Lincoln, Nebraska
October 28, 2005
Source:
CropWatch,
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Variety and hybrid selection --
the right choice for your farm
Choosing the
proper hybrid or variety can greatly enhance profitability of
growing a crop. Corn hybrids and soybean varieties perform
differently on different farms and years, making it important to
view data from multiple locations and years. Planting several
varieties or hybrids increases genetic diversity if they are
chosen properly. Use of genetically modified varieties or
hybrids can be profitable if they fit into the management scheme
of the farm. Using varieties or hybrids which are tailor-made
for a specific end user may be profitable but requires more
labor and management along with marketing skills.
How fast
should you change hybrids or varieties? An Auburn study compared
the top hybrids from a three-year regional average, which
yielded 114 bushels, with the top hybrids from the previous
year’s test yielding 119 bushels -- a 5 bushel increase. This
data was based on comparisons from 11 locations and 8 years.
This increase was at the 114 to 119 bushel level. Does this
double at the 224 to 238 bushel level?
Plant
breeders depend on the response of a genotype being different in
different environments to make improvements in varieties and
hybrids for a given geographic area. Grain producers need to be
aware of that same response when searching for the best variety
selection for their farm. The cost of seed of the best adapted
variety and a lesser adapted variety may be equal so the benefit
derived from spending the time to choose the correct variety is
pure profit.
Table
1. Comparison of widely grown and farmer entries with
top company corn entries. |
|
Popular |
Popular |
Top
Com. |
Highest |
Highest |
County |
Number |
Entries |
Entries |
Popular |
Company |
|
|
Bu/A Yield |
Furnas Irr |
12 |
238 |
256 |
261 |
268
|
Red
Willow Irr |
12 |
218 |
250 |
268 |
273
|
Lincoln Irr |
12 |
294 |
305 |
307 |
317
|
Dundy
Irr |
12 |
239 |
257 |
270 |
269
|
Dawson Irr |
12 |
169 |
171 |
188 |
177
|
Custer Irr |
12 |
231 |
244 |
244 |
255
|
Brown
Pivot Irr |
10 |
207 |
220 |
251 |
232
|
Brown
Furrow Irr |
10 |
186 |
206 |
212 |
225
|
Clay
Irr |
10 |
232 |
250 |
249 |
257
|
York
Irr |
16 |
244 |
253 |
267 |
260
|
Buffalo Irr |
8 |
220 |
235 |
230 |
250
|
Filmore Irr |
8 |
206 |
223 |
217 |
225
|
Pierce Irr |
7 |
188 |
211 |
204 |
215
|
Average |
221 |
237 |
244 |
248 |
|
Comparing
yield data
Within the
University of Nebraska–Lincoln variety testing program,
varieties are included because either the farmer cooperators are
growing them on the farm or because they are widely grown in
that area. These are termed “popular” or “widely grown” entries.
Table 1 summarizes information from 13 irrigated corn tests in
Nebraska in 2004. Column 1 lists the county where the trial was
grown. Column 2 lists the total number of popular and company
corn hybrids which were compared and Column 3 gives the average
yield of the popular entries. Column 4 gives the yield of the
same number of top hybrids entered by seed companies in the
test. This average showed a 16 bu/ac advantage of the company
over the popular hybrids. Such a comparison may be too severe
since it includes all the popular hybrids and only the top
company entries. Column 5 lists the top popular hybrid. The
average of Column 5 at all locations is 7 bu/ac higher than the
top group of company entries. Finally, Column 6 shows the yield
of the top company entry. This average is above the average of
the top popular entries in Column 5 by 4 bu/ac. The message from
this is that there is an opportunity to improve the yields on
your farm by choosing the proper adapted hybrid.
One reason
for the yield advantage of company entries is that they are
usually more recently developed than varieties which were widely
grown the previous year. It has been stated that corn hybrids
are improving at the rate of one bu/ac per year and soybean at
the rate of one-half bu/ac per year. This leaves an interesting
dilemma in using yield data to select varieties. Research
indicates that data becomes more reliable as we add locations
and years. Unfortunately, each year of data we add makes the
variety that much further behind. Recently, there is more
interest in using only two years data from two or more locations
when making variety selections. Corn genetics are changing so
fast that waiting for a third year of data can be costly.
