University of Wisconsin Crop Variety and Hybrid Trial Results

University of Wisconsin Crop Variety and Hybrid Trial Results

Joe Lauer

Every year, the University of Wisconsin Extension-Madison and College of Agricultural and Life Sciences conduct a corn evaluation program, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association. The purpose of this program is to provide unbiased performance comparisons of hybrid seed corn available in Wisconsin. These trials evaluate corn hybrids for both grain and silage production performance.

In 2011, grain and silage performance trials were planted at thirteen locations in four production zones. Both seed companies and university researchers submitted hybrids. Companies with hybrids included in the 2011 trials are listed in Table 1. Specific hybrids and where they were tested are shown in Table 2. Transgenic technologies of the hybrids grown are described in Table 3. In the back of the report, hybrids previously tested over the past three years are listed (Table 24). At most locations trials were divided into early and late maturity trials, based on the hybrid Relative Maturities provided by the companies. The specific relative maturities separating early and late trials are listed in the tables.

Results from the 2011 crop variety trials conducted by the University of Wisconsin can be found at the websites below. These trials are a “consumer report” of commercial varieties and hybrids offered for sale to farmers in Wisconsin. These results are derived from replicated plots grown around Wisconsin at university research stations and farmer fields.

•          2011 Wisconsin Corn Hybrid Performance Trial Results

•          2011 Wisconsin Soybean Variety Test Results

•          2011 Forage Variety Update for Wisconsin

•          2012 Wisconsin Oats and Barley performance tests

•          2011 Wisconsin Winter Wheat performance tests

These results offer the best predictor for next year’s potential performance of crop varieties.