Each year wheat farmers from every state are invited to enter the National Wheat Yield Contest to compete for the highest yield in bushels-per-acre.
This year, Montana’s winner in the Dryland Winter Wheat category was an 18-year-old who farms near Ryegate. Not only did Wyatt Ramage post the top yield in the state, but he also placed 5th in the entire nation for “Percent of Yield Above the County Average”, because his per-acre-yield was over 3 times the average for his county!
. The Ramage Family farms south of Ryegate in Golden Valley County
The National Wheat Yield Contest is a project of the National Wheat Foundation, assisted by the staff of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Winners are selected in several categories, so the List of 2025 State Winners includes both Dryland and Irrigated Winter Wheat and Spring Wheat growers from across America.
In a podcast produced by Taylor Brown and Colton Young, Wyatt Ramage and his father Kelly Ramage, (who has placed in the National Wheat Yield Contest previously), discuss the contest. The Ramages talked about the operation of their farm, and what it takes to accomplish award-winning yields.
. Wyatt Ramage Combining Winter Wheat (photo by Casey Odom)
Joining the Ramage Family in the Northern Ag Network Studio was Nathan Haynie, Crop Agronomist, and Area Manager for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Billings. The Ramages purchased their seed and many of their crop inputs from Nutrien Ag Solutions, a leading supplier of seed varieties, fertilizer, crop protection products and agronomic expertise.
In the Northern Ag Network studio (Left to Right): Kelly Ramage, Wyatt Ramage,
Colton Young, Bonnie Ramage, Nathan Haynie, and Taylor Brown.
For questions on how to participate in the 2026 National Wheat Yield contest, contact Anne Osborne of the National Wheat Foundation at: aosborne@wheatworld.org.
