-Yield Farmers Share Their Secrets

In 2022, Russell Hedrick averaged 268 bu. per acre dryland corn, including 40 acres that averaged 368 bu. per acre and a contest spot that tallied 459.51 bu. “It’s not about nutrient amounts — it’s about placement and balance,” says the North Carolina farmer. “We use half the fertilizer of what many other guys use, but we still push yields without tossing the kitchen sink at the crop.”

In 2023, Alex Harrell, a southwest Georgia farmer, harvested 206.7997 bu. per acre — the highest-yielding soybeans in history. “It was surreal sitting in that cab watching the yield monitor,” Harrell explains. “Long story short, this comes down to late-season management.”

“I’m a low-input guy on my beans and on all my crops,” says Matt Griggs. “That means a focus on tried-and-true agronomics: planting date, variety, fertility and weed management.” He shoots for consistent averages around 75 bu. or 80 bu. per acre without stacking inputs. “ROI don’t lie,” he adds.

Illinois farmer Ryan Myers has increased his 60-bu.-per-acre yield average to 70-plus averages in just three years. How? By focusing on the details from variety selection to in-season management.