RESULTS OF AGRONOMIC AND WEED SCIENCE RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA

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1 RESULTS OF AGRONOMIC AND WEED SCIENCE RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA The Annual Report of the Investigations at and Administration of the Southern Agricultural Research Center, Huntley, Montana PROJECT TITLE: PROJECT LEADERS: PROJECT PERSONNEL: OBJECTIVES: METHODS: RESULTS and SUMMARY: Irrigated Hybrid Grain Corn Performance Trial near Huntley, Montana. (Exp ). Kenneth D. Kephart, Agronomist, SARC, Huntley Geraldine B. Opena, Research Associate, SARC, Huntley Tom A. Fischer, Research Specialist and Farm Foreman, SARC, Huntley To provide corn growers in south central Montana with a reliable, unbiased, upto-date source of information that will permit valid comparisons among improved corn hybrids for irrigated grain production. This information should help corn producers in south central Montana select hybrids best suited to this region of the state. For 2003, nine sponsors submitted 38 corn hybrids for testing under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana (Table 1). Relative maturity ratings and other trait characteristics provided by the sponsors are presented in Table 2. The study was planted using a randomized complete block design with six replications. Test plots consisted of a 30-foot, 4-row plot with 30-inch row spacing. Each 30 foot row was planted with 69 seeds, equal to planting 40,075 seeds per acre or about 105 percent of the target population of 38,200 plants per acre. Planting depth was set 1¾ inches deep. Plot stands were determined by counting the number of established plants along the two center rows at approximately the 4 to 5 leaf stage of crop development. Wind speeds gusting to more than 40 mph were observed during the two weeks just prior to harvesting the crop, resulting in severe lodging of some entries. Lodging severity was rated just prior to harvest on a scale from 0 to 9 (0 = upright, 9 = flat on the ground). All rows of each test plot were trimmed 36 inches and the center 2 rows of each plot were harvested using an experimental-plot combine. Test weight (pounds per bushel) and percent grain moisture content were obtained for each plot using a Dickey-john GAC 2100 grain analyzer. Recorded grain yields were adjusted to 15.5% grain moisture content, and are reported in bushels per acre based on a 56 pound standard bushel weight. Two and three year average yields are provided for entries also tested in 2002 and 2001, respectively. Information related to the specific cultural management of the study is listed at the bottom of Table 4a. The frost-free period for the 2003 growing season at Huntley spanned from May 20 th to September 14 th, 9 days shorter than normal for this location (Table 3). The month of June was abnormally cool and wet, followed by temperatures much warmer and precipitation levels much lower than normal during July and August. In spite of the cool conditions experienced in June and the shortened growing season, total accumulated heat units (2,059 ºF, GDD corn ) were 124 ºF greater than the level of heat units normally expected to accumulate during this 116 day interval. May precipitation was above normal, resulting in surface soil moisture conditions more favorable at planting for corn germination and emergence in 2003 compared to the previous year. Fairly uniform stands were established among the 38 hybrids tested. Percent emergence varied from approximately 82.5 to 94

2 percent, with 21 entries producing a stand of 90 percent or better of the planted seed (Table 4b). Silking dates varied by more than a week among the 38 entries. Garst 8905RR silked the earliest (July 20), while silk was not evident on Kaystar KX- 5150RR until July 28. Adjusted corn grain yields averaged bushels per acre, 25 bushels per acre less than the trial harvested in Grain yield among entries in 2003 varied from bushels per acre for Kussmaul SB-492RR to bushels per acre for Kaystar KX-4020Bt (Table 4a). Twenty two of the 38 entries produced mean yields that varied from to bushels per acre, statistically equal to that of the highest yielding hybrid, Kussmaul SB-492RR. Averaged across two years, Syngenta N2555BT produced the highest yield of bu/ac. Two entries ( Garst 8947RR and Wensman 6116RR ) averaged 2-year yields equal with the highest yielding entry, Syngenta N2555BT. No differences in yield were detected among the two entries tested for the past three years. Average grain moisture content at harvest in 2003 was 12.8 percent and varied from 11.9 percent for Garst 8947RR to 14.6 percent for Simplot H The test weight of all hybrids tested in 2003 averaged 58 pounds per bushel, more than adequate to be graded US. No. 2 yellow corn and 4 pounds heavier than the average test weight measured for hybrids tested in Test weight among the 38 entries varied from 55.9 lb/bu for Simplot H-7370 to 60.0 lb/bu for Syngenta N2555BT. FUTURE PLANS: With continued support from the seed corn industry, the irrigated hybrid corn evaluations will continue in 2004 at Southern Agricultural Research Center.

