Better Farming Focus on Corn: What are your corn genetic choices for 2010?

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A visit to the Better Farming website will tell you what you need to know

By DON STONEMAN

Looking for new corn genetic choices to plant when spring comes around in 2010? Just go to the Better Farming website to find them.

The newest breakthrough technology in corn hybrids this year is in SmartStax, a collection of eight different traits conferring Roundup and Liberty weed spray tolerance, along with above-and below-ground insect resistant traits, in a single hybrid.

This collaboration by Dow AgroSciences and Monsanto, which is also licensed to other seed breeding companies, isn't the only new technology available. Over a dozen seed companies are offering more than 150 new corn hybrids unavailable to growers in previous growing seasons.

Some hybrids contain characteristics conferred by genetic modification and some do not.

The corn chart (found at www.betterfarming.com) is searchable using a combination of maturity range, hybrid name, company, yield, drydown, stalk strength characteristics and best use. Each hybrid is accompanied by a list of characteristics provided by the company.

Because companies are not required to test their offerings before sending them to the marketplace, there are many hybrids on this list that have not been seen in official Ontario Corn Committee trials.

Please bear in mind that the characteristics ascribed to the hybrids are not objective; they were provided bythe company marketing the hybrid.

Hybrids are marked as to their best purpose, grain, silage, or dual. Some hybrids are suitable for all markets, while other are not suitable for markets in the European Union.

A hybrid's acceptance in Europe as of Jan. 1, 2010, is also indicated on the chart. BF