Authors

• Jeff Anderson (12)
• Clint Bounds (1)
• Dustin Ellis (1)
• John Furlong (11)
• Brian Hartman (9)
• Rich Howe (3)
• Brad Johnson (3)
• Bill Kessinger (13)
• Dave Koehn (6)
• Tony Lenz (20)
• Doug McCleary (2)
• Tony Pleggenkuhle (11)
• Matt Raml (1)
• Kyle Ross (16)
• Jim Rowley (15)
• Kevin Ryan (15)
• Todd Schomburg (6)
• Doug Score (2)
• Stine Seed (21)
• Trevor Stockstad (3)
• Louis Sutton (18)
• Kenneth Wolf (3)

Subscribe to RSS Feed

« Return to Blog Main

By this time of year, most growers are making final planting decisions. If your plan doesn’t include on farm side-by-side comparisons to test new varieties and hybrids, it’s something to consider adding. The payoff can be well worth the time invested.

Dedicating about five percent of your acreage to side-by-side testing will give you an accurate comparison between the seed you’re using today and new products on the market. Splitting the planter will give you the truest comparison, but if you can’t do that, be sure to plant the two varieties or hybrids in blocks in the same field, rather than in test plots or in different fields, so you can avoid variations in soil types and  weather conditions.  

At harvest, Stine Regional Sales Agronomists all have access to weigh wagons which our customers can use to see how one variety or hybrid performs against another.  Combine yield monitors will also provide a pretty good comparison.   

In the past, some growers have been reluctant to do side-by-side comparisons, often because of the time involved. It does take a little more effort, but not usually more than a few hours. That’s minimal when you consider how much knowledge can be gained. Consider this: if you can find a hybrid that out yields the one you’re currently using by 10 bushels an acre, for 1,000 acres that is a potential gain of $60,000 dollars at $6.00 corn. It can make a big difference, for a relatively small time investment.  

If you have questions or want advice on side-by-side comparisons, contact me or a Stine RSA in your area. 

Regional Sales Agronomist Kenneth Wolf explains why Ignite herbicide is a companion tool, not a replacement for Roundup Ready.

Stine Seed Minute - Ignite is a companion tool for Roundup Ready

Growers are busy making their 2011 seed selections and many are inquiring about the weed control technologies available at Stine Seed. Regional Sales Agronomist Kenneth Wolf explains how Stine's diverse portfolio helps growers manage problem weeds and fight resistance.

In the Field with Kenneth Wolf - Soybean Technology Manages Glyphosate-Resistance