MSU Extension Corn

Introduction

The Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences conducts the Michigan Corn Performance Trials each year in cooperation with MSU AgBioResearch, the Ohio State University, seed corn companies and farmers to determine yield and quality performance for corn hybrids throughout the state of Michigan.

Entries

Seed companies are invited to enter their hybrids in the trials and a fee is charged to cover incurred expenses. Separate indices for grain (pg. 10 and 11) and silage (pg. 25) provide a list of all hybrids entered in the 2022 trials. A total of 204 hybrids from 15 brand names make up the 230 entries, which translates into 2,760 separate plots planted across 12 grain locations and 9 silage locations in Michigan in 2022. Hybrids are entered into zones based upon growing degree days and then grouped into Early and Late trials based upon relative maturities. Company names used in association with hybrid numbers refer to the brand. Hybrid numbers are designated by the company.

Hybrids may have a seed-applied insecticide that is not listed in the bulletin. These seed-applied insecticides may enhance yield. The “TRAIT” column lists the abreviation for a hybrids technology package, Hybrid technologies and their respective abbreviations can be found in Table D.1 (pg. 7). Trait codes used to define these hybrid technologies can be found in Table D.2 (pg. 7). All other hybrid traits not listed in Tables D.1 or D.2, pertaining only to hybrids with the given superscript per the hybrid index (page 10, 11 and 25, respectively), can be found in Table D.3 (pg. 7).

How to Use This Bulletin

Tables list hybrids alphabetically and contain yield results for each location along with trial averages within each zone. Complete one-year yield results are listed in tables for each trial within each zone, where data is available. Two-year yield results can be found on our website listed below. One- year single-site results are less reliable than multiple year and multiple location averages, therefore one-year single- site results should be interpreted with more caution. Confidence in corn performance data increases as the number of years and the number of testing locations increase. Results for corn grain and corn silage trials are also listed on our website: https://www.canr.msu.edu/varietytrials

Results are the average of four replications grown in close proximity to one another. Two or more plots of the same hybrid in the same field may produce somewhat different results because of uncontrolled variability in the soil and other environmental factors. Replication and randomization of entries are two methods employed to reduce this variability. Because these methods do not eliminate all variability, the magnitude of difference necessary for statistical significance has been calculated for yield, moisture content, and test weight. The least significant difference (LSD) is the amount an individual hybrid would have to differ from another hybrid to be considered significantly different. The coefficient of variability (CV) is indicative of a trial’s precision. Trials with low levels of error variation have lower CV values.

The highest yielding hybrid in each trial is indicated with a double asterisk (**), hybrids that are not significantly different from the highest yielding hybrid are indicated with a single asterisk (*). Other agronomic information relative to each trial is given in Table B for the grain trials (pg. 9) and Table C for the silage trials (pg. 24). Fertilizer amounts are shown as total pounds per acre of N, P2O5, and K2O applied during the season.

Season in Summary: 2022

Entry forms for participating companies were due March 15th; by the end of March seed was starting to arrive. After a lot of paperwork, printing labels, and placing labels on packets, we began counting seeds and filling packets. Seed packets were sorted by trial and location and organized according to the randomization for each location.

Planting commenced in Ingham County on May 11th and ended in Iosco and Osceola Counties on June 3rd. Changes in county locations for the 2022 season included moving the Missaukee County location to Gingrich Meadows in Osceola County.

Weed control was applied at trial locations as needed. Fertilizer applications were consistent with rates that were necessary based on soil type, soil samples, and cooperator recommendations for the field. Stand counts were conducted at all trial locations between the V4 and V6 growth stages.

Silage harvesting began on September 13th in Branch County, and finished on September 22nd in Iosco and Presque Isle Counties. Grain harvest started on October 22nd in Ingham County and ended November 29th in Presque Isle County.

Due to various uncontrollable circumstances, the Wood and Huron County locations have been dropped. Due to severe lodging, Presque Isle - Early Grain trial was also dropped.

Table A (pg. 5) presents 2022 accumulations of temperature, rainfall, and heat units plus their deviation from 30- year norms. Data is obtained from Michigan State University weather stations located closest to each trial location. Actual accumulation at each location may vary slightly. The weather summary is provided by Dr. Jeff Andresen from the Department of Geography using data from the Michigan State University Agricultural Weather Office.