JOHNSTON, Iowa — In sorghum production, consistency defines success. Farmers depend on hybrids that deliver high-end performance across seasons, environments and growing regions.
That reliability was on display in the 2025 National Sorghum Producers Yield Contest, where Pioneer® brand hybrids helped farmers earn first-place honors in all six contest categories across the United States, including the prestigious Bin Buster award. With top-yielding results in diverse geographies, Pioneer once again proves its position as the industry standard for consistent, elite sorghum performance.
Among the 2025 winners are Chris Santini of Warren, New Jersey, and Kenny Rathjen of Dalhart, Texas, two growers farming in vastly different environments, and both achieving outstanding results with Pioneer brand genetics.
Santini and her husband, Sam, took home the Bin Buster award in the 2025 contest, yielding 239.93 bu/A with a Pioneer brand hybrid.1 They credit strong hybrid performance and favorable dry conditions for helping them reach top results.
“To achieve the highest yield is quite a feat, especially among so many great growers. It’s important to us to show that New Jersey can be on the map for sorghum production, and I think this award — building on what we’ve accomplished in past years with the help of Pioneer — helps reinforce that,” Santini said.
Rathjen, a long-time contest competitor from Dalhart, Texas, is no stranger to success with Pioneer brand hybrids. He earned a first-place title in the Irrigated Western Division, yielding 237.15 bu/A and adding another win to his history of strong yields.2 Rathjen noted the season brought an ideal mix of humidity, dry days and timely rainfall that allowed Pioneer genetics to fully express their yield potential.
“Pioneer brand hybrids produce every time on our farm – you can’t beat them in our area,” Rathjen said. “Pioneer brand corn and sorghum work for us, and I appreciate the Pioneer team I have standing behind me.”
As the 2026 planting season approaches, both Santini and Rathjen plan to plant more Pioneer brand sorghum. Santini emphasized the pride that comes from representing her state and showcasing what’s possible in nontraditional sorghum regions when you partner with Pioneer. Rathjen, a previous Bin Buster winner, is already focused on chasing another title to add to his collection, planning for even higher yields with Pioneer brand hybrids once again at the center of his operation.
Adelai Dolch, Pioneer portfolio lead for complementary crops, congratulated the winners and said Pioneer genetics, combined with strong agronomic support, enable farmers to aim for consistent, high yields.
“We’re thrilled to hear that the winners swept the 2025 yield contest with Pioneer brand hybrids, and we’re even more excited about the consistent performance across geographies and seasons. Consistency is what separates great hybrids from the rest,” Dolch said. “Our focus at Pioneer is pairing elite genetics with strong agronomic support to help farmers manage risk and unlock yield potential year after year. Congratulations to these growers on their incredible achievements!”
For a complete list of Pioneer yield contest winners from the 2025 season, visit Pioneer.com/NSP.
1, 22025 National Sorghum Producers Yield Contest. Farmers must harvest using one of two protocols for contest entry. For contest rules and harvest protocols, visit https://sorghumgrowers.com/wp-
