This year, the Bleckley and Twiggs CEC/ANR Agent partnered with UGA Grain Agronomist Dr. Nick Shay and Wade Parker, Southeast District Agronomy Agent, to evaluate corn hybrid performance under local growing conditions on Hall Farms with David and Ben Hall. With help from seed company representatives, eight popular hybrids were planted on March 28 in 36-inch rows at 32,000 seeds per acre.
Hybrids included DKC 68-35 VT2P, DKC 70-45 VT2P, Agratech 704 VT2P, Agratech 85 VT2P, Revere 1839TC, DG D57RR51, Pioneer 13777, and Pioneer 17677. The field had a history of root-knot nematodes, so Counter insecticide was applied at planting. Fertility followed UGA recommendations with 280 units of nitrogen, and the trial was irrigated uniformly through the season.
Stand Counts and Yields
Early stand counts (April 10) ranged from 27,833 to 31,500 plants per acre, with Revere 1839TC and Pioneer 13777 showing the strongest stands. While these differences weren’t statistically significant, they hinted at slight variation in emergence among hybrids.
Yields ranged from 218 to 277 bushels per acre, with no hybrid showing a significant advantage (p = 0.768). The top performers were Revere 1839TC (248 bu/ac), DKC 70-45 VT2P (241 bu/ac), and Pioneer 17677 (238 bu/ac). Lower yields were recorded for Agratech 85 VT2P (218 bu/ac) and DKC 68-35 VT2P (219 bu/ac), though still within a comparable range.
A correlation analysis found that hybrids with stronger stands tended to yield more. On average, for every additional 1,000 plants per acre, yield increased by about 10 bushels per acre, underscoring how important uniform emergence is for maximizing yield.
Takeaway for Growers
While yields were statistically similar across hybrids, differences in stand establishment may help growers decide which hybrids offer more consistent performance year after year. Under irrigated conditions, all hybrids demonstrated strong yield potential, reaffirming that good management and early-season stands are key to achieving top yields.