Weather summary for the Arlington and Marshfield Agricultural Experiment Stations

Spring planting during 2011 was challenging due to cool, wet planting conditions, especially in northeastern Wisconsin where planting progress was delayed. Over the entire growing season, growing degree-day accumulations were below the 30-year normal. Precipitation was below average in southern Wisconsin, while northern Wisconsin had above average precipitation. Due to a dry and cool September and October, good grain drying occurred. Little insect or disease pressure was observed in most trials. High winds caused above average plant lodging conditions at dry locations. The killing frost date occurred in October. Harvest grain moisture was lower than normal in all trials, while yields were above the 10-year average at most sites. Fall weather conditions were ideal for harvest and fall farm work.

Weather at Arlington significantly deviated from the 30-year normal average for both Growing Degree Unit accumulation and precipitation (Figure 1). Growing Degree Unitaccumulation was below normal as well as precipitation. Meanwhile, Marshfield ended the growing season comparable to the 30-year normal average (Figure 2).

Figure 1. Growing degree unit accumulation and precipitation at the UW-ARS in Arlington during 2011.

 

Figure 2. Growing degree unit accumulation and precipitation at the UW-ARS in Marshfield during 2011.

Location summary of the 2011 Wisconsin corn performance trials

The University of Wisconsin corn hybrid trials are a good indicator of the type of year experienced by farmers around the state. These trials tend to be planted early and harvested at optimal times, so they are  are a good estimate of potential yields at various locations over an entire growing season (see map).

Grain yields were above the 10-year average at 9 of 12 locations (Table 1). Yield was below the 10-year average at Arlington, Hancock and Valders. For example, at Arlington during the 10-year period between 2001 to 2010, a total of 1988 hybrids were tested with an average yield of 216 bu/A. At Arlington during 2011,  150 hybrids averaged 194 bu/A. The 2011 yield was 10% below the previous 10-year average. The highest yielding locations were Janesville and Lancaster at 230 and 231 bu/A averaged over 150 hybrids. The lowest yielding location was Valders at 151 bu/A averaged over 144 hybrids tested. The location with the greatest increase was Spooner, which yielded 17% above the 10-year average.

Table 1. Grain summary of locations in the 2011 Wisconsin corn performance trials. Yield is in bushels per Acre at 15.5% moisture.

Silage yields were above the 10-year average for 8 of 9 sites (Table 2). For example at Arlington during the period between 2001 and 2010, a total of 642 hybrids produced an average yield of 9.6 T/A. In 2011, 62 hybrids produced an average yield of 9.2 T/A. This was a 4% decrease over the previous 10-year average. The highest yielding location was Galesville at 9.9 T/A. The location with the greatest increase was Coleman with an 18% increase over the previous 10-year average.

Table 2. Silage summary of locations in the 2011 Wisconsin corn performance trials. Yield is in Tons dry matter per Acre.

New features in the report on Wisconsin Corn Hybrid Performance Trials

Some new features were added to the 2011 report on Wisconsin corn hybrid trials. In Table 2, transgenic traits are described by the technology brand of the developing company with traits listed after the technology brand.

Specific transgenic events of the technologies are listed in Table 3. The year that these technologies were first introduced into the UW corn trials is listed along with the number of hybrids that were tested for each technology in 2011. For example, 96 hybrids were tested with the Agrisure® 3000GT technology which was first introduced into the trials in 2008. The second most popular hybrid technology was Genuity™ VT Triple Pro™ with 73 hybrids tested using the technology. The third most popular technology was YieldGard® VT Triple with 53 hybrids. A total of 83 conventional hybrids were tested in the trials this year.

Since 2004, we have tested 146 different seed treatment combinations on hybrids entered into the trial. The most popular seed treatment in 2011 (a total of 121 hybrids) in the trial was Dynasty+MaximXL | Cruiser25 (Table 4).

We have decided to include an extra location in the northern production zone (see map), which brings the total number of locations in this zone to five grain trials and four silage trials. Statewide there are 15 locations for testing grain hybrids and 11 locations for testing silage hybrids.

The final major change in the report was the performance tables themselves (Tables 7 to 23). Only traits are listed in the tables, rather than specific transgenic events

These new features are intended to make the report more readable and useful for farmers. Any suggestions for improvements are always appreciated.