View Award Application

Utilizing Florida Best Management Practices While Evaluating Grain Corn Varieties

Search for Excellence in Crop Production

Keith Wynn
Extension Agent III
University of Florida
Jasper

Team Members: Wynn, K*1, Beach, E*2, Dufault, N3, Korus, K*4, Kumar, S*5, Love, J6
  1. Extension Agent III, University of Florida, Jasper, Florida, 32052
  2. Extension Agent II, University of Florida, Mayo, Florida, 32066
  3. Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-0680
  4. Extension Agent II, University of Florida, Newberry, Florida, 32669
  5. Regional Specialized Agent, University of Florida, Live Oak, Florida, 32060
  6. Best Management Practices Outreach and Education Coordinator, University of Florida, Live Oak, Florida, 32060

Abstract

Grain corn is an important commodity crop in the Suwannee River Valley of North Florida. Approximately 30,000 acres of corn is harvested annually in the counties surrounding the North Florida Research and Education Center-Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV). Grain corn production requires adequate nutrition to maximize yields under optimal conditions. Florida’s Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) requires producers to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to remain compliant with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Each year, these producers must choose a corn variety when making planting decisions. To assist producers a variety trial has been implemented over the past 6 years to assess the performance of varieties using best management practices that comply with Florida regulations. In the past, producers have depended on yield data generated from similar trials conducted by industry and Extension from regions with differing environmental and soil conditions using nutrient rates not compliant with Florida regulations. The objectives were to encourage producers to incorporate new grain corn varieties and increase knowledge of Florida Best Management Practices. Grain corn seed companies provide two varieties that are recommended for the North Florida area along with $400 to help encumber the cost of incorporating this trail at the NFREC-SV near Live Oak. Current recommended production practices are followed during the production season to manage fertility and irrigation to remain in compliance with Florida Best Management Practices. Harvest data is collected and used to create fact sheets and presentations that are distributed or presented at local and regional production meetings in North Florida. Post-training evaluations from Hamilton County grain corn production meetings showed that 94% of attendees (244 of 260) increased their knowledge of grain corn variety selection and 92% of attendees (239 of 260) increased their knowledge of production practices that encourage Best Management Practices. This research has allowed Extension agents the opportunity to provide producers with timely information to assist with variety selection while encouraging the adoption of Florida Best Management Practices. Follow-up discussions with local producers have indicated that this data has been utilized to implement new varieties in their existing production system.  

Entry