Compiled by Emerson D. Nafziger Michael D. Roegge James A. Morrison Robert C. Bellm

College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

ACES

Illinois Council for Food, and Agricultural Research

The Results of On-farm Specialty Corn and Soybean Research Program 2000

Improving Farm Income and Rural Communities Through Specialty Farm Products

 

Results of the 2000 On-farm Corn and Soybean Research Program [1]

Compiled by Emerson D. Nafziger, Michael D. Roegge,

James A Morrison, and Robert C. Bellm

Introduction

During the 2000 growing season, on-farm trials were carried out at 54 locations in 35 Illinois counties to compare yields and expected economic returns from different specialty corn hybrids and soybean varieties. The objective was to compile yield data and related information on cultivars with different specialty traits, and to compare these specialty crops with conventional elite hybrids and varieties under the same conditions. Producers can utilize these data as a way to predict performance and potential economic returns of these specialty grains within their own farming operation.  While the fact that these tests were run under a range of locations and conditions should make the averages more useful in predicting future performance, but future performance will depend on weather conditions, and can never be predicted with complete accuracy. Still, these results should be useful for comparison purposes under conditions reasonably similar to the rather average conditions in which these trials were grown in 2000.

Methods

The locations of the 32 corn trials are shown on the enclosed map, including 8 sites in Northern Illinois, 20 sites in Central Illinois, and 4 sites in Southern Illinois.  Locations in Northern and Central Illinois included 16 corn hybrids each and locations in Southern Illinois included 15 each.  A comparable map is included for the soybean trials, in which 9 varieties were planted at 12 locations in Northern Illinois, 10 varieties at 20 different locations in Central Illinois, and 5 varieties at 7 sites in Southern Illinois.   Corn hybrids and soybean varieties are listed by region below:

Northern Illinois

Corn Hybrids:  Conventional – AgriGold A6448, LG Seeds LG2569, Monsanto DK585;

Hard Endosperm – AgriGold A6427, QTIC QC9664, LG Seeds C7847, Pioneer 34K77; Waxy – Novartis N4342WX, Pioneer 34H98; High-Oil – AgriGold A6453TC, Monsanto DK621TC; White – Pioneer 34P93; Nutritionally Dense – Adler 4100, Diener 105; High Protein – Diener 108S; and High Starch – Novartis N59-Q9.

Soybean Varieties: Conventional – DeKalb CX232, Kaltenberg KB268C; STS – Kaltenberg KB252, Novartis S21-H7; High Protein – Public Savoy; Tofu – Adler 266FG, Public IA1008, Public IA3006, Novartis S24-12.

Central Illinois

Corn Hybrids:  Conventional – DeKalb 65-25, Golden Harvest H9345, LG Seeds LG2579, Lewis 5584; Hard Endosperm – Pioneer 33P66, Burrus 442, LG Seed LG2587, Horizon Genetics 7460CL; Waxy – DeKalb 624WX, Pioneer 33A63; High-Oil – Asgrow 748TC, Golden Harvest H9257; White – Asgrow 776W, Pioneer 32Y52; Nutritionally Dense – Lewis ND5000, Growmark 6581ND.

Soybean Varieties:  Conventional – LG Seeds 7317, Lewis 390, Pioneer 93B82; STS – LG Seeds 9280STS; High Isoflavone – Pioneer 93B11, Golden Harvest GH 1383; Tofu – Adler A2F3, Pacific Soybean PS 933, Public IA 3001; Natto – Adler Seed 359.

Southern Illinois

Corn Hybrids:  Conventional – Trisler 5298, AgriGold 6725, Burrus 663; Hard Endosperm – Burrus 442; Pioneer 33P66; Trisler T5313; AgriGold 6490; Waxy – Pioneer 33A63; High-Oil – AgriGold 6490, Burrus 560 TC3; White – Trisler T4214, AgriGold 6530.

