December 2004
Field Crops 28.33-37
UW Organic Corn Hybrid/Variety Trial Results – 2004
J. G. Lauer, J. Posner, K.D. Kohn, P.J. Flannery and J. Hedtcke
PDF version
In 2004, the UW Corn Agronomy program conducted its first organic hybrid/variety
trial for corn to give producers information on performance and characteristics
of corn in a certified organic production system. The trials were conducted using
approved organic production practices at two sites certified for organic production.
Seed used for the trials was either produced organically or was untreated.
Organic production is defined as "a production system that is managed, in accordance
with the Organic Food Production Act and Regulations (October 2002), to respond
to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological and mechanical practices
that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity."
The organic system is defined as "a plan of management of an organic production
operation that has been agreed to by the producer and the certifying agent and includes
written plans concerning all aspects of agricultural production or handling described
in the act and the regulations."
Materials and Methods
Trials were conducted at the UW Arlington ARS and the Michael Fields Institute (MFS).
Trials at MFS were abandoned due to excessively wet and cool growing conditions.
Site: Arlington Research Station
Cooperator: Dwight Mueller
Experimental design: RCB, 4 reps
Soil: Plano silt loam, pH:6.9, OM:4.1, P:95 ppm, K:143 ppm
Previous Crop: Alfalfa
Tillage: Fall Moldboard, Disk (5/17/04), Field Cultivator (5/27/04), Soil Finisher
(6/3/04)
Planting Date: 6/3/04
Row spacing: 30 inches
Seeding depth: 1.5 inches
Rotary Hoe (2x): 6/16/04
Cultivation Dates (3x): 6/29/04, 7/9/04, 7/13/04
Harvest date: 11/15/04
Harvested plot size: 5' x 22'
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Table 1. Seed Companies with hybrids in the 2004 UW Organic Corn Hybrid/ Variety
Trials.
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Company
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Address
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City
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State
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Zip
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Phone
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Brown Seed, Inc.
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N1279 530th Street, P.O. Box 7
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Bay City
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WI
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54723
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888-712-7696
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Brunner Seed Farm
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W3850 U.S. Hwy 10
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Durand
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WI
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54736
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800-298-5373
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Gold Country Seeds
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P.O. Box 64 16565 Highway 15 North
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Hutchinson
|
MN
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55350
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800-795-8544
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Merit Seeds
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P.O. Box 205
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Berlin
|
OH
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44610
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800-553-4713
|
|
NC+ Organics
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207 18th Street North
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Grand Junction
|
IA
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50107
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800-370-7979
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Prairie Hybrids
|
27445 Hurd Road
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Deer Grove
|
IL
|
61243
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800-368-0124
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Table 2. Performance of corn hybrids/varieties grown in organically certified
production fields during 2004 at Arlington, WI.
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|
|
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|
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Test
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**Grower Return
|
|
Brand Hybrid
|
RM
|
Population
|
Lodging
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Yield
|
Moisture
|
Weight
|
2.09/bu
|
4.00/bu
|
|
|
|
plants/A
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%
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bu/A
|
%
|
lbs/bu
|
$/A
|
$/A
|
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NC+ 34C17
|
93
|
28413
|
0
|
150
|
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19.7
|
49
|
267
|
553
|
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Brown 3020
|
94
|
29997
|
1
|
150
|
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20.3
|
50
|
264
|
550
|
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Prairie Hybrid 0383
|
92
|
27720
|
1
|
141
|
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20.3
|
49
|
249
|
518
|
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Brunner OR8702
|
87
|
28413
|
1
|
144
|
|
20.5
|
50
|
253
|
527
|
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Gold Country 9401
|
94
|
27522
|
0
|
154
|
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20.8
|
49
|
271
|
565
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brunner OR9802
|
98
|
28413
|
1
|
139
|
|
21.3
|
49
|
243
|
509
|
|
NC+ 42A32
|
98
|
28611
|
0
|
166
|
*
|
21.4
|
48
|
289
|
606
|
|
NC+ 41F00
|
97
|
27522
|
1
|
122
|
|
22.5
|
47
|
210
|
443
|
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Prairie Hybrid 1673
|
102
|
29304
|
0
|
154
|
|
27.4
|
47
|
250
|
545
|
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Brown 5335
|
101
|
28215
|
0
|
135
|
|
29.3
|
46
|
215
|
473
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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NC+ 48F37
|
102
|
29205
|
1
|
144
|
|
29.3
|
46
|
228
|
503
|
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Merit Seeds 0535
|
103
|
28116
|
0
|
139
|
|
30.7
|
46
|
216
|
482
|
|
NC+ 53F37
|
104
|
28116
|
0
|
139
|
|
31.7
|
46
|
213
|
478
|
|
Brunner OR1053
|
105
|
28710
|
0
|
121
|
|
33.4
|
46
|
181
|
412
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Mean
|
|
28448
|
0
|
143
|
|
25.0
|
48
|
238
|
511
|
|
LSD
|
|
NS
|
NS
|
11
|
|
1.2
|
1.1
|
19
|
40
|
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* Hybrids that performed statistically similar to the highest hybrid in the trial.
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** Grower return = (Yield x Price) – Costs
Costs =
- Handling ($0.02 per bushel)
- Hauling ($0.04 per bushel)
- Trucking ($0.11 per bushel for 100 miles)
- Drying ($0.02 per bushel-point > 15.5%)
- Storage ($0.02 per 30 day) Marketing plan: 50% sold at harvest, 25% at 4 months,
and 25% at 8 months.
Price = $4.00 = Minimum-Maximum
prices reported by elevators was $3.75-$6.50 per
bushel (personal communication, John Hall, Michael Fields Institute)
Price = $2.09 = Weighted Price per
bushel =
50% November Average Cash price
+ 25% March CBOT Futures ($0.15 basis)
+ 25% July CBOT Futures ($0.10 basis) November Average Cash price derived from WI
Ag Statistics; CBOT Futures prices derived
from closing price on first business day in December.
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For more information on organic corn production see:
UW Corn Agronomy Program: http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu
National Organic Program, USDA:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop