Visit the following links for details:

2011 Grain Hybrid Trial Results

2011 Silage Hybrid Trial Results

When selecting hybrids, it is best to choose hybrids that perform well over multiple locations in a region. Consistent performance over multiple locations with different soil and weather conditions is critical because we cannot predict next year's growing conditions, and a hybrid that performs well over multiple environments will have a high potential of performing well next year.

In the past, the performance of a given set of hybrids could be evaluated over multiple years at a given location, but that is less realistic now because the lifespan for a typical corn hybrid today is just a few years.

To reduce risk, growers are encouraged to select hybrids based on trial results from multiple sources, including universities, seed companies and on-farm strip trials. Results from unbiased and replicated trials that include multiple hybrids from different companies are of particular importance.

Click on the links below for results from additional corn hybrid trials:

Minnesota Corn Growers Association grain hybrid trials
University of Minnesota grain and silage hybrid trials (2010 and earlier)
Iowa State University grain hybrid trials
North Dakota State University grain hybrid trials
South Dakota State University grain hybrid trials
University of Wisconsin grain and silage hybrid trials

Considerations for grain hybrid selection
Hybrid selection begins with maturity. Identify an acceptable maturity range based on the number of growing degree days (GDDs) required for a hybrid to reach physiological maturity (black layer).

Selected hybrids should reach maturity at least 10 days before the first average freeze (32⁰F) to allow time for grain dry-down and to provide a buffer against a cool year or late planting.

Detailed information about the number of GDDs available for corn production for multiple locations and various planting dates, along with information on the relationship between GDDs and corn relative maturity (RM) is available at http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/M1276.html

Plant multiple hybrids of varying maturity to spread risk and widen the harvest interval.

Detailed information on corn grain yields and harvest moisture for various RMs across Minnesota is available at http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/M1276.html

Hybrids should also be selected according to agronomic traits such as standability, disease tolerance, emergence and the need for transgenic resistance to insects and herbicides within a given production system. Standability is a key trait for ensuring that the grain produced is harvestable.

Considerations for silage hybrid selection
One of the first things to consider when selecting silage hybrids is maturity. Longer-season hybrids tend to have higher silage yields.

A general guideline is that hybrids planted for silage should be 5 to 10 days longer in RM than the hybrids planted for grain. However, these later-maturing hybrids may not be the best choice for a producer wanting early silage or the option to harvest the corn for grain.

Select hybrids that have a range in RM, as this widens the harvest window. Harvesting at the correct moisture level is critical for producing high-quality silage and, if missed, can negate the benefits of good hybrid selection.

Planting hybrids with a range in maturity also widens the pollination window, thereby reducing the risk that one's entire crop will experience hot and dry conditions during pollination.

Other important agronomic considerations when selecting silage hybrids include herbicide and insect resistance for the given cropping system and tolerance to drought and disease.

Selecting a hybrid with a high rating for drought tolerance may be useful on droughty soils or in dry regions. Standability is less important for silage hybrids than grain hybrids due to the earlier time of harvest.

Since corn silage is an energy source for animal performance, producers should consider both silage quality and yield when selecting hybrids. Milk per ton is an overall indication of silage quality and is estimated from forage analyses for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), NDF digestibility (NDFD), starch and non-fiber carbohydrate.

Once a suitable group of hybrids has been identified based on milk per ton and yield, further selection within this group can be based on specific forage quality and agronomic traits. Consulting with a livestock nutritionist during the hybrid selection process helps to ensure that selected hybrids will have the necessary nutritive value for your herd.  FG

—University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News website, http://blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/cropnews/