FINDLAY, Ohio – In 2025, Ohio corn farmers from nine separate districts competed to produce the highest bushel per acre of corn in the state in a contest sponsored by Ohio Corn & Wheat.

By using biologicals, precision nitrogen management and strategic fungicide applications, Ohio farmer Matthew Bame, of Hancock County, finished atop the field, producing 347.51 bushels of corn per acre.

Bame used Beck’s Hybrids 6280TCV2P. Jim Dauch, of Sandusky County, earned the title of runner-up with a yield of 345.53 bushels using Pioneer P1383AM. Both represented District 2.

“These results highlight the skill, precision and dedication Ohio corn farmers bring to their operations every year,” said Wendy Osborn, director of market development for Ohio Corn & Wheat. “The Ohio Corn Yield Contest continues to showcase the best of Ohio agriculture and the innovation on farms across the state.”

Bame, 25, farms 1,700 acres of corn and soybeans alongside his father, Bruce. This marked Bame’s third year of competing in the contest. Droughts in 2023 and 2024 put a crimp in his growing efforts, but the rains in 2025 were just right.

“Rain was very scarce the first two years, but this year we got good rain in July,” Bame said.

Growers have their own methods when it comes to growing, and Bame is no different. He was working on ground that was tiled three years ago and is still undergoing tillage to even out the ground. No cover crops were planted. Heavy rains delayed his planting until late May, but the timing was right, Bame said.

Some of his early-planted fields endured up to seven inches of rain before emergence and the contest plot avoided the worst of the spring downpours.

“Some of the seed we’ve planted in the past has been aged out, so this year, about 60 percent of what we planted were new hybrids, including the contest plot,” Bame said.

Bame applied hog manure to the contest plot, using manure from his nearby hog-finishing barns.

Bame had strategically used innovative products during the growing season, including biologicals like Boost Max M, Nutrify and Carbon RX in-furrow, along with nitrogen, sulfur, potassium, boron, zinc and humic acid.

“The humic acid helped buffer the herbicide,” Bame said.

Bame utilized two nitrogen passes, ensuring nitrogen availability throughout the growing season. He also used a two-pass fungicide program. Just before tasseling, he applied Veltyma fungicide, followed by a second application of Headline Amp about four weeks later. On the test plot, Bame applied boron during both fungicide passes.

Perhaps Bame is what some call a perfectionist, as he conducts weekly tissue sampling to monitor crop needs. He says this gives him an idea of what the crop is going to need before it gets there.

“With the right weather, we were able to combine everything to produce a good crop,” he said.

Bame admits all his efforts wouldn’t have been so successful without the help from Mother Nature.

“July is what made that corn,” Bame said. “We got about four inches of rain, spread out over the month. It was about an inch one week, two inches the next, another after that. It was perfect. The July rain, combined with our Y-drop applications, helped get the nutrients into the plant to sustain it through the drought.”

As the state winner, Bame will receive a one-year free lease on an Unverferth seed tender. Second place winner, Dauch, will be awarded BASF corn fungicide. Bame, Dauch and the eight district winners were recognized at the 2026 Celebration of Ohio Corn & Wheat on Feb. 5 at Mac-O-Chee Castle in West Liberty, Ohio.

Ohio Corn & Wheat is a strategic alliance encompassing three distinct organizations: the Ohio Corn Checkoff, the Ohio Small Grains Checkoff and the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association.

Aaron Stuckey and Jason Rufenacht, both of Fulton County, finished 1-2 in District 1. Stuckey finished at 288.42 bushels.

Brian and Dale Jostpille, both of Allen County, were tops in District 3. Brian finished at 289.06 bushels. Dale was right behind at 288.20 bushels.

Mark Scheffler, of Crawford County, was tops in District 4 at 339.95 bushels, while Wesley Roberts, of Marion County, followed at 315.10 bushels.

In District 5, Kent Edwards, of Erie County, held the top two spots on two separate contest plots, 333.50 and 326.78 bushels respectively.

Don Jackson, of Preble County, captured the District 6 title at 332.34 bushels, while Ben Brautigam, of Shelby County, came in at 314.21 bushels.

Corey Farrens, of Madison County, was first in District 7 at 324.86 bushels, while Scott Haerr, of Champaign County, was next at 318.13 bushels.

In District 8, Jay Writsel, of Pickaway County, led with 333.71 bushels, while Kyle Croft, of Coshocton County, was second at 328.10 bushels.

In District 9, James Jacobs. of Fayette County. finished first at 323.36 bushels, while Nathan Ewing, of Pike County, was second at 319.43 bushels.