Ames, Iowa
December 20, 2004
Several changes are in store next year for the Iowa Crop
Performance Tests for corn and soybeans, the statewide
program that evaluates the performance of crop varieties.
The tests, which are conducted cooperatively by the
Iowa Crop
Improvement Association (ICIA) and
Iowa State University's
Department of Agronomy, provide Iowa seed producers and
farmers with information on the performance of corn hybrids,
soybean varieties and other field crops.
"High-quality, unbiased data on commercial seed have been
the hallmark of the testing program since its inception in
1920," said Del Koch, director of the ICIA.
"We're always open to suggestions on how to improve the
tests and welcome the input," said Kendall Lamkey, Pioneer
Hi-Bred Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding in the
Department of Agronomy. "Based on feedback we've been
hearing, we plan to make some changes for 2005 that we think
will improve the tests and make them more user friendly to
Iowans."
Program
changes for 2005 will include:
-
Redrawing
testing districts for both corn and soybeans, with the
goal of achieving a better representation of the
production areas of the state. Some testing locations
will include both corn and soybeans tests
-
Better
integration of tests with ISU's extension and research
programs
-
Improved
presentation of individual location results
-
Posting of
test results on the Web as they become available
-
Reformatted, more user-friendly printed reports
- Hiring of
a new manager to oversee the tests in early 2005
Koch
said a mailing of procedures and entry forms for the 2005
growing season will be sent to seed producers in January.
Questions and comments can be directed to Koch, (515)
294-4166 or
dkoch@iastate.edu, or Lamkey, (515) 294-7826;
krlamkey@iastate.edu.
The Iowa Crop Improvement Association, a nonprofit
organization, is the official seed-certifying agency in
Iowa. ICIA's membership is made up of farmers, seed
producers and others interested in crop improvement. The
ICIA's current president is Mike Bielenberg of
Syngenta/Garst.
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