Pasture Walk Location: Mike and Linda Klooster farm, 6573 E. North Avenue, Kalamazoo MI 49048. For more information contact MSU Extension Educator emeritus Maury Kaercher (269-569-9592) or MSU Extension grazing educator Jerry Lindquist in Osceola County (231-832-6139)
June 19, 2013
Branch/St. Joseph County MAEAP Farm Field Day 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. at Mark Hacker Farms, 1275 Mendon/M-60, Athens, MI. For more information call 269-467-6336.
June 26, 2013
2013 MSU Weeds Tour
July 16, 17 & 18, 2013
MSU Ag Expo, July 16 & 17: 9 am-5 pm; July 18: 9 am - 3 pm. Questions? Please call 1-800-366-7055.
August 21, 2013
Center for Excellence 2013 Field Day. 8 a.m. to afternoon (includes lunch) - Bakerlads Farm, located on Cadmus Road, east of Morey Highway near Clayton, MI. Call 517-263-7400 for details.
Selecting Corn Hybrids and Soybean Varieties for 2010 Mike Staton, MSU Extension Agricultural Educator and Soybean 2010 Coordinator
Selecting corn hybrids and soybean varieties is one of the most important management decisions producers make. The hybrids and varieties you select will directly affect your yield potential and profits. Because of this, you should select your hybrids and varieties carefully. Consider the following factors when selecting the best adapted varieties for your farm -- yield, pest resistance or tolerance, maturity and standibility.
Yield
Yield is probably the most important characteristic to look for when selecting corn hybrids and soybean varieties. Refer to tables 1 through 4 to see how critical hybrid and variety selection is to your profitability. Yield potential under ideal growing conditions varies among hybrids and varieties. The maximum yield potential of a given hybrid or variety is also affected by weather and other environmental conditions. A hybrid/variety that has the highest yield potential under ideal conditions may not yield as well as others when confronted with yield limiting factors. The best way to account for this variability is to look at yield data from as many different environments as possible. Research has shown that evaluating performance over a wide range of locations and over multiple years will help you select the best adapted hybrids and varieties for your farm. Since hybrids and varieties have relatively short life spans, multiple-location data is easier to obtain than multiple-year data. The “Michigan Soybean Performance Report” and “Michigan Corn Hybrids Compared” are excellent sources for this information. Both publications are posted online at www.css.msu.edu/varietytrials soon after their release. The 2009 “Michigan Soybean Performance Report” should be posted by mid-November and “Michigan Corn Hybrids Compared in 2009” should be available in early December. Both publications are also published in the Michigan Farm News.
Table 1. Yield advantage of the highest-yielding hybrids over the average yield of all the hybrids and the lowest-yielding hybrids averaged across all locations in maturity zones 1, 2 and 3 from “Michigan Corn Hybrids Compared” (2005 – 2008).
Year
High – Average (bu/ac)
High – Low (bu/ac)
2005
21.4
61.8
2006
20.0
52.0
2007
23.3
47.6
2008
15.2
33.0
Table 2. 1Economic advantage of the highest-yielding hybrids over the average yield of all the hybrids and the lowest-yielding hybrids averaged across all locations in maturity zones 1, 2 and 3 from “Michigan Corn Hybrids Compared” (2005 – 2008).
Year
High – Average ($/ac)
High – Low ($/ac)
2005
$42.80
$123.60
2006
$60.80
$158.08
2007
$97.86
$199.92
2008
$61.56
$133.65
1Economic advantage per acre was determined by multiplying the yield advantage of the highest yielding hybrids by the USDA average prices received for each marketing year ($2.00/bu in 2005, $3.04/bu in 2006, $4.20/bu in 2007 and $4.05/bu in 2008).
Table 3. Yield advantage of the highest-yielding soybean varieties over the average yield of all the varieties and the lowest-yielding varieties averaged across all locations and maturity groups from the “Michigan Soybean Performance Reports” (Roundup Ready varieties only).
Year
High – Average (bu/ac)
High – Low (bu/ac)
2006
6.8
14.4
2007
5.8
14.1
2008
5.0
10.7
2009
5.0
12.1
Table 4. 2Economic advantage of the highest-yielding soybean varieties over the average yield of all the varieties and the lowest-yielding varieties averaged across all locations and maturity groups from the “Michigan Soybean Performance Reports” (Roundup Ready varieties only).
Year
High – Average ($/ac)
High – Low ($/ac)
2006
$43.72
$92.59
2007
$58.58
$142.41
2008
$49.85
$106.68
2009
$45.50
$110.11
2Economic advantage was determined by multiplying the yield advantage of the highest yielding varieties by the USDA average prices received for each marketing year -- $6.43/bu in 2006, $10.10/bu in 2007, $9.97/bu in 2008 (estimated) and $9.10/bu for 2009 (projected).
Maturity
The maturity range of the hybrids/varieties you select also affects your net income. Always select hybrids and varieties that will reach physiological maturity prior to a killing frost. The latest maturity soybeans planted should have yellow pods just before the date when there is a 20% chance of a killing frost occurring. Selecting soybean varieties that are too early for a given area will lead to lower yields as the plants will be filling seeds under hotter and drier conditions. Selecting varieties that are too late increases the risk of frost and freeze damage.
Corn hybrid maturity can have a significant effect on harvest moisture, drying costs an
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a sustainable approach for managing insects, weeds and plant diseases that combines the use of biological control, cultural, physical, and chemical tactics in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.
The Crop Advisory Team (CAT) Alert newsletters feature timely pest management information based on current conditions. MSU faculty and Extension field staff write and pest management concerns. Select one of the four editions: fruit, vegetable, field crop and landscape. With the exception of the landscape edition, the information is primarily for commercial production of crops.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a sustainable approach for managing insects, weeds and plant diseases that combines the use of biological control, cultural, physical, and chemical tactics in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.
The Crop Advisory Team (CAT) Alert newsletters feature timely pest management information based on current conditions. MSU faculty and Extension field staff write and pest management concerns. Select one of the four editions: fruit, vegetable, field crop and landscape. With the exception of the landscape edition, the information is primarily for commercial production of crops.
Diagnostics Services was established in 1999 as a multi-disciplinary plant health and pest diagnostic facility. Clients (growers, nusery managers, greenhouse operators, home-owners, etc). may submit samples for diagnosis of many types of problems. Samples can be analyzed for the presence of insect pests, pathogens or nematodes. Our weed scientist performs weed identifications and deals with herbicide related problems or issues.
This Web site provides information from Michigan State University, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the USDA Forest Service, and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to help you find answers to your questions about EAB. It also provides links to other EAB-related Web sites. Please refer back often, as information changes frequently.
For the best local information check with your local MSU Extension office, listed by county in the directory.
Highlights
Do you know your numbers?
The MSU Extension “I Know MI Numbers” (pronounced: “I know my numbers”) initiative is intended to inspire Michigan residents to actively engage in understanding what “numbers” translate into healthier living, a cleaner environment, educational achievement, good local government, and ultimately, a prosperous Michigan. The final goal is a state that is thriving and successful.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