Soybean Varieties:  Conventional – Bergman-Taylor BT379R; STS – GrowMark FSHT361; Tofu – ProfiSeed PSI2622FG, PSI386FG, PSI450FG

The hybrids and varieties chosen were selected to represent specific output traits, but the number of individual entries was limited due to plot size constraints. The high oil corn (HOC) hybrids were planted 48 rows wide and the nutritionally dense hybrids were planted 36 rows wide, with the middle 6 or 8 rows being harvested to reduce any cross-pollination that might affect yield performance and/or quality attributes. All other corn hybrids and soybean varieties were planted and harvested based on the relative size of each farmer’s equipment, and to allow for border rows between harvested strips. Corn hybrids were planted at 28,000 to 30,000 seeds per acre, with the HOC increased by 2,000 to 3,000 per acre. Soybean varieties were planted at 175,000 seeds per acre, with the tofu variety planted at 125,000 per acre. All other crop inputs followed each farmer’s specific management style.

Locations covered a range of different soil types and productivity ratings.The locations for the specialty corn and soybean trials carried out in 2000 are displayed on the maps below. All the trials were planted in a very timely manner due to favorable planting conditions. However, lack of favorable moisture conditions across most of the growing areas during the summer months resulted in lower than expected yields for some of the hybrids and varieties.  Population counts taken at harvest showed fairly good stands. Grain samples were analyzed for a number of quality traits, including protein and oil.

Results

The results from the specialty corn and soybean trials are found in Tables 1 and 2 below.  These data are the averages over all locations within each region. The added value for different specialty crops has been computed based on average, statewide premiums for 2000 (Source: 2000 Illinois Specialty Grain Handlers Survey). It is important to note that premiums vary at different locations across the state and premiums for some specialty crops are lower in 2001. The LSD values given are for comparison between individual entries. Applying them to group averages should be conservative; differences that are greater than the LSD value were likely “real,” and not due to random variability.  Such differences should occur under similar production conditions in the future.  Results from the 1999 specialty corn and soybean trials have been included in Appendix A for your convenience in comparing yearly on-farm research results.

Table 1: 2000 Specialty Corn Trial Results [2]

Table 2: 2000 Specialty Soybean Trial Results [5]

Discussion

The results from these trials show some rather large negative incomes from producing some of the specialty types of corn.  This partly reflects higher seed or other production costs for some of these, but it also results from the fact that some hybrids – and perhaps some hybrid types – simply had a “tough” year in 2000.  In many areas, the season was good early but dry late, and some hybrids suffered from stalk quality and lower yields because of this weather pattern.  We consider the results from 2000 to be accurate, but we also would acknowledge that standability and perhaps other traits related to plant health and stress tolerance were more important in 2000 than they would be in an average year.  In particular, nutritionally dense hybrids suffered severe lodging in most plots, and white corn did not stand well at all locations, particularly in Southern Illinois.  High-oil TOPCROSS^® hybrids also did not perform as well as they have in some previous years, perhaps due to weather-related problems.  We do not have a good explanation for the relatively low oil contents of the high-oil topcross^® hybrids in Northern Illinois.  Extractable starch of the “high extractable starch” hybrid in Northern Illinois was the same as that of the conventional hybrids; both were slightly higher than in other hybrids, and it appears that high starch may in general be related to high yield.  The nutritionally dense hybrids had higher protein quality – for example higher lysine content – than the other hybrids.  While this may not be completely reflected in the market premium, the feeding value of such hybrids would be higher than for conventional hybrids.

Acknowledgements:

