Evaluating corn hybrids, planning for profit, and questions to ask your seed supplier — LIVE! with Doug Alderman

by

Welcome back for this 2021 season of RealAg LIVE!

To kick off the New Year, we’re talking planning, planning, and more planning when it comes to corn acres in the year ahead. To get the goods on what main areas to focus on — from hybrid selection and trials, to resistance management, overall agronomy, and even a bit on your own health — Kara Oosterhuis is joined by Doug Alderman of PRIDE Seeds.

Don’t miss RealAg LIVE! weekdays at 3 pm Eastern on your favourite social media platform!

SUMMARY

  • Evaluating new lines — can’t base decisions on just one year.
  • What about keeping staff up-to-date on information and agronomic knowledge?
  • Technology and hybrid selection go hand in hand
  • Pre-commerical trials (PCR) play a key role
  • Like Junior hockey players (Go Canada!)
  • Working traits into new lines and evaluating seed treatment options
  • Resistance to Bt technology showing up in Ontario
  • Brought out in 95/96. Wow.
  • A move to soil-applied insecticides? Possibly.
  • Crop rotation is still number one.
  • Work with your agronomist to develop a plan
  • Usually see beetles (adult rootworm) feeding on corn ear silks, which means we will likely see it in the next year
  • This spring, get that planter ready well ahead of time! Check settings, bushings, wear points, everything
  • What’s the plan for maximized production on every acre?
  • Seeding depth is so important. And get that population dialled in.
  • All of these moving parts require a plan. Start early, visit it often.
  • Are the yield goals in line with what’s possible with your soil type, the hybrid choice, the seeding rate?
  • What key questions should farmers be asking their sales or market agronomist/seed company rep? Data! Walk me through it. Maximize that potential.
  • Marketing and pricing crop are key, too, and works into the acreage mix (but remember Rotation! Rotation! Rotation!)
  • Is more storage space on the table?
  • Be flexible in your planning, too.
  • NEW hybrid – how do you try new ones? How many hybrids should a farmer plant?
  • It really needs to come down to the farm. Start with the heat units, and whittle down the list from there. Short, medium, and longer hybrid, all within that window. Risk management! Some are more risk averse than others.
  • Field by field and farm by farm approach
  • There’s no magic number on acres of a new hybrid, either, but make sure you’re keeping it reasonable, but over enough ground to get a good sense of it. You might choose more acres if you’re more confident in the hybrid’s performance trial data.
  • Have a plan for taking care of yourself, too! Keep your physical and mental well being sharp. We miss the one-on-one business too!
  • We can use the tools — video calls and online learning
  • Be optimistic and make some plans. It’s important.

Wake up with RealAgriculture

Subscribe to our daily newsletters to keep you up-to-date with our latest coverage every morning.

Wake up with RealAgriculture

Other Episodes

RealAg LIVE! (view all)Season 2 (2021) Episode 87
Episodes:

Please register to read and comment.

 

Register for a RealAgriculture account to manage your Shortcut menu instead of the default.

Register