Selecting
complementary traits
Resources on variety/hybrid
Several University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension
resources are available to help you in your variety and
hybrid selection:
These
resources, developed by the UNL Department of Agronomy,
provide the results from hybrid and variety trials
conducted across the state. Some results from this
year’s corn harvest are already available and more are
being added as they’re available. |
Most
producers choose more than one variety for their farm. There are
many benefits to having several varieties. The first benefit is
from having genetic diversity. This assures having the best
variety for a given year. One method of obtaining diversity is
to select varieties from the top yielding group which are
different in harvest moisture or other traits. Another advantage
of growing several varieties is to spread the maturity date.
Some agronomists advise planting the earliest maturing varieties
first to further spread the harvest schedule and the pollination
period. Another advantage of growing several varieties is the
disease and insect resistance package each brings to your farm.
Overall, including several diverse varieties spreads the risk
and workload. Also, if an early maturing hybrid gets early
season frost damage, it can be replanted later in the season
without changing hybrids.
Data about
soybean, corn, grain sorghum, sunflower, grain pea, proso and
foxtail millet are available from many sources. The University
of Nebraska Seed Guide (EC 05-101) is a good starting place in
choosing a new variety. Information from this publication is
also available on the Web at varietytest.unl.edu. These trials
allow for fair comparisons of entries from many companies.
Information presented includes yield, moisture, bushel weight,
disease reaction when differences were noted, and other
characteristics when available. This data is also summarized
over multiple locations and years. After identifying some
superior varieties from these tests, consult literature or
representatives from the companies that market them to get
further information about other strengths and weaknesses of each
variety. Once a new variety is chosen, we would suggest that it
be limited to less than 20% of your acres the first year and
increased the second year if its performance warrants that.
A number of
characteristics have been mentioned here regarding variety
selection. Generally yield is the first factor considered in
choosing a new variety. Maturity is usually a close second. In
the case of corn, maturity will influence planting date,
determine harvest date, harvest moisture, and the chances of
getting caught with immature corn in case of an early frost.
With soybean, the maturity will be more closely related to the
area of adaptation. A maturity group that is inappropriate will
not perform well regardless of planting date or harvest date.
Other factors to consider with both crops are disease
resistance, insect resistance, herbicide resistance, quality,
and in some cases, price of seed.
To GMO, or
not to GMO
In addition to buying
the genetics you need, it’s important that you don’t
pay for the genetics you don’t need. |
There has
been a lot of discussion about Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs). The following discussion will not end that debate, but
provides some things to consider.
First,
changing to a GMO should be part of a well planned management
scheme. A decision to use a Roundup Ready variety, for example,
will influence the type of pre-emergence herbicide, the timing
and type of post emergence herbicide, and should be decided
based on the type of weeds in a field. There is an additional
cost for GMO seed and that must be weighed against the cost of
competing herbicides, ease of management and other specific
requirements.
Second, the
cost of GMO seed must be compared to its benefits. In the case
of Bt corn, you should factor in the cost of treatment, the odds
of needing treatment and the damage caused by corn borer. In the
case of herbicide resistance, it is more cost effective when
planted in areas with high weed pressure or hard-to-control
weeds. These same varieties may not be profitable on fields
where weeds can be easily controlled with pre-emergence
herbicides. Seed of varieties with “stacked” genes can be very
expensive -- in some cases doubling the price. These genes
should be purchased because they are needed, not because they
are available.
Third,
consider the market for GMO grain. While many GMO events have
been officially accepted in many markets, citizens of some of
those markets are boycotting all GMOs. This may leave an
opportunity to reap a small premium for grain that is not GMO.
The picture is changing daily and it requires considerable study
and planning before planting.
Designer
traits
A final topic
for discussion is the use of “designer traits”. By this we are
referring to traits which are incorporated into a variety
designed for a specific end user. Examples in soybean include
uses as edemame, tofu, miso, and natto. In corn, examples
include white, high oil, modified starch, and yellow food grade.
Using genetic engineering, it is possible to change the oil
components, starch characteristics, and many other traits to
exactly fit the specifications of a product’s end user. Any
producer wanting to make maximum profits from a crop should
continue to investigate these possibilities; however, be aware
that marketing varieties with these designer traits becomes more
of a challenge.
There will be
a much higher requirement in terms of crop management with more
stringent requirements for the quality of the end product.
Varieties with these designer traits should be viewed more as an
alternate crop because of the higher management and labor costs
along with marketing challenges.
Proper
planning and attention to the market should allow producers to
take advantage of the superior genetics that are being marketed
each year in both corn and soybean. It will require studying
information from many sources and some trial and error on your
farm. In addition to buying the genetics you need, it’s
important that you don’t buy and pay for genetics you don’t
need.
Robert N.
Klein
Extension Cropping Systems Specialist |