How to Choose Corn Hybrids

Posted By Team Latham

Hybrid selection is a critical component to maximizing yields.  Each year new trait options and different stacked products become available, making it more challenging to determine which hybrid is the right hybrid for each of your fields.

To make it easier, we’ve assembled a list of three key things to keep in mind as you choose hybrids for 2011 planting:

  1. Mix up the maturity in your seed selection, which allows you to hedge against the effects of mid-summer heat during pollination and to capture genetic gain due to increased maturity.
  2. Look at your seed portfolio the same way you look at your financial portfolio: shoot for balance. For instance, you wouldn’t want to place every penny you have in overseas stock accounts. You also don’t want to put all of your bets on one particular hybrid only because it’s known for high yields or on another hybrid because it’s known for root and stalk strength. Planting both defensive and offensive hybrids helps manage your risk and increase your overall yield potential.
  3. It’s smart to have a portfolio that is diverse in genetic sourcing, so you can balance performance and help manage risk.

Overall, the best way to manage your risk is by planting more than one hybrid on your farm and by selecting more than one trait package to maximize overall yield.

It’s important to note that yield comes from genetics and traits help protect the plant against the presence of stress or pests.  Without that pressure, however, non-traited varieties can also perform well. While traits are extremely important and heavily recommended, we consider it our responsibility to make the best recommendation for your soil and your business. 

At Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, we take pride in working with our customers to help them choose hybrids that will help maximize yields and increase profitability. If you have questions about what trait might be best for your soil, please contact us with a comment in the field below, send an email to service@lathamhybrids.com, or call
1-877-GO-LATHAM (1-877-465-2842).

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