Crop Insights
Written by Mark Jeschke, Ph.D., Agronomy Manager
Since the introduction of hybrid corn nearly a century ago, corn productivity improvements have continued through the present day. Over the last 30 years, U.S. corn yield has increased by an average of 2 bu/acre per year. These gains have resulted from breeding for increased yield potential, introducing transgenic traits to help protect yield, and agronomic management that has allowed yield potential to be more fully realized.
As growers strive for greater corn yields, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest provides a benchmark for yields that are attainable when environmental conditions and agronomic management are optimized. The average yields of NCGA winners are nearly double the average U.S. yields.
The 2022 growing season was generally a down year for corn yields. The USDA estimated average yield was 172.3 bu/acre, which was 4 bu/acre less than 2021 and below the long term trendline. Corn yields were up over 2021 in Illinois and in the northern Corn Belt states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota, which rebounded from poor yield performance in 2021 driven by hot and dry conditions. However, corn yields were down in most other corn-producing states, and down sharply in the Southeast and Great Plains. Drought stress was a major yield-limiting factor in 2022, affecting large portions of the country over the course of the year.
Corn yields in the NCGA National Corn Yield Contest followed the overall downward trend in corn yield in 2022. The number of high-yield entries – defined for the purposes of this discussion as all entries yielding over 300 bu/acre – totaled 282 (Figure 1). This was the second-highest number of 300 bu/acre entries ever in the contest, but down sharply from the all-time high of 418 entries set in 2021.
Contest yields exceeding 300 bu/acre were achieved in 31 different states. The majority of high yield entries were right in the heart of the Corn Belt. Nebraska alone accounted for nearly 100 high yield entries, nearly all of which were irrigated. Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio added another 80 (Table 1).
Figure 1. Total entries in the NCGA National Corn Yield Contest exceeding 300 bu/acre by year from 2015 to 2022.
Table 1. Number of NCGA National Corn Yield Contest entries over 300 bu/acre by state, 2018-2022.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hybrids tested against each other in a single environment (e.g., a university or seed company test plot) routinely vary in yield by at least 30 bu/acre. At contest yield levels, hybrid differences can be even higher. That is why selecting the right hybrid is likely the most important management decision of all those made by contest winners.
The yield potential of many hybrids now exceeds 300 bu/acre. Realizing this yield potential requires matching hybrid characteristics with field attributes, such as moisture supplying capacity; insect and disease spectrum and intensity; maturity zone, residue cover; and even seedbed temperature. To achieve the highest possible yields, growers should select a hybrid with:
Pioneer® brand products were used in 200 NCGA National Corn Yield Contest state-level winning entries in 2022 – more than any other seed brand. State-level winners included a total of 80 different Pioneer brand products from 62 different hybrid families ranging from 91 to 120 CRM (See Pioneer state winners).
The brands of seed corn used in the highest yielding contest entries in 2018 through 2022 are shown in Figure 2. In all years, Pioneer brand products were used in more entries exceeding 300 bu/acre than any other individual seed brand.
Figure 2. Seed brand planted in National Corn Yield Contest entries exceeding 300 bu/acre from 2018 to 2022.
Yields exceeding 300 bu/acre have been achieved using Pioneer® brand products from 72 different hybrid families over the past five years, ranging from 97 to 120 CRM. The top-performing Pioneer hybrid families in the National Corn Yield Contest are shown in Table 2. The Pioneer brand P1185 family of products has been the top performer in the contest over the past few years, topping 300 bu/acre 59 times since 2020. Pioneer brand P1185, P1563, P0953, and P2042 families all had 10 or more entries over 300 bu/acre in 2022.
Table 2. Pioneer hybrid families with the most entries over 300 bu/acre in the NCGA National Corn Yield Contest.
| Hybrid Family | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2018-2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| —————— Number of Entries —————— | ||||||
| P1185 | 10 | 29 | 20 | 59 | ||
| P1563 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 22 | 15 | 52 |
| P0953 | 11 | 10 | 21 | |||
| P2042 | 5 | 10 | 15 | |||
| P1718 | 9 | 9 | ||||
| P1742 | 8 | 8 | ||||
| P1222 | 5 | 6 | 11 | |||
| P0924 | 4 | 6 | 10 | |||
| P1170 | 5 | 5 | ||||
| P1572 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 17 | ||
| P1359 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 11 | ||
| P1828 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 27 |
| P1136 | 4 | 4 | ||||
| P1847 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 18 | |
| P1082 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 13 | |
| P1383 | 3 | 3 | ||||
| P0908 | 3 | 3 | ||||
| P1108 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 16 | |
| P1197 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 38 |
| P1055 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||
| P0817 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||
| P1370 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 | ||
| P1278 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| P9998 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | |
| P0421 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| P0947 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| P0950 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| P9772 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| P1548 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| P0995 | 1 | 1 | ||||
Top performers in the NCGA yield contest not only have produced yields much higher than the current U.S. average, they have also achieved a higher rate of yield gain over time. Over the past 20 years, U.S. corn yields have increased at a rate of 1.6 bu/acre per year while winning yields in the non-irrigated yield contest classes have increased by 4.7 bu/acre per year. Contest fields are planted with the same corn hybrids available to everyone and are subject to the same growing conditions, which suggests that management practices are playing a key role in capturing more yield potential. The following sections will discuss management practices employed in contest entries yielding above 300 bu/acre.
