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
On-farm corn yields have been increasing dramatically Trend in corn grain yield in the USA since 1930
Relative importance of yield gains due to genetic verses management, Iowa. Adapted from Butzen and Smith, Dupont Pioneer
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!
Factors to Consider in Hybrid Selection Yield and yield stability Maturity Bio-tech traits Lodging and green snap
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
Relationship between RM and yield, Crookston, 2008. Source: Coulter U of M
Relationship between RM and moisture at harvest, southern MN, 2008. Source: Coulter U of M
Relationship between RM and yield (bu/acre), Griggs County, 2011. Yield (bu/acre) 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 y = -0.5471x 2 + 96.268x - 4066.5 R² = 0.3319 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 RM of the hybrid
Relationship between RM and moisture, Griggs County, 2011. 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 y = 0.0223x + 17.238 R² = 0.0023 0.0 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92
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%
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
Green snap
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
Relationship between green snap percent and yield, Oakes, 2011 250 200 Yield (bu/a) 150 100 50 0 y = -2.0493x + 235.44 R² = 0.8606 0 20 40 60 80 100 Percent green snap Yield Linear (Yield)
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
Performance simulation Years Locations Yield difference Top one 1 1 7 Top one 1 Zone 8 Top one 1 Zone+1L 10 Average 1 1 0 Top 10% 1 Zone 7 Top 10% 1 Zone+1L 8 Top 10% 2 1 11 Top 10% 2 Zone 13 Top 10% 2 Zone+1L 14 Bottom 10% 2 1-18 Adapted from Lauer, 1997, U of Wisc
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
Allows for field days
The website
Preliminary Central zone combined (Cass, Steele, Griggs and Mahnomen Cos.) late maturing (<86) corn hybrid trial results, 2014. Brand Variety RM Moisture Yield (%) (bu/a) Thunder 4990 RR 90 21.0 208.5 NorthStar Genetics Viking VS 88-116 88 21.4 204.3 Wensman Seed W 8097VT2RIB 88 21.4 202.6 Thunder 7993 VT2P 93 25.4 200.7 Dahlman R44-26VT2PRIB 89 21.5 199.6 NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS 91-591 91 21.4 198.4 Peterson Farms Seed 73D91 91 22.4 197.8 NuTech/G2 Genetics 5F-091 91 22.2 197.6 NuTech 5B-290 90 22.1 197.6 Peterson Farms Seed 74K89 89 21.8 196.4 Dahlman R45-22VT2PRIB 90 21.5 196.4 Mustang 2287VT2P 87 19.5 196.3 Thunder 7188 VT2P RIB 88 22.0 195.7 Proseed 990 90 22.6 195.3 NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS 92-110 92 26.5 195.2 Hyland Seeds 8295RA 88 21.5 194.8 REA Hybrids 2B870 87 19.9 194.8 Proseed 1286 86 19.8 194.7 Legacy Seeds L-2813 VT2PRO 87 19.8 194.4 Nuseed 9001 VP3220 90 21.9 193.0 Legacy Seeds L-3011 VT3PRO 90 20.8 192.4 Wensman Seed W 80866VT2RIB 86 18.8 192.3 Thunder 6987 VT2P RIB 87 19.2 191.8 Peterson Farms Seed 77H87 87 19.8 191.7 Legacy Seeds L-2643 VT2PRO 86 20.8 191.5 Dairyland DS-9487RA 87 21.2 190.4 Wensman Seed W 80903VT2RIB 90 22.4 190.3 Producers Hybrids 4933 VT2RIB 89 22.1 189.5 Nuseed 8701 VT2P RIB 87 20.2 189.4
Preliminary Central zone, late maturing (>86) corn hybrid trial results for a single location, Mahnomen Co., MN, 2014. Brand Variety RM Moisture Yield (%) (bu/a) NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS 88-116 88 20.8 202.4 NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS 91-591 91 21.4 200.4 Mustang 2287VT2P 87 19.9 199.7 Dahlman R44-26VT2PRIB 89 20.8 194.4 Thunder 4990 RR 90 21.9 193.7 REA Hybrids 2B870 87 18.7 193.3 Nuseed 8701 VT2P RIB 87 21.0 192.3 Peterson Farms Seed 74K89 89 21.6 192.3 Thunder 7188 VT2P RIB 88 21.7 192.2 Legacy Seeds L-2643 VT2PRO 86 20.5 191.6 Thunder 7993 VT2P 93 25.9 191.5 Thunder 6987 VT2P RIB 87 19.7 191.0 Peterson Farms Seed 73D91 91 22.2 190.5 Dairyland DS-9487RA 87 20.5 190.2 Legacy Seeds L-2813 VT2PRO 87 20.0 190.1 NuTech/G2 Genetics 5F-091 91 24.2 188.1 Wensman Seed W 8097VT2RIB 88 21.6 187.9 Dahlman R45-22VT2PRIB 90 21.9 187.8 Wensman Seed W 80866VT2RIB 86 18.4 186.6 Mustang 2686VT3P 86 20.6 185.8 Proseed 1288 88 25.2 185.3 Hyland Seeds 8295RA 88 21.6 185.2 Thunder 4391 VT2P RIB 91 22.0 185.1 Mycogen 2J238 88 21.8 184.9 NorthStar Genetics - Viking VS 92-110 92 27.3 184.0 Legend Seeds LS 9487 VT2PRIB 87 21.5 183.9 Legacy Seeds L-2910 VT3PRO 88 20.5 182.7 Producers Hybrids 4933 VT2RIB 89 21.6 182.5 Hyland Seeds 8202RA 89 21.7 182.4 Peterson Farms Seed 77H87 87 20.3 182.2 Stine R9201VT3Pro 86 20.5 181.7
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