Corn Hybrid Trials Online

Chad Lee, Extension Agronomist, University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky corn for grain hybrid trials and corn for silage hybrid trials are online.

The corn for grain trials were planted at seven locations around the state, two of which are irrigated. Hybrids were divided into early, medium, late and white corn tests. The early hybrids were rated to mature by 111 days or earlier. The medium hybrids were rated to mature in 112 to 115 days and the late hybrids were rated to mature at 116 days or later. The report includes yields, test weight, moisture, final stand and lodging. All of these parameters help assess hybrid quality. When possible, yields are averaged across two and three years. The three-year averages across all locations provide the best predictor for hybrid performance next season.

2015 Corn Silage Hybrid Report Available

Nick Roy, ANR Extension Agent, Adair County, University of Kentucky
Chad Lee, Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

The 2015 Corn Silage Hybrid Trial is available online. and is linked to the variety testing page.  The test evaluated 20 hybrids submitted by 10 seed companies. A test was conducted in three locations in Kentucky: Green County, Boyle County and Bracken County. All yields were corrected to 35% dry matter. There was a yield difference of 5.9 tons/acre between the highest and lowest yielding hybrid for this. Forage quality tests combined with yield allowed us to estimate milk production for each hybrid. There potential milk production difference from the best and worst performing hybrid was 11,652 pounds per acre. Based on current milk prices, that is worth $2,323 of milk per acre.

Simply choosing the correct hybrids could greatly impact the bottom line. Hybrid selection should always be based off of performance across multiple locations. We encourage you to compare the results from this trial to results from other non-biased trials. If you have questions about this test, contact your local county extension agent.

2015 Silage Performance Test: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/PR/PR691/PR691.pdf

Corn Silage Trials Available

Chad Lee, Extension Agronomist, University of Kentucky

The 2014 Corn Silage Trials are available online. Twenty-two hybrids were submitted for testing and those hybrids were planted in Boyle County, Casey County and Mason County. University of Kentucky personnel harvested, chopped, weighed,  packaged corn forage samples, analyzed the data and generated the report. Corn forage analysis was conducted by Dairy One.

The first table in the test is the data averaged across all three locations. This is the best data to use for selecting hybrids next season. A combination of corn tonnage and forage quality should be considered when selecting hybrids. Compare the results from this report with other relevant, unbiased silage trials to learn more about hybrid performance. Since half the total forage weight generally comes from the ear, grain trials can also be viewed to gain a better idea about tonnage. Grain trials will not help with forage quality values. County Extension Agents and producers were essential to conducting this test. If you have questions about the test or hybrids, contact your county extension office.