Butler County Hosting 2020 UK State Corn Variety Trial

Fri, 05/15/2020 - 4:19pm — Diane Dyer

Technicians plant 4 row plots for the Kentucky Corn Variety Trial. The technician riding the planter is changing corn hybrids on the go by dumping a small amount of seeds as the planter moves down the field. The tractor is operating on auto-steer to insure even spacing between planter passes.

Each year the University of Kentucky tests corn hybrids that are commercially available and experimental ones to determine how they will perform on Kentucky Farms. These tests provide an independent set of yield data that allow farmers to pick the hybrids most likely to perform on their own farm. Each hybrid tested in the UK trial is planted at least 3 times in a randomized location at each test site. Planting a hybrid multiple times at each site removes, or tries to remove, the effect of where the hybrid was planted in the field on its final yield. A replicated experimental design like this is very difficult to conduct, and requires specialized equipment. The replications reduce the likelihood that any hybrid will yield at the top of a test plot simply because it was planted in the best spot in the field or be at the bottom of the results because it was planted in a wet spot. Technicians from UK were in Butler County on May 11^th to plant our location. The same group of hybrids will be planted in 5 other locations across the state. After harvest all the data will be analyzed and a report will be produced so farmers can pick the best hybrids for their 2021 corn crop. I want to thank the Moore family for hosting this important trial in 2020.

Submitted by:

Greg Drake II

Butler County Extension Agent for Ag. And Natural Resources

Farm Organization Director for KY Association of County Ag. Agents

270-526-3767

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