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Hybrid Corn Selection
One of the most important management decisions a corn grower makes each year is the selection of corn hybrids for spring planting. During the past 50 years there has been a continuous improvement in the genetics of corn hybrids. These improvements have greatly contributed to steady increases in grain yield potential ranging from 0.5 to 2.0% per year. To stay competitive growers should introduce new hybrids to their planted acreage on a regular basis.
Growers should select hybrids best suited to their farm operation. Size of corn acreage, soil type, tillage practices, pest problems and desired harvest moisture determine needs of such traits as drydown, disease resistance, insect tolerance, early plant vigor, plant height and relative maturity.
End use of corn should always be considered: is corn to be used for grain or silage? Is it going to be utilized for wet milling? Is it to be sold directly to the elevator or the wet milling plant or primarily used on the farm to feed livestock? Capacity to harvest, dry and store grain corn also needs consideration.
The key factors to use in choosing corn hybrids are as follows:
*Maturity - Select hybrids with maturity ratings appropriate for your geographic area
or circumstances.
*Yield - Select hybrids with consistently high yields across a number of locations or
for two years.
*Stand Ability - Use hybrids that stand well throughout the season with tolerance to
stalk rots and green snap.
*Disease resistance or tolerance - Grow hybrids with tolerance/or resistance to stalk
rots, foliar diseases and ear rots.
*Seed Quality - Plant only high quality seed and seed sized to match your planters
capabilities.
*Drydown Rate - Choose hybrids that drydown rapidly or lose kernel moisture while in
the field.
*End Use - Choose hybrids which best fit the final utilization needs; wet milling,
feeding, silage, waxy corn or others.
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