GROWERS HAVE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO ENHANCE YIELDS WITH HIGHER PLANT POPULATIONS

Many growers today are not realizing the full yield potential that todays newer hybrids are capable of delivering.Todays hybrids have the unique capability of being able to deliver more yield through higher plant populations.Improved disease tolerance, stalk strength,silking strength,drought tolerance,herbicide tolerance and corn borer resistance have all paved the way to allow todays hybrids to deliver more harvestable grain yield when seeded at higher seeding rates.Growers have the ability to take advantage of this opportunity but they will first have to adjust their seeding rates upward if they are to ever realize it.The photo above shows the spatial distribution of a hybrids population when dropped at 32,000 seeds per acre.All Pioneer hybrids will respond favourably to this seed drop.( Double Click on these photos to make closer observations )

Growers dropping 32,000 seeds per acre, like that shown in the above photo, will likely end up with FINAL stands near 30,000.One has to remember that the average warm germ over a multiplicity of seed lots will be 96%.On top of that growers will generally lose another 2%.( 32,000 seed drop with a 6% plant stand loss equates to a FINAL STAND of 30,080.One can generally expect to see FINAL PLANT SEEDS of roughly 2,000 per acre less than what one seeds )

There are a number of Pioneer hybrids that will respond even more favourably when dropped at a 35-36,000 seed drop.These tend to be more determinate ear sized hybrids.

Increasing plant population to 35,000 seed drop should be relegated to your more productive farms that have historical farm averages of 150+ bu per acre. It goes without saying that achieving improved yields with dropping higher plant populations requires the application of good farm management skills.

Pioneer agronomy science researchers have evaluated all Pioneer hybrids for their yield responsivity to increased plant population.You can find this info by accessing Pioneers growing point website or by asking your Pioneer sales rep.

On choice soils of 190 + bu /acre capability there may be even more opportunity to capture more yield from some Pioneer hybrids when dropped at 37,000 seeds per acre.Seed drops of this magnitude are not for every farm or every farm manager.Be sure to do yourself a favour this coming year.At least make a committment to start assessing the extra yield potential that Pioneer hybrids can deliver you by evaluating higher seeding rates on your farm.