Figure 3. Average yields of NCGA National Corn Yield contest non-irrigated class national winners and U.S. average corn yields, 2003-2022.
One of the most critical factors in achieving high corn yields is establishing a sufficient population density to allow a hybrid to maximize its yield potential. Historically, population density has been the main driver of yield gain in corn – improvement of corn hybrid genetics for superior stress tolerance has allowed hybrids to be planted at higher plant populations and produce greater yields.
Figure 4. Harvest populations and corn yield of irrigated and non-irrigated NCGA National Corn Yield Contest entries exceeding 300 bu/acre, 2018-2022.
Harvest populations in irrigated and non-irrigated national corn yield contest entries over 300 bu/acre from 2018 through 2022 are shown in Figure 4. The average harvest population of non-irrigated entries (36,300 plants/acre) was slightly greater than that of irrigated entries (35,400 plants/acre) over five years. Both are well above the USDA average plant population of 29,200 plants/acre, as would be expected for high-yielding environments. However, yields over 300 bu/acre were achieved over a wide range of populations, from 28,000 to 56,000 plants/acre, demonstrating that exceptionally high populations are not necessarily a prerequisite for high yields. Although population density is important in establishing the yield potential of a corn crop, it is just one of many factors that determine yield.
High-yielding contest plots are usually planted as early as practical for their geography. Early planting lengthens the growing season and, more importantly, moves pollination earlier. When silking, pollination and early ear fill are accomplished in June or early July, heat and moisture stress effects can be reduced.
Planting dates for entries exceeding 300 bu/acre ranged from April 9 to June 4 in the Corn Belt states shown in Figure 5, with average planting dates for all states falling within the first 10 days of May. The planting window for high yield entries was generally on the early side of planting progress overall. In all states, the average planting date for high yield entries occurred several days ahead of the mid-point of corn planting progress according to USDA NASS data (Figure 5).
Planting was delayed throughout much of the Corn Belt in 2022 due to below average temperatures in April, running about two weeks behind 2021 planting progress. Planting dates for high yield entries were also later in 2022, with many entries planted in early May compared to mid- to late April in 2021. States that experienced longer planting delays compared to 2021 also tended to have a greater drop-off in the number of 300 bu/acre entries from 2021, suggesting that some of the top-end yield potential was lost with later planting. The 2022 contest had several high-yield entries planted in mid- to late-May and even early June, demonstrating that high yields can still be achieved under favorable conditions if planting is not delayed for too long. However, the odds of achieving high yields are generally going to be better with earlier planting.
Figure 5. Average planting date and planting date range of NCGA National Corn Yield Contest entries exceeding 300 bu/acre in 2022 in select states.
The vast majority of corn acres in the U.S. are currently planted in 30-inch rows, accounting for over 85% of corn production. A majority of 300 bu/acre contest entries over the past five years have been planted in 30-inch rows (Figure 6). This proportion has increased slightly in recent years as wider row configurations (most commonly 36-inch or 38-inch) have remained steady and narrower row configurations (15-inch, 20-inch, 22-inch or 30-inch twin) have declined.
Row spacings narrower than the current standard of 30 inches have been a source of continuing interest as a way to achieve greater yields, particularly with continually increasing seeding rates. However, research has generally not shown a consistent yield benefit to narrower rows outside of the northern Corn Belt (Jeschke, 2018).
Figure 6. Row width used in NCGA National Corn Yield Contest entries exceeding 300 bu/acre, 2018-2022.
Rotating crops is one of the practices most often recommended to keep yields consistently high. Rotation can break damaging insect and disease cycles that lower crop yields. Including crops like soybean or alfalfa in the rotation can reduce the amount of nitrogen required in the following corn crop. A majority of the fields in the 300 bu/acre entries were planted to a crop other than corn the previous growing season (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Previous crop in NCGA National Corn Yield Contest entries exceeding 300 bu/acre in 2022 and 5-year averages.