3 Table 1. Contact information for seed sources of 38 hybrid corn entries tested at the Southern Agricultural Research Center near Huntley, Montana during Hybrids Hybrids Brand Tested Contact Brand Tested Contact Agripro 8888 Mr. Bill Gilbert Garst Seed Company 1101 Mansfield Drive Fort Collins CO PH: FX: EM: Dekalb Mr. Doug Ryerson Monsanto Company Deer Drive Great Falls, MT PH: FX: EM: Garst 8959Y61 Mr. Bill Gilbert 8905RR Garst Seed Company 8947RR 1101 Mansfield Drive 8945 Fort Collins CO PH: FX: EM: Hyland 2368 Mr. Jim Olmsted R234 Hyland Seeds/ WG Thompson & B292 Sons Ltd. PO Box 130, 2 Hyland Drive Blenheim, Ontario Canada N0P 1A0 PH: FX: EM: JOlmsted@WGThompson.com Kaystar KX-4000RR/Bt Mr. Darin Huber KX-4020Bt Kaystar Seed KX-2821RR P.O. Box 947 KX-5150RR US Highway 14 East KX-2815RR/Bt Huron, SD PH: FX: EM: research@kaystarseed.com Kussmaul SB-387RR Mr. Paul Klinkhammer SB-385RR Kussmaul Seed Company SB-392RR 9020 Highway 18 SB-492 Mt. Hope WI SB-595RR PH: SB-383RR FX: SB-492RR EM: ksc@mhtc.net Mycogen 2G225RR Mr. Kevin Davis 2H385RR Mycogen Seeds 2A Oconnor Ave. 2R416RR Evans, CO P172RR PH: FX: EM: kldavis@dow.com Simplot H-7370 Mr. Kent Whittig H-6907RR J.R. Simplot Company 3431 Southside Blvd. Nampa, ID PH: FX: EM: kent.whittig@simplot.com Syngenta N29-A2 Mr. Terry Hobson N27-M3 Syngenta Seed Inc. N2555Bt 1525 Airport Road Ames IA PH: FX: EM: terry.hobson@syngenta.com Wensman 6116RR Mr. Dan Sauer 6212RR Wensman Seed Company 6314RR th Street NE 6117RR/Bt Watertown SD PH: EM: dan.sauer@wensmanseed.com

