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Variety and hybrid selection -- the right choice for your farm
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
 

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