When Research Hits the Fields

Laboratory successes don't mean much unless they translate into field performance. Here are what some Pioneer customers have to say about a couple of the newest products resulting from Pioneer research efforts.

New corn hybrid takes off
Kent Krukewitt of Homer, Ill., grows only food-grade corn. He selects hybrids from a list offered by the grain buyer. Last year, a new product - Pioneer® hybrid 33N09 - was on the list. Krukewitt was able to try several bags of the new hybrid.

"For food-corn production, it's difficult to find a good, high-yield hybrid with the right agronomic traits," Krukewitt says. "33N09 appears to offer very high yield potential even by non-food-grade standards. And it appears to have a good agronomic package.

"This new hybrid yielded extremely well compared to other food-corn hybrids we've planted," Krukewitt says. "I'm very pleased with the results."

Unlike growers in some areas of the country, Krukewitt didn't see optimal growing conditions in 2004.

"Because of insect pressure coupled with high amounts of rainfall, we didn't have the exceptional yields some areas enjoyed," Krukewitt says. "We had some leaning corn in every field. But even without perfect growing conditions, 33N09 still seemed to be an exceptional hybrid."

Would he recommend it to other growers?
"Absolutely," he says. "In my case, the closer to non-food-grade corn I can get in yield, the more money goes into my pocket. This hybrid yielded well by any standards, and I still got a premium for a food-grade product."

Passing the test weight test
Carl Marsh of Lacona, Iowa, grows corn for the traditional market. For him 33N09 also showed great promise.

Marsh planted a few bags of 33N09 in 2004. It yielded 12 bushels per acre better than the next best hybrid he planted. "It not only stood better, but it dried to a test weight of 61 pounds," he reports. "Plus, it's a pretty corn."

This year Marsh bought all the 33N09 he could get - 54 bags. He planted it on his best ground to take maximum advantage of the yield potential.

"I personally think this is the best hybrid Pioneer has out now," Marsh contends. "I think this will be the main hybrid I plant next year."

Powerful soybean options
Pioneer isn't just working on better corn hybrids. Improving soybean varieties has been a priority as well. The new varieties of the Pioneer® brand "M series" are a case in point.

Mike Immel, a grower in Adair, Iowa, likes what he's seen of 93M11 so far.

"The first thing we noticed was the emergence," Immel says. "We planted the first part of May in 2004, and it came up nicely."

Plant stature also is a plus. "It's a taller bean, so it combines real easily," Immel says.

"We had a really good year for yields in 2004, and 93M11 definitely was better than the other brands we planted," he reports.

This year, Immel has more than 30 percent of his soybean acres planted to 93M11. "It looks like another pretty good year," Immel said in mid-July. "The M-series soybeans are an improvement, although Pioneer soybeans have always been good."