First-generation farmer Randy Dowdy of Valdosta, Ga., has now set the world record for corn yield with an average of 503 bushels per acre using DEKALB® corn seed genetics. Dowdy achieved the record as part of the 2014 National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) 50th Annual National Corn Yield Contest.

With this world record announcement, DEKALB® brand is excited about the progress and possibilities ahead for the role of agriculture innovation in helping farmers bring more harvest to market from each acre. Advancements in breeding, biotechnology and improved-farm management practices will continue to play an important role in safely increasing the global food supply as farmers continue to feed a growing world population that is expected to expand to more than 9 billion people by 2050.

“Monsanto would like to congratulate Randy Dowdy on setting this new world yield record for corn,” said Dr. Robert Fraley, Monsanto Chief Technology Officer and 2013 World Food Prize Laureate. “This accomplishment puts a spotlight on the important role that farmers all around the world play in society, and it showcases the valuable role that agriculture advancements can play in helping farmers achieve optimum and consistent corn performance so they can get the most from their land, wherever they are.”

The Georgia growing season started off with challenging weather conditions. However, with a combination of favorable weather during the season’s second half, strong agronomic practices and high-performing corn, Dowdy set the record with DKC62-08 Brand, known for exceptional top-end yield potential and excellent agronomics, in the Irrigated category. It is adapted to most crop rotations and a wide range of environments, including both irrigated and non-irrigated acres. The previous world record was an average of 454 bushels of corn per acre in 2013.

“It all starts with making sure you have a product that can maximize high yield potential before and after you open a bag of seed,” Dowdy said. “I was confident DEKALB could deliver and it did. From there, I tried to make all the right choices to capture that potential and remove stress.”

The DEKALB brand has a legacy of record-setting results in NCGA’s yield contest and has increased yields by more than 64 percent in the past decade. Since 1983, the seed brand has been represented with at least 33 national first place winners across 16 states. DEKALB continues to innovate and the record yield has increased by an impressive average 129 bushels per acre since the previous national DEKALB record in Indiana last year, which was also set with DKC62-08 Brand. More than 10 years ago, a national DEKALB contest winner yielded an average 306 bushels compared to the record average of 503 bushels this year. The seed brand’s dedication to high-performing, exclusive genetics and agronomics sets it apart from the competition.

“We congratulate Randy Dowdy on his significant achievement of setting the all-time highest corn yield record,” said Jesse Hamonic, Asgrow DEKALB Marketing Lead at Monsanto. “With a commitment to maximize corn yields through productive agronomics, such as minimizing stress factors, it’s farmers like Randy who are moving the needle forward in improving corn performance year after year and who have the potential to surpass world records set even during uncertain economic times.”

The national and state NCGA yield contest winners will be honored at the Commodity Classic 2015 in Phoenix.