Conducting Standardized County Agent Corn and Grain Sorghum Hybrid Strip Trials.

   The 2008 growing season was the first year for the Corn and Grain Sorghum Standardized County Hybrid Trials.  The trials were a collaborative effort between growers, county Extension agents, Extension specialists and industry representatives.  The trials were developed to help promote and standardize the hybrid demonstrations that were already taking place in many counties.  Through this program, company representatives were able to place hybrids in counties in 5 different districts to compare yield data.  Districts included the Northeast, Central, Southeast, River Valley and Southwest districts. Industry representatives were allowed to choose hybrids entered, but were asked to provide only hybrids that were commercially available.  All hybrids were glyphosate tolerant and Bt.  Relative maturity of hybrids entered ranged from 107 to 119 days.  Trials were strip trials and were not replicated.  Twenty one counties participated in 2008 and 18 corn trials and 7 grain sorghum trials were harvested.  Four corn and four grain sorghum trials were not planted or not harvested due to excessive rainfall in the spring.  All producers followed their normal production practices and were advised by the county Extension agent.  Producers donate time, equipment and hired labor to make these trials possible.  All results were summarized at the end of the year.