Selecting the right hybrids for your farm is one of the most important decisions you can make for maximizing yields. How do you select hybrids?

First, make a checklist of important factors. Select hybrids on a field-by-field basis, and consider how the hybrids you’re evaluating stack up for the field where you would plant them. You may find the following checklists helpful:

Soil type and adaptability. Is the soil sandy, loam, clay or a combination? What’s the organic matter content and pH? Does the soil crust easily?

Soil drainage. Is there surface or tile drainage? Is it variable or uniform? Is the field flat, rolling or in river bottoms?

No-till or conventional. Which tillage system will you use?

Dryer availability. Do you have a grain dryer? Do you need hybrids that can stand and dry in the field?

Previous crop. Some hybrids aren’t recommended for corn after corn.

Previous herbicide. Could there be any carryover from soybean herbicides applied in ’21? Some hybrids are more sensitive to certain chemicals.

Current herbicides. Do these hybrids work with conventional, glyphosate or LibertyLink systems?

Compatibility with your farm

Ask questions to make sure hybrids you consider fit your general area and your farming system:

Insects and diseases. Is your area prone to corn rootworm in first-year corn? Is your area typically humid, favoring leaf diseases? Is tar spot an issue?

Intended use. Will corn be used for silage, grain, ethanol, waxy, white or non-GMO markets? Pick hybrids tailored to these uses.

Foliar fungicides. Are disease-resistant hybrids available for your most prevalent diseases? Are you planning on using foliar fungicides? Ask about late-season health and stay-green power.

Racehorse vs. workhorse. Does the hybrid flex ear size, or is ear size constant? Planting population may need adjusting.

Drought, heat and stress tolerance. Are drought-tolerant hybrids available for your area?

Hybrid characteristics

Evaluate each hybrid for key agronomic traits, and see which ones best fit your area and your operation:

Emergence and early-seedling vigor. How does each hybrid stack up? Ask about cold test germination scores.

Root systems. Ask about brace roots and root strength. Check the root system above ground. How big are roots below ground?

Stalk strength and standability. Many hybrids failed push or pinch tests early last fall. See how seed dealers rate your hybrid vs. other hybrids.

Plant and ear height. Some hybrids grew taller than normal last season. What is normal height and ear placement? You’re looking for uniform ear placement.

Hybrid maturity. Is the hybrid suitable for your area? Compare days to pollen shed and silk emergence between hybrids.

Tassel size and number of branches. Making tassels takes energy. You don’t need huge tassels for pollination.

Ear attachment and retention. Some hybrids hold ears tighter. Do hybrids you’re considering have good attachment to stalks?

Test weight and harvestability. What is the expected test weight at physiological maturity? How well do kernels shell off cobs?

If you’ve done your homework faithfully, you will pick hybrids well suited to your farming style. Your seed rep can answer these questions. Many seed reps walk fields and know the strong and weak points of hybrids.

Nanda is director of genetics for Seed Genetics Direct, Jeffersonville, Ohio. Email [email protected] or call 317-910-9876. Please leave a message.