The Value Project acknowledges the contributions and support provided by the following growers who participated in these on-farm trials, including: Dean and David Dedert, Adams County; Brian Bradley, Phil Koch and Charlie Snyder, Brown County; Marvin and Randell Johnson/ Gifford State Bank, Champaign County; Larry and Allen Keim and Neal Twitchell, Greene County; Richard Breckenridge, Christian County; Terry Pope and Allen Berry, Hancock County; John and Paul Uphoff, Livingston County; Logan County; Dan Duval, Mason County; Jerry Riggins and Russell Grain, McDonough County; Jim and Alan Reynolds, Montgomery County; Bill Streitmatter and Dana Stewart, Peoria County; Doug Gucker, Piatt County; Joe Pickerell, Sangamon County; Keith Worner, Tazewell County; Lester Frerichs, Vermilion County; Stanley Grebner, Woodford County; Mark Newport and Mike and Wayne Rhode, Boone County; Art and Eric Bingham, Joe Gulotta, and Leon Oleson, DeKalb County; Ken Beck/Beck Farms, LaSalle Farms; Barry Sutton, Lee County; Jeff Cappel, Paul Gibson, and Bill Horst, Ogle County; Howard Sincox, JoDaviess County; Jim Bob Young and Keith Landis, Whiteside County; Russ Higgins/Joliet Junior College, Will County; Lloyd Maxey, Marion County; Greg Guenther, St. Clair County; Lincoln Land Community College, Sangamon County; University of Illinois Orr Center, Pike County; Gillespie High School, Litchfield High School and Southwestern High School, Macoupin County; Triopia-Bluffs FFA, Morgan County; University of Illinois DeKalb Center, DeKalb County; Lakeland College, Coles County; University of Illinois Brownstown Center, Fayette County; University of Illinois Dixon Springs Center, Pope County; University of Illinois South Farm, Champaign County; University of Illinois Monmouth Center and Allison Research Farm, Warren County; University of Illinois Extension, Logan County; Henry White Experimental Farm, St. Clair County; and Twin County FS, Williamson County.

Emerson Nafziger, Professor of Crop Science, supervised this on-farm trial program and analyzed the data from these trials.  Michael Roegge, Cropping Systems Extension Educator from the Adams/Brown County Unit Office, Jim Morrison, Cropping Systems Extension Educator from the Rockford Extension Center, and Robert Bellm, Cropping Systems Extension Educator from the Edwardsville Extension Center; coordinated this on-farm research program in cooperation with extension colleagues from northern, central and southern Illinois. These colleagues included: Mark Maidak, JoDaviess County; Joe Schwamberger, Lee County; Aaron Duffelmeier, Morgan County; Bill Brink and Matt Montgomery, Springfield Extension Center; Pete Fandel, Woodford County; Marion Shier, Livingston County; Trent Torrance, McDonough County; Dido Kotile, Macomb Extension Center; John Fulton, Logan County; Gary Letterly, Christian County; Dennis Bowman, Champaign County; Rick Keim, Greene County; Roger Larson, Mason County; Bill Dare, Peoria County; Keith Worner, Tazwell County; Eric Adee, Warren County; Bill Hall, Boone County; Joy Gulotta,  DeKalb County; Dale Baird, Rockford Extension Center; Stan Eden, Ogle County; Greg Clark, Whiteside County; Ellen Phillips, Rockford Extension Center; Glen Hartman, Associate Professor Soybean Pathology and Genetics, and Wayne Pedersen, Associate Professor of Soybean Disease Management, University of Illinois National Soybean Research Center; Lyle Paul, Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center; John Pike, Southern Illinois University; Adam Anderson, Brownstown Agronomy Research Center; and Steve Ebelhar, Dixon Springs Agricultural Center.

For More Information

The Value Project has developed fact sheets for more than 20 different types of specialty corn and soybeans and it has current information on the location of different specialty corn and soybean markets in Illinois.  These fact sheets, an up-to-date searchable database of specialty soybean and corn markets, plus other information, such as a narrated slide presentation on contract evaluation, plus a contract evaluation check sheet can be found at the Value Project’s web site: http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/value/.  Producers who do not have Internet access can get this same information by contacting:

       Burton E. Swanson

       Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics

       University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

       412 Mumford Hall, 1301 West Gregory Drive

       Urbana, IL 61801

       Telephone: (217) 244-6978; Fax: (217) 333-5835; E-mail: swansonb@uiuc.edu

APPENDIX A [9]

Table 3: 1999 Specialty Corn Trial Results

Table 4: 1999 Specialty Soybean Trial Results