RESULTS OF AGRONOMIC AND WEED SCIENCE RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA

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1 RESULTS OF AGRONOMIC AND WEED SCIENCE RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA The Annual Report of the Investigations at and Administration of the Southern Agricultural Research Center, Huntley, Montana PROJECT TITLE: PROJECT LEADERS: PROJECT PERSONNEL: OBJECTIVES: METHODS: RESULTS and SUMMARY: Irrigated Hybrid Grain Corn Performance Trial near Huntley, Montana. (Exp ). Kenneth D. Kephart, Agronomist, SARC, Huntley Geraldine B. Opena, Research Associate, SARC, Huntley Tom A. Fischer, Research Specialist and Farm Foreman, SARC, Huntley To provide corn growers in south central Montana with a reliable, unbiased, upto-date source of information that will permit valid comparisons among improved corn hybrids for irrigated grain production. This information should help corn producers in south central Montana select hybrids best suited to this region of the state. For 2005, five sponsors submitted 32 corn hybrids for testing under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana (Table 1). Relative maturity ratings and other trait characteristics provided by the sponsors are presented in Table 2. The study was planted using a randomized complete block design with six replications. Test plots consisted of a 30-foot, 4-row plot with 30-inch row spacing. Each 30 foot row was planted with 69 seeds, equal to planting 40,075 seeds per acre or about 105 percent of the target population of 38,200 plants per acre. Planting depth was set 1½ inches deep. Plot stands were determined by counting the number of established plants along the two center rows at approximately the 3 to 4 leaf stage of crop development. Just prior to harvest, all plots were visually assessed for lodging. All rows of each test plot were trimmed 36 inches and the center 2 rows of each plot were harvested using an experimental-plot combine. Test weight (pounds per bushel, lb/bu) and percent grain moisture content were obtained for each plot using a Dickeyjohn GAC 2100N grain analyzer. Recorded grain yields were adjusted to 15.5% grain moisture content, and are reported in bushels per acre (bu/ac) based on a 56 pound standard bushel weight. Two and three year average yields are provided for entries previously tested in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Information pertaining to the specific cultural management of the study is listed at the bottom of Table 4. The frost-free period for the 2005 growing season at Huntley spanned from May 13 th to September 22 nd, 7 days longer than normal for this location (Table 3). The months of May, June, and August were abnormally cool. Total accumulated heat units (2,028 ºF, GDD corn ) for the season were only 65 ºF less than normal, or about 3 percent below the level of heat units normally expected to accumulate during this 132 day interval. Most of the discrepancy in accumulated heat units for the season occurred during grain fill (Figure 1). Nearly 5 inches of precipitation was received at this location from April 15 th through the first 10 days of May in Planting of the study was delayed until the third week of May, but soil moisture conditions were excellent for corn germination and emergence. Uniform stands were established among all entries by the end of May. The study was not exposed to freezing injury in 2005, compared to similar trials conducted during previous years. Final plant 7 pages total.

