The National Corn Growers Association promoted Jon Doggett, its vice president of public policy since 2002, to the post of executive vice president, starting Jan 1. NCGA said Doggett “wlll lead efforts to expand NCGA’s alliances and strategic partnerships and elevate its national profile” as well as continue to manage its Washington office. Doggett, who grew up on a Montana ranch, has “more than 25 years of agricultural policy experience,” said NCGA, citing his “ability to look at issues with a fresh perspective and find a common ground. Doggett worked for the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Cattleman’s Association before joining NCGA. Early this fall, NCGA hired Chris Novak as its chief executive. Novak held a similar job at the National Pork Board.
NCGA also announced winners of its annual corn yield contest, with Randy Dowdy, of Valdosta, Georgia, topping 500 bushels an acre, the highest yield yet in the contest. Dowdy registered 503.7 bushels an acre with an entry for irrigated land. Dowdy Farms placed second and third in the category for no-till/strip-till irrigated land as well. More than 8,000 growers entered the contest.