The so-called “rotation effect” is a yield increase associated with crop rotation compared to continuous corn even when all limiting factors appear to have been controlled or adequately supplied in the continuous corn. This yield increase has averaged about 5 to 15 percent in research studies but has generally been less under high-yield conditions (Butzen, 2012). Rotated corn is generally better able to tolerate yield-limiting stresses than continuous corn; however, yield contest results clearly show that high yields can be achieved in continuous-corn production.
Over the past five years, around 40% of the high yield entries in the NCGA contest have used conventional tillage, with the other half using no-tillage or some form of reduced tillage (Figure 8). The proportion of high-yield entries using conventional tillage has declined over time, offset by increases in no-till and strip-till.
Figure 8. Tillage practices in NCGA National Corn Yield Contest entries exceeding 300 bu/acre in 2022 and 5-year averages.
Achieving highest corn yields requires an excellent soil fertility program, beginning with timely application of nitrogen (N) and soil testing to determine existing levels of phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and soil pH.
Corn grain removes approximately 0.67 lbs of nitrogen per bushel harvested, and stover production requires about 0.45 lbs of nitrogen for each bushel of grain produced (IPNI, 2014). This means that the total N needed for a 300 bu/acre corn crop is around 336 lbs/acre. Only a portion of this amount needs to be supplied by N fertilizer; N is also supplied by the soil through mineralization of soil organic matter. On highly productive soils, N mineralization will often supply the majority of N needed by the crop. Credits can be taken for previous legume crop, manure application, and N in irrigation water. Nitrogen application rates of entries exceeding 300 bu/acre are shown in Figure 9.
The N application rates of 300 bu/acre entries varied greatly, but the majority were in the range of 200 to 300 lbs/acre. Some entries with lower N rates were supplemented with N from manure application. As corn yield increases, more N is removed from the soil; however, N application rates do not necessarily need to increase to support high yields. Climatic conditions that favor high yield will also tend to increase the amount of N a corn crop obtains from the soil through increased mineralization of organic N and improved root growth.
Figure 9. Nitrogen rates (total lbs/acre N applied) of NCGA National Corn Yield Contest entries exceeding 300 bu/acre in 2022 and 5-year averages.
Total nitrogen applied in high yield entries has trended downward in recent years. In the 2016 contest, over half of high yield entries had over 300 lbs/acre of N applied, compared to less than 20% of entries in 2022.
Timing of N fertilizer applications can be just as important as application rate. The less time there is between N application and crop uptake, the less likely N loss from the soil will occur and limit crop yield. Nitrogen uptake by the corn plant peaks during the rapid growth phase of vegetative development between V12 and VT (tasseling). However, the N requirement is high beginning at V6 and extending to the R5 (early dent) stage of grain development.
Timing of N fertilizer applications in 300 bu/acre entries is shown in Figure 10. Very few included fall-applied N. Many applied N before or at planting. Nearly 80% of 300 bu/acre entries included some form of in-season nitrogen, either side-dressed or applied with irrigation. Multiple nitrogen applications were used in 94% of high-yield entries.
Figure 10. Nitrogen fertilizer application timing of NCGA National Corn Yield Contest entries exceeding 300 bu/acre in 2021 and 5-year averages.
Micronutrients were applied on 39% of the 300 bu/acre entries (Figure 11). The nutrients most commonly applied were sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), and boron (B), with some entries including magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), or copper (Cu). Micronutrients are sufficient in many soils to meet crop needs. However, some sandy soils and other low organic matter soils are naturally deficient in micronutrients, and high pH soils may reduce their availability (Butzen and Jeschke, 2022). Additionally, as yields increase, micronutrient removal increases as well, potentially causing deficiencies.
Figure 11. Micronutrients applied in NCGA National Corn Yield Contest entries exceeding 300 bu/acre in 2022 and 5-year averages.