2 establishment varied from 87 to 98 percent, with only 2 entries establishing plants from less than 90 percent of the seed planted (Table 4). Figure 1. Accumulation of heat units (Growing Degree Days corn, ºF) near Huntley, Montana from May 13 to September 22, POR represents mean values based on temperature data collected on the same days at this location for a period of record from 1911 to Silking dates in 2005 varied by 6 days among the 32 entries (Table 4). On average, silking dates were 1 day earlier than those observed in 2004, but were 6 days later compared to silking dates observed among entries tested in Garst 8986YG1/RR, Hyland HL R228, Kussmaul SB2977 RR, Kussmaul SB384 RR, Kussmaul SB387 RR, Kussmaul SB690 Y-RR and Syngenta N27-M3 silked the earliest (July 28), while silk was not evident on Kussmaul K-593 and Kussmaul SB389 RR until August 3 during the 2005 season. All hybrids tested in 2005 displayed little or no lodging prior to October 3 rd, when 11 inches of heavy snowfall (1.84 precipitation) occurred. Very little direct ear drop was observed, but substantial differences were observed between hybrids in their ability to remain erect from this form of stress. Lodging scores, recorded just prior to harvest, varied from no lodging (score of 0.0) for Kussmaul SB492 RR-YG Plus and Syngenta N2555BT to substantial lodging for Kussmaul SB389 RR (score = 7.0), Kussmaul K593 (score = 7.7) and Kussmaul SB385 RR (score = 8.3), (Table 4). Stalk breakage above the ears was largely assumed to have little influence on the harvesting of the crop and was ignored during the scoring process. Little or no ear loss during harvesting occurred for plots receiving a score of 3 or less. Plots scoring 7 or higher possessed a high degree of stalk breakage below the ear, with higher scores reflecting an increasing amount of ears in direct contact with the ground. Adjusted corn grain yields averaged bushels per acre (Table 4), about 9 bushels per acre more than the trial harvested in Grain yield among entries in 2005 varied from bu/ac for Kussmaul SB690 Y-RR to bu/ac for Kussmaul K593. Only 11 of the 32 entries, Dyna-Gro 51P15, Garst 8872 CRW/RR, Hyland HL B264, Hyland HL R228, Hyland HL R234, Hyland Juxxin, Kussmaul SB2983 RR-YG Plus, Kussmaul SB387 RR, Kussmaul SB492 RR/YG Plus, Syngenta N2555BT and Syngenta N29-A2, produced mean yields from to bu/ac, statistically equal to that of the highest yielding hybrid, Kussmaul SB690 Y-RR. No statistical differences

3 in yield were detected between the 12 hybrids tested the past two years. Averaged across three years of testing, Syngenta N29-A2 produced the highest yield of bu/ac. The test weight of all hybrids tested in 2005 averaged 50.1 pounds per bushel, two pounds lighter than the average test weight measured for corn hybrids tested at this location in 2004 and nearly 8 pounds lighter than entries tested in Test weight among the 32 entries varied from 47.1 lb/bu for Kussmaul K593 to 53.5 lb/bu for Kussmaul SB387 RR. Grain moisture content at harvest (October 25 and 26, 2005) was quite high, varying from 18.9 percent for Hyland HL B264 to 29.4 percent for Hyland Juxxin. Similar to 2004, a random spot check of entries just prior to harvest revealed very few instances of complete kernel black layer development along the entire length of the ears, likely a result of the delay in silking combined with the slower than normal heat unit accumulation that occurred during the grain fill period of the 2005 growing season. Although grain yields were much better than expected among the 32 hybrids tested in 2005, the light test weights, high moisture content at harvest and lack of complete black layer development suggest most, if not all, entries had failed to reach physiological maturity before crop growth was terminated by fall freezing temperatures. Permitting the entries tested in 2005 to field dry below 15.5 percent moisture content before harvesting, would likely have improved test weights by 3 to 5 pounds per bushel. FUTURE PLANS: The irrigated corn hybrid grain evaluations will continue in 2006 at Southern Agricultural Research Center.

4 Table 1. Contact information for seed sources of 32 hybrid corn entries tested at the Southern Agricultural Research Center near Huntley, Montana during Hybrids Brand Tested Contact Dyna-Gro 51P15 Mr. Stan Rund 51P33 Dyna-Gro Seed 53P County Hwy 1 CX05588 Fergus Falls MN PH: FX: EM: stan.rund@uap.com Garst 8872 CRW/RR Garst Seed Company 8881 RR th Street 8920 RR PO Box RR Slater IA YG1/RR PH: 888-GO-GARST Hyland HL 2288 Mr. Jim Olmsted HL 2368 Hyland Seeds HL B264 2 Hyland Drive HL B282 Blenheim, Ontario HL R228 Canada N0P 1A0 HL R234 PH: Juxxin FX: EM: JOlmsted@Hylandseeds.com Kussmaul K491 Mr. Paul Klinkhammer K593 Kussmaul Seed Company SB2977 RR 9020 Highway 18 SB2983 RR-YG Plus Mt. Hope WI SB384 RR PH: SB385 RR FX: SB387 RR EM: ksc@mhtc.net SB389 RR SB492 RR-YG Plus SB5595 RR SB590 RR-YG Plus SB690 Y-RR Exp Syngenta N2555BT Mr. Terry Hobson N27-M3 Syngenta Seed Inc. N29-A Airport Road Ames IA PH: (office) (extension) (mobile) (residence) FX: WB: EM: terry.hobson@syngenta.com

