Assisting Grain Corn Producers with Variety Selection in North Florida
Agronomy & Pest Management
Keith Wynn
Extension Agent III
University of Florida
Jasper
Abstract
Grain corn is an important commodity crop in the Suwannee River Valley of North Florida. In 2021, approximately 37,000 acres of corn were harvested in counties surrounding the North Florida Research and Education Center-Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV). Each year, grain corn producers must choose a corn variety when making planting decisions. With several available options from multiple companies this can be a daunting task. 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. Objectives: (1) To increase knowledge of Florida Best Management Practices and (2) encourage producers to incorporate new grain corn varieties. Methods: Grain corn seed companies provided 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. Results: Post-training evaluations from grain corn production meetings showed that 89% of the producers (200 of 225) increased their knowledge of grain corn variety selection and 85% of attendees (191 of 225) increased their knowledge of production practices that encourage Best Management Practices. Conclusions: In 2021 the efficacy of 20 grain corn varieties were compared under management practices compliant with Florida Best Management Practices. This research has allowed Extension agents the opportunity to provide producers with timely information to encourage adoption of Florida Best Management Practices in grain corn production and assist with variety selection. Follow-up discussions with local producers have indicated that this data has been utilized to implement new varieties in their existing production system.
Authors: Kevin Korus, Emily Beach, Keith Wynn
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Kevin Korus Extension Agent II, University of Florida, Florida, 32669
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Emily Beach Extension Agent II, University of Florida, Florida, 32066
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Keith Wynn Extension Agent II, University of Florida, Florida, 32052