| Hybrid/Brand1 | Winners |
|---|---|
| Alabama | |
| P2089VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| Arkansas | |
| P1718VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| California | |
| P1359 | 1 |
| Colorado | |
| P0622AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0817Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1185AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1366AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1366Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Delaware | |
| P1718 | 1 |
| Florida | |
| P1847VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 4 |
| Georgia | |
| P1870YHR (YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| Iowa | |
| P0924Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P0953AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 3 |
| P1185Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1222AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1366Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1587Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Idaho | |
| P0157AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1055Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1185Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9998 | 1 |
| P9998Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Illinois | |
| P1108Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1136AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1185AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1222AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1278Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1563Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Indiana | |
| P0953AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1136AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1222AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1383AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Kansas | |
| P1366AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1563AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1718AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 3 |
| P1828AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Kentucky | |
| P1222AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1442 | 1 |
| Louisiana | |
| P1718VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P2042VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Hybrid/Brand1 | Winners |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | |
| P0035Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9489Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Maryland | |
| P0953AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1170AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1622AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1718AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Michigan | |
| P0035AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0075AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0720Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0732Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0825AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0953AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1170AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Minnesota | |
| P0529Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0924Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0950AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0953AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1185Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1366AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Missouri | |
| P1077AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1222AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1359AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 3 |
| P1718VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1847VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Mississippi | |
| P1718VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1870YHR (YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P2089VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Montana | |
| P9193Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9211Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9489AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 3 |
| North Carolina | |
| P1718VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1870YHR (YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1903YHR (YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| North Dakota | |
| P9540AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P9998AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Nebraska | |
| P1185AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 3 |
| P1359AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1563AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1718AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1742Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P2042AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| New Jersey | |
| P1136AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1222AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1718AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| New Mexico | |
| P1122AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1370Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1572AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Nevada | |
| P0046AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| New York | |
| P0035AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0035Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| Hybrid/Brand1 | Winners |
|---|---|
| Ohio | |
| P0924Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0953AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0995AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1197AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1380Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1383AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| Oklahoma | |
| P1108Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1359AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1548AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1718VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1828AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P2089VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Oregon | |
| P0953AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 4 |
| P1185AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | |
| P0487Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1077AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 3 |
| P1108Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1136AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 3 |
| P1222AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1380Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1506AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| South Carolina | |
| P1847VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P2042VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| South Dakota | |
| P1366AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1366Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9772AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Texas | |
| P1197 | 1 |
| P1366Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1572AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1759YHR (YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1828AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1828Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| Utah | |
| P0908AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1055Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Virginia | |
| P0843AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1170AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1197AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1222AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 3 |
| P1289AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1464AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1718AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1718VYHR (AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1847AML™ (AML, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Vermont | |
| P0035Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P0306Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9998Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Washington | |
| P0421AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9998AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Wisconsin | |
| P0035AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0421AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0421Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0720Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P0953AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1185AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P1185Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9619AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| West Virginia | |
| P1077AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 2 |
| P1587Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| Wyoming | |
| P0339Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 3 |
| P0446Q™ (Q, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9492AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
| P9540AM™ (AM, LL, RR2) | 1 |
Pioneer has been leading hybrid corn development since 1920. And is just getting started.
To win the NCGA yield contest, you’ve got to do more than join the Corn Revolution. You’ve got to be a revolutionary.
See the Revolutionaries
This year, after a decade of innovation in genetics, breeding, technology and testing, everything came together. Resulting in better results and better returns.
See Local Yield DataUse our corn seed guide to explore Pioneer® brand corn products that will maximize yield potential on every acre.
Find Local Products
AM - Optimum® AcreMax® Insect Protection system with YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above-ground insects. In EPA-designated cotton growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax products. AML - Optimum® AcreMax® Leptra® products with AVBL, YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above-ground insects. In EPA-designated cotton growing countries, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax Leptra products. YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2 (Optimum® Intrasect®) - Contains a Bt trait and Herculex® I gene for resistance to corn borer. AVBL,YGCB,HX1,LL,RR2 (Optimum® Leptra®) - Contains the Agrisure Viptera® trait, the Bt trait, the Herculex® I gene, the LibertyLink® gene, and the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait. Q (Qrome®) - Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above- and below-ground insects. The major component contains the Agrisure® RW trait, the Bt trait, and the Herculex® XTRA genes. In EPA-designated cotton growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Qrome products. Qrome® products are approved for cultivation in the U.S. and Canada. They have also received approval in a number of importing countries, most recently China. For additional information about the status of regulatory authorizations, visit http://www.biotradestatus.com/. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. RR2 - Contains the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait that provides crop safety for over-the-top applications of labeled glyphosate herbicides when applied according to label directions.
Agrisure® and Agrisure Viptera® are registered trademarks of, and used under license from, a Syngenta Group Company. Agrisure® technology incorporated into these seeds is commercialized under a license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Liberty®, LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of BASF. Roundup Ready®is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company.
1All Pioneer products are hybrids unless designated with AM1, AM, AMT, AMRW, AMX, AMXT, AML, and Q in which case they are brands.
Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents.
The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Contact your Pioneer sales professional for information and suggestions specific to your operation. Product performance is variable and subject to any number of environmental, disease, and pest pressures. Individual results may vary.
