Arcadia farmer Dean Leslie (pictured) and his brother Keith, have set a new national record for irrigated corn yield. Photo: Pioneer.
Arcadia cropping farmers have set a new Australian yield benchmark for irrigated corn, putting the region’s farming strength firmly in the spotlight.
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Leslie Farms, run by brothers Dean and Keith Leslie, harvested 23.78 tonne per hectare from a standout corn crop this April, surpassing the previous national record of 23.27 tonne/ha set at Tocumwal in 2024.
The result was independently verified, with the benchmark yield measured from a section of about 1000 square metres of a 36ha paddock.
The crop was grown under centre pivot irrigation, with a full paddock average of 22.4 tonne/ha.
Dean Leslie and Advanced Ag senior agronomist Tim Anderson. Mr Anderson said the stellar result came down to the attention to detail of the Leslie brothers.
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Advanced Ag senior agronomist Tim Anderson said they had worked alongside Leslie Farms “since day dot”, about 18 years.
Mr Anderson said the outcome was the product of careful planning and a season that came together well, a combination that does not always align so neatly.
“They really did the little things well, without going overboard,” Mr Anderson said.
“It’s that attention to details that makes a difference.”
Mr Anderson said the Leslie brothers have had solid yield results for several years running, with 21 tonne/ha in 2024 and 20 tonne/ha in 2025.
He said average yield results for the region sit closer to 17-18 tonne/ha, with Leslie Farms a “stand-out” for the area.
Pioneer Seeds territory sales manager Tim Lovell said the results demonstrate the yield potential possible in well-managed irrigated corn systems.
“This outcome is a strong example of what’s achievable when growers, advisers and inputs all align, in addition to strong genetics in hybrid corn,” Mr Lovell said.
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