WESTFIELD, Ind. — Yield data is critical when testing new corn hybrids, but there’s only so much you can learn about a product from numbers in a spreadsheet. That’s why every new hybrid AgriGold launches has been ground-truthed by several teams of experts in research plots around the country.
“Getting eyes on ears is important,” says AgriGold Brand Product Manager Steve Schany. “The more people we have evaluating corn hybrids in farmers’ fields, the better our opportunity to gauge their capabilities and whether they are good enough to be added to our lineup.”
Research plots grounded in the realities of farming
The research plots AgriGold uses as testing grounds for its hybrids are located across North America in areas the brand sells corn seed. The pre-commercial research (PCR) system covers most yield environments and farmer practices.
AgReliant Genetics contracts with farmers to establish these plots. “We adopt the farmers’ practices — planting rates, fertility programs, fungicide applications — to keep our plots aligned with the realities of farming,” Schany details. “There are some thresholds on critical nutrients like nitrogen. But generally, we go with what the farmer does in that field.”
Many eyes on ears
“After planting comes evaluation mode,” Schany says. There’s a group of product experts called technical product specialists (TPSs) who look at products every day throughout the growing season. Their notes help the brand determine what hybrids bring to the table, as well as any limitations to be managed around.
AgriGold’s product management team also spends time in these research plots and provides additional feedback to the TPS team. Brand agronomists are also given a sneak peek into a limited number of research plots just before they are harvested.
This enables agronomists to better understand the strengths of new hybrids entering the market and assess how they align with customer needs. It helps them make better placement and management recommendations. “When we launch a new corn seed product, our goal is to know that new hybrid as well as one that’s been in our lineup for five years,” Schany says.
Metrics beyond yield
In the business of seed, yield is king. “With any new corn hybrid, our goal is for it to outyield the product it’s going to replace or fill a specific market need,” Schany says. It also needs to be a consistent performer.
Beyond high yields, other important metrics AgriGold evaluates in field corn seed trials include:
- Emergence
- Early season vigor
- Stalk strength
- Root structure
- Ability to withstand disease pressure
- Standability
They also analyze how corn hybrids handle things like heavy wind or poorly drained soils. That helps the team decide whether products make the lineup and where they’ll work best for farmers.
Agronomist feedback key to products success
Heading into 2025, Schany says tar spot, corn rootworm, drought tolerance and late-season standability are top of mind for farmers around the Corn Belt. But that list changes from season to season.
“As farmers’ operations progress and evolve, we’re always trying to stay ahead of those needs,” Schany says. “We rely on our sales and agronomy teams to help us identify and anticipate those needs because they’re the ones out in fields talking to customers every day. They see customers’ struggles firsthand.”
After about five years, farmers tend to wonder whether a better hybrid option is out there. “Our goal is to stay ahead of that need, too,” he says.
Why farmers can confidently plant new hybrids
When a farmer incorporates a new hybrid, Schany says there are several reasons to be confident in that decision. The PCR process has a lot of new hybrids, but also a lot of internal commercial checks. Those checks might be existing leaders within the AgriGold portfolio or corn hybrids that serve regional niche needs.
Those hybrid checks act as benchmarks. “If we’re going to replace a hybrid in our lineup,” Schany says, “we want to be confident in its ability to outperform its predecessor in agronomics and/or yield.”
The inclusion of benchmark products also enhances product understanding, helping the team get a better feel for what environments they can be planted in and their capabilities. “It helps us determine whether new hybrids check the box for various market needs,” Schany says. “And it makes our agronomists more confident in their ability to help farmer customers choose the best hybrids for their acres.”
To learn more about AgriGold’s exciting new offerings and where they might fit on your farm, reach out to your local AgriGold agronomist.
ABOUT AGRIGOLD
AgriGold offers high-performing hybrids paired with the latest agronomic knowledge and data to achieve exceptional crop performance, year after year. Based in Westfield, Indiana, AgriGold is for the farmer who wants a true seed partner that is an ally in the field. For more information, visit AgriGold.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X, formerly known as Twitter.
ABOUT AGRELIANT GENETICS
AgReliant Genetics is committed to providing trusted seed solutions that help farmers grow. We do this by focusing solely on seed and delivering one-of-a-kind, high-performing hybrids. Founded in 2000 by global seed companies KWS and Limagrain, AgReliant Genetics benefits from direct access to a global corn germplasm pool and has a top four corn research program. Through our seed brands — AgriGold® and LG Seeds in the U.S. and PRIDE® Seeds in Canada — we proudly offer the latest innovation to our farmer customers, whether they grow corn, soybeans, sorghum or alfalfa. Discover more at AgReliantGenetics.com.
Contacts:
Ashley Davenport
[email protected]
574-780-0203
Julianne Johnston
[email protected]
319-233-0502
The information and statements contained in this release are merely for informational and educational purposes and do not guarantee future performance. Performance may vary from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW IRM, WHERE APPLICABLE, GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS.
AgriGold®, the AgriGold Design® and FieldGX™ are trademarks of AgReliant Genetics, LLC.
©2024 AgReliant Genetics, LLC
–AgReliant Genetics, LLC
