From single traits to quad stacks, it's a tough decision to choose seed. Each year the decision about what seed to use becomes more complicated. Let The Corn And Soybean Digest simplify your job. We asked major seed companies for their hotshot hybrids for 2008, and have compiled them for you. Take a look at these seed companies' top picks for the 2008 growing season.
Use this guide as a starting point for selecting hybrids for next year. Be sure to also consider university, independent and company trial data when you do decide.
2008 Hybrids Key
Hybrids are listed alphabetically by company, grouped into three relative maturity (RM) zones:
Early season (75-104 days)
Mid-season (105-112 days)
Late-season (113-120 days)
Most herbicide and insect treatments are abbreviated. They include:
Agrisure Corn Borer (CB)
Agrisure Glyphosate Tolerant (GT)
Agrisure Rootworm (RW)
Clearfield (CL)
Herculex 1 (HX1)
Herculex XTRA (HXX)
Liberty Link (LL)
Roundup Ready (RR)
Roundup Ready 2 (RR2)
VecTran Triple (VT3)
YieldGard Corn Borer (YGCB)
YieldGard Plus (YGPL)
YieldGard VT Triple (YGVT3)
Editor's Note: This list isn't intended to be comprehensive. Companies included on this list are those named by readers in the The Corn And Soybean Digest's 2007 Reader Profile.
EARLY SEASON
AGRIGOLD
A6225VT3 — 98-day RM (VT3)
(Asgrow is no longer going to offer corn hybrids.)
A6279VT3 — 101-day RM (VT3)
Exceptional yield for maturity with fast drydown
Outstanding late-season plant intactness
Above-average emergence, early vigor
A6325VT3 — 104-day RM (VT3)
Outstanding yield potential under high management systems
Excellent health, staygreen, late-season plant intactness
Above-average grain quality; high test weight
BECK'S
5112CBRWRR — 104-day RM (RR/YGPL)
Outstanding yield potential;fast drydown
Very good root strength
Strong emergence in cool, wet environments
5112RR — 104-day RM (RR)
High yielding
Excellent stalk, root strength
Responds to high populations
4807VT3 — 102-day RM (YGVT3/RR)
High yielding
Excellent stalk, root strength
Responds to high populations
CROPLAN
3114VT3 — 91-day RM (YGVT3)
Handles all soil types
Excellent root, stalk strength
Very fast drydown
3724VT3 — 96-day RM (YGVT3)
Outstanding high-end yield potential
Industry's highest yield hybrid for maturity
Excellent stalks, roots, drydown; very good grain quality, test weight
Average staygreen, fast-die/fast-dry hybrid; moves north very well
5338VT3 — 104-day RM (YGVT3)
Outstanding high-end yield potential
Excellent stalks, plant health enables movement into eastern Corn Belt
More drought tolerance on lighter soils
CROWS
1807VT3 — 97-day RM (YGVT3)
Processor Preferred high fermentable corn
High-yield potential genetics
Semi-flex ear on medium-sized plant;average staygreen, good integrity
Excellent stalk, root strength, drought scores
2123VT3 — 101-day RM (YGVT3)
High yield potential
Fast emergence, rapid early growth
Flowers early for maturity; good choice for early planting
Prefers medium-high populations; responds to high management
2155VT3 — 102-day RM (YGVT3)
Maintains high yield potential east-west across Corn Belt
Good stalk, root strength
Performs best on better soils managed for high yields
Fast emergence, early growth allow early planting
Medium plant, ear height; girthy ear
DAIRYLAND
Stealth-7789 — 89-day RM (YGCB, RR2)
Terrific emergence; vigorous plant growth
Soil type versatility for great planting flexibility
Great drought tolerance; solid disease resistance
Prefers high plant populations
Stealth-9196 — 96-day RM (YGVT3)
Widely adapted excellent for continuous corn
Superior root, stalk strength
Excellent drydown, test weight
Excellent drought tolerance; strong disease resistance
Stealth-9799 — 99-day RM (YGVT3)
Great agronomics and overall plant health
Exceptional soil, no-till, continuous corn planting versatility
Great drydown, test weight
Excellent disease resistance, drought tolerance
DEKALB
DKC46-60 — 96-day RM (RR/YGVT3)
Excellent root, stalk strength
Excellent emergence, seedling growth allows for early planting
Very good staygreen, harvest appearance in fall
Smaller plant type for reduced residue after harvest
DKC50-44 — 100-day RM (RR/YGVT3)
Maintains level yield across wide range of growing conditions
Excellent emergence, seedling growth
Very good ear retention, test weight
Very good stalk, root strength
DKC52-59 — 102-day RM (RR/YGVT3)
Excellent drydown, yield potential for maturity
Very good emergence, seedling growth
Strong yield performance over wide range of environments
Excellent root quality; very good stalks, drought tolerance
DYNAGROW
51P62 — 82-day RM (RR2/YGCB)
New genetics with excellent yields
Performs well at high populations
Flowers early for maturity
Very good early plant vigor with strong roots, stalks maximizing yield