5 Table 2. Summary of trait information provided by sponsoring vendors for 32 corn hybrids submitted for testing under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana during Hybrids listed in alphabetical order by brand. 2/ 3/ 1/ 1/ Flex Prolific Relative Grain Stalk Root Ear Ear 4/ 5/ Brand & Hybrid Maturity Color Strength Strength Type Type GMO Unique Traits/Characteristics days Yes/No Yes/No Yes/No Dyna-Gro 51P15 85 Yellow 8 7 N N Y Roundup Ready, YieldGuard Dyna-Gro 51P33 85 Yellow 8 7 Y N Y Roundup Ready, YieldGuard Dyna-Gro 53P30 92 Yellow 8 7 Semi N Y Roundup Ready, YieldGuard, High extractable starch Dyna-Gro CX Yellow 8 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Garst 8872 CRW/RR 92 Yellow 8 6 N N Y Roundup Ready, YieldGuard Corn Rootworm Garst 8881 RR 95 Yellow 7 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Garst 8920 RR 90 Yellow 7 7 Y N Y Roundup Ready Garst 8982 RR 84 Yellow 7 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Garst 8986 YG1/RR 85 Yellow 7 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Hyland HL Yellow 8 8 N Y N Hyland HL Yellow 9 8 N Y N Hyland HL B Yellow 8 8 N Y Y YieldGuard Hyland HL B Yellow 8 8 N Y Y YieldGuard Hyland HL R Yellow 8 8 N Y Y Roundup Ready Hyland HL R Yellow 9 8 N Y Y Roundup Ready Hyland Juxxin 92 Yellow 9 9 N Y N Kussmaul K Yellow 8 8 Y N N Kussmaul K Yellow 9 9 Y N N Kussmaul SB2977 RR 77 Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB2983 RR-YG Plus 83 Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready, YieldGuard Corn Rootworm Kussmaul SB384 RR 84 Yellow 8 8 N N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB385 RR 85 Yellow 8 8 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB387 RR 87 Yellow 9 8 Y N Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB389 RR 89 Yellow 8 8 Y Y Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB492 RR-YG Plus 92 Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready, YieldGuard Corn Rootworm Kussmaul SB5595 RR 95 Yellow 9 9 Y Y Y Roundup Ready Kussmaul SB590 RR-YG Plus 90 Yellow 9 9 Y Y Y Roundup Ready, YieldGuard Corn Rootworm Kussmaul SB690 Y-RR 90 Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready, YieldGuard Kussmaul Exp Yellow 9 9 Y N Y Roundup Ready Syngenta N2555BT 90 Yellow 5 7 N Y Y Liberty Link, NK YieldGuard Syngenta N27-M3 91 Yellow 6 5 Semi Y Y Liberty Link, NK YieldGuard, High extractable starch Syngenta N29-A2 92 Yellow 7 8 N Y Y Liberty Link, NK YieldGuard 1/ Stalk and root strength rating are from 1 to 9 where 1=poor, 5=average and 9=excellent. 2/ Flex ear types change ear length in response to environmental conditions. 3/ Prolific ear types change ear number in response to environmental conditions. 4/ Genetically modified organism possessing transgenic traits registered for commercial production in the United States. 5/ YieldGuard and NK YieldGuard indicates European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) resistance from Bacillis thuringiensis. YieldGuard Corn Rootworm indicates corn rootworm (Diabrotica barberi Smith and Lawrence, D. virgifera LeConte) resistance from Bacillis thuringiensis. Roundup Ready indicates resistance to glyphosate herbicides. LibertyLink indicates resistance to glufosinate herbicide. Use of registered trademarks to describe characteristics does not imply endorsement or exclusion of commercial corn hybrids by Montana State University, the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and/or the Southern Agricultural Research Center.

