Features Agronomy Corn
Early maturity focus of new corn hybrids

Corn breeders continue to focus on early maturing corn hybrids, and are bringing myriad stacked traits to western Canadian corn growers. Seed companies have supplied information on the new corn hybrids for 2015, and growers are advised to check local performance trials to help in variety selection. Listing is by corn heat units (CHU).

A4177G3 RIB is a Genuity VT Triple PRO RIB Complete PRIDE G3 hybrid, rated at 2000 to 2125 CHU with above- and below-ground insect control. It has early maturity and is a multi-purpose grain, silage and high moisture corn. The hybrid has consistent and reliable performance in early zones with exceptional spring vigour. Refuge in the bag provides enhanced trait protection with the benefit of automatic refuge compliance. Available from PRIDE Seeds dealers.

P7332R is a Roundup Ready Corn 2 hybrid with early maturity of 2050 CHU, built for Western Canada. It provides excellent yield potential with 104 per cent of Pioneer brand and competitor corn hybrids in five Pioneer Proving Ground sites across Western Canada in 2013. P7332R has excellent root strength for ease of harvest. Available from all local Pioneer Hi-bred sales representatives across Western Canada.

DKC23-22RIB is a Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete hybrid at a maturity of 2075 CHU, with excellent yield potential. It is an early-flowering, early-maturing hybrid with excellent harvest appearance and agronomics. DKC23-22RIB stands strong and has excellent test weight. Available at your local DEKALB dealer.

P7410HR is a Roundup Ready Corn 2/LibertyLink corn hybrid with 2100 CHU and Herculex 1 technology for above-ground insect control. It is an early corn hybrid with drought tolerance.  Excellent yield potential with 105 per cent of Pioneer brand and competitor corn hybrids in 127 Pioneer Proving Ground sites across Western Canada in 2013. P7410HR has good stalk and root strength. Available from all local Pioneer Hi-bred sales representatives across Western Canada.

A4025G3 RIB is a Genuity VT Triple PRO RIB Complete hybrid rated at 2150 CHU, that delivers above- and below-ground insect control. It is a very early season grain corn with superior late season intactness. This hybrid is very suitable for early planting, cold soils and late harvest timings. It has strong agronomics with very good spring vigour, stalk strength and full dent grain. Refuge in the bag provides enhanced trait protection with the benefit of automatic refuge compliance. Available from PRIDE Seeds dealers.

A4414RR is a new 2150 CHU Roundup Ready hybrid with very good emergence and spring vigour conducive for tough cold soils. It is an early, high-end performance grain hybrid with early flowering and finish. Available from PRIDE Seeds dealers.

A4415G2 RIB is a 2200 CHU Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete product, delivering above-ground insect control for grain use. Very good emergence and spring vigour conducive for tough cold soils. Refuge in the bag provides enhanced trait protection with the benefit of automatic refuge compliance. Available from PRIDE Seeds dealers.

P7632HR is a Roundup Ready Corn 2/LibertyLink corn hybrid with 2200 CHUs and Herculex 1 technology for above-ground insect control. It is an early corn hybrid with drought tolerance all in one package. It provides excellent yield potential with 106 per cent of Pioneer brand and competitor corn hybrids in 305 Pioneer Proving Ground sites across Western Canada in 2013. P7632HR has good stalk and root strength for ease of harvest. Available from all local Pioneer Hi-bred sales representatives across Western Canada.

P7632AM is an Optimum AcreMax corn hybrid with 2225 CHUs and Roundup Ready Corn 2/LibertyLink, Herculex 1 and YieldGuard Corn Borer technology for above-ground insect control. It can provide high yields along with a superior agronomic package. With an integrated refuge in the bag, P7632AM provides the ultimate simplicity for the grower where no separate refuge is required. Available from all local Pioneer Hi-bred sales representatives across Western Canada.

A4939G2 is a 2175 to 2300 CHU RIB Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete full-season hybrid delivering above-ground insect control. It is a high yielding, dual-purpose for silage and full-season grain use. It has long-lasting health and stay-green characteristics. Refuge in the bag provides enhanced trait protection with the benefit of automatic refuge compliance.  Available from PRIDE Seeds dealers.

