“We Test The Best” – Local MU Corn Variety Trials Harvested

Ben Caldwell, MU Variety Testing Program, pauses
after harvesting a corn plot to confirm the yield data.

CHARLESTON, MO.
   Selection of varieties that best fit a farmer's production goals and challenges is an essential part of profitable grain crop production. The University of Missouri Variety Testing Program provides the reliable, unbiased, up-to-date information that makes this selection possible.
    “We do everything we can to make sure the corn in each variety trial will have the best possible yields,” said Del Knerr from the MU Variety Testing Program, and located at Columbia. On Wednesday Knerr and Ben Caldwell, MU Variety Testing employee stationed at the Fisher Delta Research Center, Portageville, were south of Charleston at the Nelson Byrd farm harvesting 900 corn variety plots. Next up were the plots at Oran on the Glenn Nothdurft farm.
   Knerr said, “We now have a GPS system with RTK correction for our planter. Our yield data and grain moisture is automatically logged into a computer, so there are no human errors. We add notes on every plot that shows a problem, and every plot gets a lodging rating. Within four days from when I download the data into the University computer farmers can get the results of the trials from our site on the internet.” This site is at: http://varietytesting.missouri.edu/.
   Variety testing at MU began even before it was designated as a Land Grant University, according to Knerr. The Variety Testing Program currently tests varieties of corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum. Plots are located at 18 sites across the state, with most on private farms. This program is completely funded by entry fees.
   If you have questions about the Variety Testing program contact Howard Mason, in Columbia, by email at: VarietyTesting@missouri.edu, or calling 573-882-2307. 
   For copies of recent MU Variety Test reports stop at the MU Extension Mississippi County office at 109 N. First St. in Charleston. Call 573-683-6129 before coming since we often run out of them. The University of Missouri is an equal opportunity/ADA institution. ∆