Corn Hybrid Selection Using the New NDSU and U of M Cooperative Corn Hybrid Trial to Make Better Decisions for Your Farm

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1 Corn Hybrid Selection Using the New NDSU and U of M Cooperative Corn Hybrid Trial to Make Better Decisions for Your Farm Joel Ransom NDSU Extension Agronomist

2 On-farm corn yields have been increasing dramatically Trend in corn grain yield in the USA since 1930

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4 Relative importance of yield gains due to genetic verses management, Iowa. Adapted from Butzen and Smith, Dupont Pioneer

5 Why expend effort in picking a corn hybrid? There are lots of options to choose from There can be very large differences between available hybrids Like other crops, numerous factors to consider in the selection process My colleagues have said that hybrid selection is the most important decision impacting profitability One of the easiest management decision that might impact yield Often there are data to guide the process, it is not Las Vegas!

6 Factors to Consider in Hybrid Selection Yield and yield stability Maturity Bio-tech traits Lodging and green snap

7 Selecting the maturity of a hybrid to match the local environment Since GDDs are excellent predictors of corn development: Match typical GDDs in your area to GDD requirements of the hybrids you will grow with some adjustment for drying Pushing relative maturities can result in high moisture and possibly low test weight Hybrids that are too early give up yield potential Growing more than one hybrid with RMs that vary makes sense

8 Relationship between RM and yield, Crookston, Source: Coulter U of M

9 Relationship between RM and moisture at harvest, southern MN, Source: Coulter U of M

10 Relationship between RM and yield (bu/acre), Griggs County, Yield (bu/acre) y = x x R² = RM of the hybrid

11 Relationship between RM and moisture, Griggs County, y = x R² =

12 Getting to black layer before the first killing frost is only part of the story Moisture content from black layer (32% moisture) to harvest is also driven by temperature and related to GDDs though not as tightly as growth is related to GDDs Goal of hybrid selection is to pick a hybrid that yields well but that will be at an optimum moisture content at harvest for your operation Some drying will likely be needed every year Natural air, corn must be at 22%

13 Transgenic traits selection Only purchase the ones that you need The likelihood of RW trait being profitable when corn is grown in rotation is very small, as an example Breakdown in effectiveness of CW trait confirmed need to rotate traits and crops

14 Green snap

15 Green snap Most susceptible between V10 and V12 stage Often break at node below the ear This year we saw some broken at the ground level Good correlation between yield loss and green snap percentage Hybrids vary in susceptibility green snap

16 Relationship between green snap percent and yield, Oakes, Yield (bu/a) y = x R² = Percent green snap Yield Linear (Yield)

17 Selecting hybrids for yield and yield stability Use replicated yield trials Strip trials if replicated over locations could be effective, but are usually limited in the number of entries Data from multiple locations is far more predictive of a hybrid s performance next year than a single location

18 Performance simulation Years Locations Yield difference Top one Top one 1 Zone 8 Top one 1 Zone+1L 10 Average Top 10% 1 Zone 7 Top 10% 1 Zone+1L 8 Top 10% Top 10% 2 Zone 13 Top 10% 2 Zone+1L 14 Bottom 10% Adapted from Lauer, 1997, U of Wisc

19 New cooperative corn hybrid trial system Three zones Plots are 4 rows by 20 ft w/ 2 center rows are harvested Lattice designs are used to control experimental error Planted using a precision planter (Kinze units) Multiple locations (four or five depending on the zone Data available within days of harvest Allows for review before early order discounts expire! Grouped by RMs within a zone Majority on farmer fields, with non-limiting management Locations with large variability are discarded

20 Allows for field days

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25 The website

26 Preliminary Central zone combined (Cass, Steele, Griggs and Mahnomen Cos.) late maturing (<86) corn hybrid trial results, Brand Variety RM Moisture Yield (%) (bu/a) Thunder 4990 RR NorthStar Genetics Viking VS Wensman Seed W 8097VT2RIB Thunder 7993 VT2P Dahlman R44-26VT2PRIB NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS Peterson Farms Seed 73D NuTech/G2 Genetics 5F NuTech 5B Peterson Farms Seed 74K Dahlman R45-22VT2PRIB Mustang 2287VT2P Thunder 7188 VT2P RIB Proseed NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS Hyland Seeds 8295RA REA Hybrids 2B Proseed Legacy Seeds L-2813 VT2PRO Nuseed 9001 VP Legacy Seeds L-3011 VT3PRO Wensman Seed W 80866VT2RIB Thunder 6987 VT2P RIB Peterson Farms Seed 77H Legacy Seeds L-2643 VT2PRO Dairyland DS-9487RA Wensman Seed W 80903VT2RIB Producers Hybrids 4933 VT2RIB Nuseed 8701 VT2P RIB

27 Preliminary Central zone, late maturing (>86) corn hybrid trial results for a single location, Mahnomen Co., MN, Brand Variety RM Moisture Yield (%) (bu/a) NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS Mustang 2287VT2P Dahlman R44-26VT2PRIB Thunder 4990 RR REA Hybrids 2B Nuseed 8701 VT2P RIB Peterson Farms Seed 74K Thunder 7188 VT2P RIB Legacy Seeds L-2643 VT2PRO Thunder 7993 VT2P Thunder 6987 VT2P RIB Peterson Farms Seed 73D Dairyland DS-9487RA Legacy Seeds L-2813 VT2PRO NuTech/G2 Genetics 5F Wensman Seed W 8097VT2RIB Dahlman R45-22VT2PRIB Wensman Seed W 80866VT2RIB Mustang 2686VT3P Proseed Hyland Seeds 8295RA Thunder 4391 VT2P RIB Mycogen 2J NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS Legend Seeds LS 9487 VT2PRIB Legacy Seeds L-2910 VT3PRO Producers Hybrids 4933 VT2RIB Hyland Seeds 8202RA Peterson Farms Seed 77H Stine R9201VT3Pro

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30 Conclusions Hybrid/variety selection can add substantial value to your crop Using multi-location data enhances the probability of selecting a top performer New testing system will generate quality multi-location data that should be available for review prior to ending of pre-order discounts to aid in profitable selection