4078 is a 2250 CHU hybrid with Roundup Ready 2/Liberty Link and Herculex Extra corn borer protection with excellent yield potential. It has early flowering and finish for early production areas. 4078 has strong stalks and late season intactness, and good husk cover and grain drydown. Available from Hyland Seeds.

TH4126RR is an exciting new 2250 CHU silage hybrid that is a sister line to the successful TH2146RR. It has a showy pineapple leaf, flint dent cob, and is a high yielder with quicker dry down than the 2146. Available from Thunder Seed dealers.

P7958AM is an Optimum AcreMax corn hybrid rated at 2275 CHU and with Roundup Ready Corn 2/LibertyLink, Herculex 1 and YieldGuard Corn Borer technology for above-ground insect control. It is a corn hybrid with excellent yield potential and very good drought tolerance. It provided 109 per cent of Pioneer brand and competitor corn hybrids in 305 Pioneer Proving Ground sites across Western Canada in 2013. Available from all local Pioneer Hi-bred sales representatives across Western Canada.

AS1047RR EDF is a grower and feedlot Roundup Ready hybrid choice rated at 2275 to 2450 CHU. It provides performance for high moisture corn use and heavy tonnage silage feed due to its big, very tall plant with girthy, stout ear size. It has a white cob with very good starch levels to provide quality silage. Slow grain drying rate preserves reliable and consistent feed. Available from PRIDE Seeds dealers.

4093 has the Roundup Ready 2/Liberty Link and Herculex Extra corn borer protection traits and is rated at 2300 CHU. It has excellent yield potential and is broadly adapted across variable soil types and environments. It is well suited to early maturity environments and has very good early vigour and solid agronomic characteristics. Available from Hyland Seeds.

MZ 1624DBR is a Genuity VT Double Pro RIB Complete hybrid rated at 2300 CHU. It has strong seedling vigour for uniform ear development. Early flowering results in rapid grain setup. This hybrid has exceptional stalk strength for harvest ease, and above average test weight. Also available as Roundup Ready (MZ 1625R). Available from Maizex Seeds.

DKC 30-19RIB is a Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete hybrid at a maturity of 2325 CHU with excellent yield potential. This hybrid offers outstanding emergence and seedling growth, with excellent test weight and grain quality. Available at your local DEKALB dealer.

LF 730CBR is a Genuity VT Triple Pro RIB Complete rated at 2350 CHU, bred specifically for silage production. It has rapid spring vigour and early-season growth for uniform plant establishment. Tall, robust plant increases silage yield. Also available as Roundup Ready (LF 728R). Available from Maizex Seeds.

DKC 31-09RIB is a Genuity VT Triple PRO RIB Complete hybrid at a maturity of 2400 CHU with exceptional yield potential. It is an ideal choice for corn-on-corn rotations with its excellent foliar disease package. This hybrid is well suited for early planting, with very good stalk and root strength. Available at your local DEKALB dealer.

DKC 37-85RIB is a Genuity SmartStax RIB Complete hybrid at a maturity of 2650 CHU with outstanding top-end yield potential. This product demonstrates above average drought stress tolerance, and early season agronomics and flowering. DKC 37-85RIB is stable across yield environments, offering girthy ears with open husks for fast dry-down. Available at your local DEKALB dealer.

TH7677VT2P  is a big-yielding grain corn rated at 2750 CHU. It looks very similar to TH7578 with the same or better bushel potential but a quicker dry down. It is a strong plant with mid cob placement and looks great coming out of the ground. Strong genetic lines. Available from Thunder Seed dealers.

TH4689RR is a high heat, 2750 CHU tall grazing hybrid with large cob potential. With strong stalks and excellent roots, it also features good ear placement for ease in grazing. Available from Thunder Seed dealers.

Company news
DuPont Pioneer is constructing a new 22,250 sq. ft., multi-million dollar research facility in Lethbridge, Alta., focused on developing ultra-early maturity corn products for growers in Alberta and Western Canada. Research plots were planted at the site this past spring, and the facility itself is expected to open within the coming months. In the future, this facility could be expanded to serve other crops or other DuPont businesses as well.

December 3, 2014  By Bruce Barker

Seed companies are bringing 22 new corn hybrids to western Canadian growers in 2015. Corn breeders continue to focus on early maturing corn hybrids