4 Table 2. Summary of trait information provided by sponsoring vendors for 38 corn hybrids submitted for testing under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana during Hybrids listed in alphabetical order. 2/ 3/ 1/ 1/ Flex Prolific Relative Grain Stalk Root Ear Ear 4/ 5/ Brand & Hybrid Maturity Color Strength Strength Type Type GMO Unique Traits/Characteristics days AgriPro Yellow 8 8 N - N Dekalb Yellow 8 7 N N Y Roundup Ready Dekalb Yellow 8 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Dekalb Yellow 7 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Dekalb Yellow 8 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Garst 8905RR 87 Yellow 7 6 Y - Y Roundup Ready Garst Yellow 7 7 N - N Garst 8947RR 91 Yellow 8 7 N - Y Roundup Ready Garst 8959Y61 86 Yellow 7 7 Y - Y YieldGuard (Bt) Hyland Yellow 7 7 Y Y N Hyland B Yellow 8 7 Y Y Y Bt Hyland R Yellow 7 7 Y Y Y Roundup Ready Kaystar KX-2815RR/Bt 83 Yellow 5 5 Y N Y RoundupReady, YieldGuard (Bt) Kaystar KX-2821RR 85 Yellow 5 5 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kaystar KX-4000RR/Bt 91 Yellow 5 5 Y N Y RoundupReady, YieldGuard (Bt) Kaystar KX-4020Bt 93 Yellow 5 5 Y N Y YieldGuard (Bt) Kaystar KX-5150RR 94 Yellow 5 5 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB-383RR 83 Yellow 8 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB-385RR 85 Yellow 8 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB-387RR 87 Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB-392RR 92 Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB Yellow 9 8 semi N N Kussmaul SB-492RR 92 Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB-595RR 95 Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready Mycogen 2A semi - N Mycogen 2G225 RR semi - Y Roundup Ready Mycogen 2H385 RR Y - Y Roundup Ready Mycogen 2P172 RR semi - Y Roundup Ready Mycogen 2R416 RR semi - Y Roundup Ready Simplot H Yellow 6 7 Y N N Simplot H-6907RR 95 Yellow 7 7 Y N Y Roundup Ready Syngenta N2555Bt 90 Yellow 5 7 N Y Y LibertyLink, NK YieldGuard (Bt) Syngenta N27-M3 91 Yellow 6 5 semi Y Y LibertyLink, NK YieldGuard (Bt) Syngenta N29-A2 92 Yellow 7 8 N Y Y LibertyLink, NK YieldGuard (Bt) Wensman 6116RR 90 Yellow 8 8 Y N Y Roundup Ready Wensman 6117RR/BT Y N Y Roundup Ready, BT Wensman 6212RR 94 Yellow 9 8 Y N Y Roundup Ready, excellent late season health Wensman 6314RR 100 Yellow 7 8 Y N Y Roundup Ready, excellent dual purpose hybrid 1/ Stalk and root strength rating are from 1 to 9 where 1=poor, 5=average and 9=excellent. 2/ Flex ear types change ear length in response to environmental conditions. 3/ Prolific ear types change ear number in response to environmental conditions. 4/ Genetically modified organism possessing transgenic traits registered for commercial production in the United States. 5/ Bt indicates European corn borer resistance from Bacillis thuringiensis. Roundup Ready indicates resistance to glyphosate herbicides. LibertyLink indicates resistance to glufosinate herbicide. Clearfield indicates resistance to imidazolinone herbicides. Use of registered trademarks to describe characteristics does not imply endorsement or exclusion of commercial corn hybrids by Montana State University, the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and/or the Southern Agricultural Research Center.

5 Table 3. Summary of climatic data by months for the cropping year (September-August) compared to 30 year averages for the period at the Southern Agricultural Research Center near Huntley, Montana Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Year Precipitation (inches) Total Current Year ( ) Year Average ( ) Difference Mean Temperature (ºF) Average Current Year ( ) Year Average ( ) Difference Last Killing Frost in Spring 1/ First Killing Frost in the Fall 1/ Frost-free period Growing Degree Days (Base 50) 2/ Growing Degree Days (Corn) 2/ May 20 (25ºF) Average... May September 14 (29 ºF) Average... September days Average days ,211 GDD (ºF) 30-Yr Ave. ( )... 1,900 GDD (ºF) ,059 GDD (ºF) 30-Yr Ave. ( )... 1,889 GDD (ºF) Maximum Summer Temperature 105 ºF on July 24, 2003 Minimum Winter Temperature -21 ºF on February 24, / In this summary, 32 ºF is considered a killing frost. Average last and first killing frost dates are calculated on a 50% probability of a minimum temperature occurring below a threshold temperature of 32.5 ºF based on observations from 1911 to / Growing degree days calculated from temperatures observed during the frost free period from May 20 through September 14 for 2003, and for the same 116 day interval from the period of record of 1971 to 2000.

