Key Takeaways:

• Look beyond the plot winners when choosing corn hybrids.
• The broader the dataset, the better when it comes to that decision-making.
• Look for consistency and reliability when analyzing harvest data to pick corn seed.

As harvest data flows in and growers begin planning next season’s seed lineup, LG Seeds Agronomist Grant Odle encourages them to think big picture. “Use all the data you can get — what you’re seeing in your fields as well as in test plots and trial data that’s available through your agronomist,” he says. “An expanded dataset can help growers fully grasp what products are able to perform in an environment that changes each year.”

 He warns against getting hung up on any single performance, especially when looking at a narrow dataset, such as an individual plot. “Consistency and reliability — across years, plots and conditions — are what reveal the true winners that can help your farm succeed,” Odle says.

Look beyond the plot winners

“I always encourage growers to look beyond what’s winning the plots and to see what products are consistently finishing in the upper half,” Odle says. It’s the same principle as you see with professional sports. “There are many talented athletes who could go pro based on one good performance,” he says. “But the ones who last in the big leagues are the athletes who deliver season after season.” 

“That’s the sort of reliability and consistency growers should be looking for with seed,” Odle says. Each year brings a different set of environmental challenges, and the hybrid that handles them best will differ from year to year.

This year was marked by disease and a dry finish for Odle’s east-central Illinois territory. Products that finished at the top had strong plant health and tended to be earlier maturities. Next season could be an entirely different story.

 In addition to looking at the results, growers can also see how county and commercial plots are performing. The LG Seeds agronomy team plays a key role in helping interpret that data by pairing it with real-world field observations.

Don’t treat every acre the same

Another piece of advice from Odle: Don’t treat your whole farm like it’s the same acre. “Growers know their fields and manage each of them differently,” he says. “Seed decisions should be no different.” 

He encourages growers to work with trusted advisors who can help them position products where they’ll capture the most success, whether that’s gaining more bushels of corn per acre or addressing issues to limit risk.

Yield is king, but plant health is also important

“Every grower wants high-yielding corn products,” Odle says. “Yield is No. 1. As a seed-only company, LG Seeds is always working toward high-yielding corn products that lead the industry forward.”

One that stood out for high yields on high-production acres is LG63C32. “Offered as a SmartStax^® PRO, it’s a great option for corn-on-corn acres. It’s also available as a Trecepta^®, for above-ground protection against black cutworm and corn earworm,” Odle says. “But what really makes LG63C32 stand out is how well it responds to intensive management. A leader in trials, it has an excellent health package and a reputation for producing girthy ears.”

But yield is just one piece of the puzzle. “As agronomists, we look at performance in many different ways,” Odle says. “Yes, we need products that yield, but we’re also evaluating characteristics that fit specific operations — like late-season standability.” He encourages growers to get out in their fields before harvest to analyze crops and gain a more complete understanding of product performance.

Disease has been a major concern this season, which has shined a spotlight on plant health and how that factors into growers’ seed portfolios. Southern rust, northern corn leaf blight and gray leaf spot were the main threats in Odle’s territory. “LG65C30 has risen to the occasion. A VT Double PRO^® product, it’s an incredibly healthy, robust corn plant. LG65C30 brings a reliable, healthy option for some of those challenges.” 

“Planting a mix of traits and genetics helps growers guard against the unexpected — whether it’s disease, weather extremes or pest pressure,” Odle says. 

Consult trusted advisors to analyze yield monitor data

It’s easy to focus on one or two things when analyzing combine yield monitor data. Having more voices in the room, especially ones a grower trusts, can help tell the story of what went well and what challenges need to be addressed with seed solutions, fertilizer applications or other management practices moving forward, according to Odle.

“Whatever challenge or success you find this year, we want to be part of it,” Odle says. “Reach out. We love championing and supporting our growers.”