Grain Hybrid Selection

Field Crops > Corn > Grain Hybrid Selection

Hybrid performance may vary considerably among fields and farms, but relative yields among hybrids are fairly consistent from year to year. As a result, yield monitors have proven to be an economic investment for the purpose of on-farm hybrid testing.

CORN GRAIN HYBRID TRIALS
The links below detail the performance of corn hybrids included in recent Cornell grain trials. We have designed this information to help you choose corn hybrids for your farm. You also should consider your own experience, along with that of your neighbors. Your corn seed salesperson and your Cornell Cooperative Extension office also can supply helpful information.

Please note the following points when using the grain hybrid tables. Hybrids are listed in order of maturity, from early to late, and placed in three tables, one each for early, medium-early, and medium and long-season areas.

Growing degree days are measurements of heat accumulation for corn growth. These are explained further in the General Crop Production Section. Note the approximate number of growing degree days in your area. Choose hybrids that can mature in the degree days available on your farm.

Avoid hybrids that require more growing degree days than your average. These are risky and may not mature in a cool season or an early fall. In addition, their higher moisture levels will require more energy and thus greater cost for drying. Subtract 100 to 200 growing degree days for hybrids to be grown in frost pockets or other areas subject to early frost. Do the same in selecting hybrids for late planting or early harvest.

HYBRIDS FOR EARLY GRAIN (1400-1900 GROWING DEGREE DAYS¹, 70-90 DAYS RELATIVE MATURITY).
Hybrids in order of maturity
Brand or Source	Hybrid	Comparative Yield²	Comparative Standability³	Years in Tests	No. Tests
Growmark FS	3968VT3	101	8.1	2	7
Hyland	HL CVR44	96	8.2	2	7
Hyland	HL CVR48	102	8.0	2	7
Hyland	HL R230	99	7.8	2	7
T A Seeds	TA290-11	108	8.1	3	12
Growmark FS	3989VT3	109	8.2	2	7
Dekalb	DKC40-20(VT3)	101	8.7	1	4
Dekalb	DKC38-89(VT3)	104	8.2	2	7
T A Seeds	TA370-11	107	7.9	1	4
Hyland	HL CVR34	90	8.9	1	4
Doebler's	362GR	110	8.7	1	4
Growmark FS	4373VT3	104	8.9	1	4
¹Growing degree day ratings for New York–adapted corn hybrids range from 1400 to 3000. Within the growing degree day range for this table, the hybrids listed first are earlier maturing and those listed last are later maturing.
²Comparative yield ratings are obtained in Cornell statewide tests from yields adjusted to an average of 100. A hybrid with a rating of 110 has performed 10 percent above average in trials where it was entered. Rating differences smaller than 5 percent are probably not statistically significant.
³Comparative standability is the comparative resistance to stalk lodging in Cornell tests on the basis of 1 to 9, with 1 indicating the lowest resistance and 9 the highest.

HYBRIDS FOR MEDIUM-EARLY GRAIN (1900-2400 GROWING DEGREE DAYS¹, 85-105 DAYS RELATIVE MATURITY).
Hybrids in order of maturity
Brand or Source	Hybrid	Comparative Yield²	Comparative Standability³	Years in Tests	No. Tests
T A Seeds	TA510-11	101	7.9	1	5
Hyland	HL CVR54	100	7.8	2	9
Dyna-Gro	54V78	107	7.9	2	9
T A Seeds	TA451-11	102	7.9	3	13
Growmark FS	4465VT3	104	8.1	2	9
LICA	1889V/RR/BT	91	8.4	1	5
Hyland	HL CVR64	100	8.3	2	9
Growmark FS	5099VT3	94	8.0	1	5
Dyna-Gro	55V18	102	8.0	3	13
Albert Lea Seed	Viking O.6710	103	8.6	1	5
Dekalb	DKC50-44(VT3)	106	8.0	2	9
Growmark FS	4861VT3	104	8.1	3	13
Doebler's	RPM515HXR	102	8.6	1	5
Dyna-Gro	V3883VT3	105	8.3	1	5
Hyland	HL R265	107	8.6	1	5
Hyland	HL CVR74	108	8.0	2	9
Growmark FS	5595VT3	111	8.5	1	5
Hyland	HL B49R	104	8.4	2	9
LICA	1900F/RR/HX	108	8.5	1	5
Growmark FS	5484VT3	106	8.3	2	9
LICA	1900FRR/HXT	100	8.9	1	5
¹Growing degree day ratings for New York–adapted corn hybrids range from 1400 to 3000. Within the growing degree day range for this table, the hybrids listed first are earlier maturing and those listed last are later maturing.
²Comparative yield ratings are obtained in Cornell statewide tests from yields adjusted to an average of 100. A hybrid with a rating of 110 has performed 10 percent above average in trials where it was entered. Rating differences smaller than 5 percent are probably not statistically significant.
³Comparative standability is the comparative resistance to stalk lodging in Cornell tests on the basis of 1 to 9, with 1 indicating the lowest resistance and 9 the highest.

