Winners in the National Corn Growers Association 2025 Yield Contest demonstrated what many farmers around the country already know — yield and profitability improve with Meristem Crop Performance.
“Meristem’s Bio-Capsule™ Technology delivered results across the Corn Belt in 2025,” said Mitch Eviston, Meristem founder and CEO. “With multiple biological solutions safely delivered at the planter and the sprayer, the yield and profitability increases show up at the combine. These NCGA yield champions put that success on display and earned some much-deserved recognition at the upcoming Commodity Classic in San Antonio.”
Mark Schleisman, Lake City, Iowa, was the State Winner in the Strip-Till, Minimum-Till, Mulch-Till, Ridge-Till Irrigated Class with 317.9727 bushels per acre. In the same category, Mark’s wife, Melissa Schleisman, had second place with 311.9482 bushels and their son, Matthew Schleisman, had third place with 311.7488 bushels.
The Schleisman family grows corn, soybeans, popcorn, wheat, and cover crops using conservation tillage on 5,500 acres along with raising hogs and cattle. They use Excavator® AMS with Cyclestrike™ LR to break down the high yield corn and cover crop residue in conjunction with their strip-till for corn.
At the planter, the Schleismans treated their corn with Hopper Throttle® Corn and for the first time included Guard X™* EPA-registered bioinsecticide.
“This was our fourth year using Hopper Throttle, our first year using Guard X and we had zero issues. I would say overall it was a low rootworm year with all the moisture we had, but long-term my plan is to move away from using the other high-cost below-ground options and just go to the Guard X, even on our popcorn,” Mark said. “We saw healthier plants with the Guard X.”
Another Meristem staple for the Schleismans in 2025 was Upshift® C+K concentrated starter system to increase nutrient and water availability, boost plant growth, and maximize microbial activity.
“I am sold on Upshift C + K. It was our first year using it on a large scale because it showed positive results. In ‘25 we used it on every acre of field corn and popcorn,” he said. “It’s the highest payback Meristem product we’re using.”
Chad Vander Vorst in Emmons County was the North Dakota State Winner in the No-Till Irrigated Class with a yield of 316.2842 bushels per acre. Vander Vorst farms several thousand acres in the Dakotas with corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, oats, and dry beans in the rotation.
Excavator AMS with Cyclestrike LR has become an important part of the no-till operation.
“We always use Excavator AMS. Especially with the heavy corn residue we have, there’s no way we will go without it in this no-till,” he said. “It is a must following corn ahead of beans.”
Vander Vorst also uses Revline® Hopper Throttle™ Corn – Ether™, Upshift C®, and foliar applications of Homestretch® NKB-S and Harvestshield™ Complete.
“Hopper Throttle — I love it. This will be our fourth year using these products and they continue to get better every year. We doubled up with the Ether this year for our corn in the Hopper Throttle and in the Upshift C we used with our starter,” Vander Vorst said. “I think that is why we came through an early cold, wet spell this year. Just like any other farmer, we’ve been pinching pennies the last couple of years and tightening our belts on fertilizer spending. We will not go without Upshift C because it works. It’s simple. It’s non-corrosive and it’s just so safe for the seedlings.”
Even with the challenges of 2025, Vander Vorst’s products and practices paid off.
“After 2024 I remember making the remark that I’d never see corn like this ever again,” he said. “But 2025 yields were actually better.”
NCGA Yield Contest winners will be recognized at the upcoming Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Feb. 25-27. Be sure to visit booth 3881 to learn how Winners Fight Back with Meristem products at the Commodity Classic Trade Show.
*Guard X EPA Reg. No.: 95699-2-95552
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