Brinton Avenue corn field yielded $18,490.87 for Dixon Public Schools

DIXON – The Brinton Avenue field, a joint agricultural effort between Sauk Valley Community College and Dixon High School, recently reported it had a net corn yield of $50,023.34 from the October 2021 harvest.

The average yield was 187 bushels an acre, an increase of 28 bushels an acre from the last corn harvest in 2019.

The increase was attributed to nutrient management decisions made by the SVCC soil science class in the spring.

The fall 2021 agriculture marketing class secured a contracted price of $5.11 a bushel for 8,000 bushels.

Dixon Public Schools’ share of the yield was $18,490.87, and SVCC got $31,532.47. The difference between the schools’ shares is reflected in the costs for fuel and seed and other planting expenses that SVCC assumes.

An adjustment for drying charges was $1,154.39.

Dixon Public Schools Superintendent Margo Empen said the money is placed in an account that pays for dual registration fees for Dixon High School students to attend ag classes at SVCC, as well as their books and materials. That fund is also used to help pay for dual-registration fees for DHS students who are at SVCC in other disciplines.

This spring, the field will be used for soybeans.