6 Table 4a. Agronomic performance of 38 corn hybrids grown under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana during (MAES/SARC Exp ). Hybrids listed in alphabetical order by brand name. Relative 1/ Maturity Grain Yield Test Grain Brand & Hybrid Rating Weight Moisture - days bushels/acre lb/bu - - % - AgriPro * Dekalb Dekalb Dekalb * Dekalb * Garst 8905RR Garst Garst 8947RR * 168.6* Garst 8959Y Hyland * Hyland B Hyland R * Kaystar KX-2815RR/Bt Kaystar KX-2821RR Kaystar KX-4000RR/Bt * Kaystar KX-4020Bt Kaystar KX-5150RR * Kussmaul SB-383RR Kussmaul SB-385RR Kussmaul SB-387RR * Kussmaul SB-392RR * Kussmaul SB * Kussmaul SB-492RR ** Kussmaul SB-595RR Mycogen 2A * Mycogen 2G225 RR Mycogen 2H385 RR * Mycogen 2P172 RR * Mycogen 2R416 RR * Simplot H * Simplot H-6907RR * Syngenta N2555BT * 173.4** Syngenta N27-M Syngenta N29-A * Wensman 6116RR * 170.6* Wensman 6117RR/BT * Wensman 6212RR * Wensman 6314RR Average LSD (p=0.05) ns CV% / Yields are based on a 56 pound standard bushel weight for corn and adjusted to 15.5 percent moisture content. ** Indicates highest yielding hybrid within a column. * Indicates hybrids yielding equal to highest yielding hybrid within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05). ns Indicates no significant difference between hybrids within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05). Planted: May 16, 2003 Harvested: November 3-5, 2003 Fertility: , 200 lb/a, preplant incorporated, April 25, 2003 Herbicide: Roundup Ultra, 24 oz/a; Spartan, 3 oz/a; AMS, 2 lb/ac, May 17, 2003 Option, 1.5 oz/a; Distinct, 2 oz/a; AMS, 3 lb/a; Methylated Seed Oil, 1.5 pt/a, June 11, 2003 Insecticide: none Irrigation: profile flooded, June 23,24 & 25, 2003; July 10 & 11, 2003; July 22 & 23, 2003; August 11, 2003; August 27 & 28, 2003 Previous Crop: spring wheat Precipitation: 4.76 inches

7 Table 4b. Agronomic performance of 38 corn hybrids grown under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana during (MAES/SARC Exp ). Hybrids listed in alphabetical order by brand name. Relative Maturity Silking Date 1/ Brand & Hybrid Rating Stand Emergence Julian Calendar Lodging - days - - plants/ac - % 0-9 AgriPro , Jul Dekalb , Jul Dekalb , Jul Dekalb , Jul Dekalb , Jul Garst 8905RR 87 36, Jul Garst , Jul Garst 8947RR 91 36, Jul Garst 8959Y , Jul Hyland , Jul Hyland B , Jul Hyland R , Jul Kaystar KX-2815RR/Bt 83 36, Jul Kaystar KX-2821RR 85 37, Jul Kaystar KX-4000RR/Bt 91 35, Jul Kaystar KX-4020Bt 93 37, Jul Kaystar KX-5150RR 94 35, Jul Kussmaul SB-383RR 83 36, Jul Kussmaul SB-385RR 85 34, Jul Kussmaul SB-387RR 87 33, Jul Kussmaul SB-392RR 92 34, Jul Kussmaul SB , Jul Kussmaul SB-492RR 92 34, Jul Kussmaul SB-595RR 95 34, Jul Mycogen 2A , Jul Mycogen 2G225 RR 87 36, Jul Mycogen 2H385 RR 94 37, Jul Mycogen 2P172 RR 84 34, Jul Mycogen 2R416 RR 95 37, Jul Simplot H , Jul Simplot H-6907RR 95 37, Jul Syngenta N2555BT 90 37, Jul Syngenta N27-M , Jul Syngenta N29-A , Jul Wensman 6116RR 90 34, Jul Wensman 6117RR/BT 92 34, Jul Wensman 6212RR 94 35, Jul Wensman 6314RR , Jul Average 36, Jul LSD (p=0.05) 2, CV% / Lodging severity was rated on a scale from 0 to 9 (0 = upright, 9 = flat on the ground).