He certainly received the treatment fitting of a champion. Indiana farmer Kevin Kalb got the red carpet treatment at Commodity Classic in San Antonio last week highlighted by recognition at the National Corn Growers Association banquet Friday night as well as recognition Thursday night at a DEKALB event featuring musical group Little Big Town. Kalb took national first place honors in the corn yield contest for his 374 bushel per acre contest plot. How long before he sees those yields on the entire farm?
“The entire farm could be awhile, but the products and hybrids changing so much, the biotechnology is really helping us protect this corn,” he told HAT. “If you’ve got stuff to keep insects away and help with the pressure, it’s just tremendous what technology if coming for the corn.”
He never expected 374 bushel corn but as the season progressed Kalb knew there was a chance for a great crop.
“The weather had actually cooperated with us. I think we only had one or two days that actually hit 90 degrees for us and that was in the early part of June. Like everybody else we had more than enough moisture, and the hybrid that we planted was perfect hybrid that likes moisture and cool weather.”
Now the attention turns to another season of planting corn, which normally wouldn’t be too far into the future. But a harsh winter is hanging on even in Kalb’s southern Indiana County of Dubois.
“Actually we’re still frozen, everything is still frozen. I’m a little concerned about that, going into March and I don’t think I ever remember our ground being froze like this in March, but in southern Indiana in a week we could have 75 degree weather and ten days later we could be planting corn, so I’m not really too concerned yet.”
Kalb also was a first place winner in 2011 with 322 bushel corn on the 10 acre contest plot. He planted 62-08 on the plot and is now the highest-yielding DEKALB farmer in history.
(Pictured with Kevin are his wife Shawn and children, Nikia, Rhylan, Emmersen and Kogan)