6 Table 3. Summary of climatic data by months for the cropping year (September-August) compared to averages for the period of record from 1911 to 2004 at the Southern Agricultural Research Center near Huntley, Montana Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Year Precipitation (inches) Total Current Year ( ) Average ( ) Difference Mean Temperature (ºF) Average Current Year ( ) Average ( ) Difference Last Killing Frost in Spring 1/ First Killing Frost in the Fall 1/ Frost-free period Growing Degree Days (Base 50) 2/ Growing Degree Days (Base Corn) 2/ May 13 (29 ºF) Average ( )... May September 22 (31 ºF) Average ( )... September days Average ( ) days ,914 GDD (ºF) Average ( )... 1,956 GDD (ºF) ,028 GDD (ºF) Average ( )... 2,093 GDD (ºF) Maximum Summer Temperature 106 ºF on July 14, 2005 Minimum Winter Temperature -35 ºF on January 15, / In this summary, 32 ºF is considered a killing frost. Average last and first killing frost dates are calculated on a 50% probability of a minimum temperature occurring below a threshold temperature of 32.5 ºF based on observations from 1911 to / Growing degree days calculated from temperatures observed during the frost free period from May 13 through September 22 for 2005, and for the same 132 day interval from the period of record of 1911 to 2004.

7 Table 4. Agronomic performance of 32 corn hybrids grown under irrigated conditions near Huntley, Montana during (Exp ). Hybrids listed in alphabetical order by brand name. 1/ RM Grain Yield Test Grain Stand Plants 2/ Silking Date Brand & Hybrid Rating Weight Moisture Count Established Lodging Julian Calendar days bushels/acre lb/bu % plants/acre % 0-9 Dyna-Gro 51P * , Jul 29 Dyna-Gro 51P , Jul 29 Dyna-Gro 53P , Jul 31 Dyna-Gro CX , Jul 31 Garst 8872 CRW/RR * , Aug 1 Garst 8881 RR , Jul 31 Garst 8920 RR , Jul 30 Garst 8982 RR , Jul 29 Garst 8986 YG1/RR , Jul 28 Hyland HL , Aug 1 Hyland HL * , Aug 1 Hyland HL B * , Jul 29 Hyland HL B , Aug 2 Hyland HL R * , Jul 28 Hyland HL R * * , Jul 29 Hyland Juxxin * , Jul 30 Kussmaul K , Jul 31 Kussmaul K , Aug 3 Kussmaul SB2977 RR , Jul 28 Kussmaul SB2983 RR-YG Plus * , Jul 30 Kussmaul SB384 RR , Jul 28 Kussmaul SB385 RR , Aug 1 Kussmaul SB387 RR * , Jul 28 Kussmaul SB389 RR , Aug 3 Kussmaul SB492 RR-YG Plus * , Jul 31 Kussmaul SB5595 RR , Aug 1 Kussmaul SB590 RR-YG Plus , Jul 31 Kussmaul SB690 Y-RR ** , Jul 28 Kussmaul Exp , Jul 31 Syngenta N2555BT * * , Jul 30 Syngenta N27-M * , Jul 28 Syngenta N29-A * ** , Jul 30 Average , Jul 30 PLSD (p=0.05) 10.9 ns , CV% / Yields are based on a 56 pound standard bushel weight for corn and adjusted to 15.5 percent moisture content. 2/ Lodging severity was rated on a scale from 0 to 9 (0 = upright, 9 = flat on the ground). ** Indicates highest yielding hybrid within a column. * Indicates hybrids yielding equal to highest yielding hybrid within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05). Planted: May 16, 2005 Harvested: October 25-26, 2005 Fertility: , 503 lbs/a; , 77 lbs/a; , 66 lbs/a pre-plant incorporated, May 4, 2005 Herbicide: Roundup Ultra Max II, 32 oz/a + Dual II Magnum, 16 oz/a, pre-emergence, May 19, 2005; Option, 1 oz/a; Clarity, 6 oz/a; MSO, 24 oz/a; AMS, 3 lbs/a, June 20, 2005 Previous crop: spring wheat Irrigation: profile flooded, June 28, 2005; July 21, 2005; August 3, 2005, August 19, 2005 Precipitation: 8.96 inches