HYBRIDS FOR MEDIUM AND LONG SEASON GRAIN (2400-2900 GROWING DEGREE DAYS¹, 100-120 DAYS RELATIVE MATURITY).
Hybrids in order of maturity
Brand or Source	Hybrid	Comparative Yield²	Comparative Standability³	Years in Tests	No. Tests
Dyna-Gro	V4393VT3	98	8.1	1	4
T A Seeds	TA545-19	109	8.6	1	4
Growmark FS	5484VT3	101	8.5	1	4
Dyna-Gro	55V24	95	8.5	1	4
Growmark FS	5595VT3	105	8.3	1	4
Doebler's	611XY	112	8.6	1	4
Dyna-Gro	56R29	102	8.8	1	4
LICA	1804F/GT	94	8.4	1	4
Dekalb	DKC61-69(VT3)	108	8.2	2	8
T A Seeds	TA575-19	103	8.8	1	4
Hyland	HL B337	108	8.1	4	15
LICA	1805F/GT	93	8.7	1	4
T A Seeds	TA688-11	109	8.9	1	4
Growmark FS	6296VT3	114	8.8	1	4
¹Growing degree day ratings for New York–adapted corn hybrids range from 1400 to 3000. Within the growing degree day range for this table, the hybrids listed first are earlier maturing and those listed last are later maturing.
²Comparative yield ratings are obtained in Cornell statewide tests from yields adjusted to an average of 100. A hybrid with a rating of 110 has performed 10 percent above average in trials where it was entered. Rating differences smaller than 5 percent are probably not statistically significant.
³Comparative standability is the comparative resistance to stalk lodging in Cornell tests on the basis of 1 to 9, with 1 indicating the lowest resistance and 9 the highest.

Compare hybrids only with others in the same table. Comparisons of ratings between tables can be misleading because they are not tested under the same conditions. Early hybrids are tested at short-season locations, medium-early maturity hybrids at slightly longer season locations, and medium and late hybrids at sites with a moderate to long growing season. High-yielding hybrids in the early group are likely to do poorly in medium or late tests and vice versa.

All ratings included in these tests are based on at least three tests with three replications each, or a minimum of nine comparisons for each hybrid against other hybrids in the same table. Test sites are widespread in New York and represent a broad range of environments. The number of tests in which each hybrid appeared is noted in the tables.

The more tests, the more precise the hybrid ratings. The same is true for the number of years a hybrid has been tested. Several hybrids are rated with only one year in tests; such ratings are less valuable than those covering two or more years.

In developing these tables, we included only those hybrids that performed above 90 percent of the test average and those that companies plan to offer for sale in New York in the coming cropping season. Not all hybrids are available in all regions of the state, however.

The tables report how these hybrids performed in our trials. They may or may not perform the same on your farm. For further help in selecting hybrids specifically suited to your needs, check with your Cornell Cooperative Extension office and with seed company representatives.

New York Corn Grain Hybrid Tests - 2005- 2010

Corn Grain Variety Testing
The aim of this program is to help evaluate hybrids in comparison with other new varieties over a range of environments in New York. To participate in New York Corn Performance Trials for GRAIN see entry information and forms.

News Letter Articles
Corn Grain Hybrids for New York - October 2009 PDF