Key factors in selecting hybrids are maturity, yield potential and stability, stalk quality, and disease resistance. Corn acreage, soil type, tillage practices, desired harvest moisture, and pest problems will determine the relative importance of such traits as dry-down, disease resistance, early plant vigor, etc. Choose hybrids with maturity ranges appropriate for your geographic area or circumstances. Using relative maturity, growing degree day ratings, along with grain moisture data from performance trials will help ensure selection of hybrids differing in maturity and grain dry-down. Because fossil fuel prices have risen significantly, you should give careful attention to moisture differences between hybrids when evaluating grain yield.
Grain drying represents a major portion of the energy requirement for corn production.
Review results from state, company, and county performance trials before purchasing hybrids. Stalk quality is particularly important in areas where stalk rots are perennial problems, or where field drying is anticipated. If you have drying facilities and are prepared to harvest at relatively high moisture levels, or are producing corn for silage, then standability and fast dry-down rates may be less critical. Staygreen refers to a hybrid's potential to stay healthy late into the growing season, after reaching maturity, and should not be confused with late maturity. However, the Bt trait is not a substitute for good stalk quality and tolerance to stalk rots.