Corn Hybrid Trials (2015-2024 Crop Years)

Challenges

• From the 2015 to 2024 crop years, Mississippi corn acreage fell by 4.1%, yield increased by 6.3%, and the real price of corn (accounting for inflation) fell by 20.1%.
• These economic conditions, combined with 200 or more seed options, present a set of challenges for Mississippi corn producers that necessitate informed hybrid choices.
• Without objective assistance in the form of broad independent testing, Mississippi producers would have little basis to effectively evaluate corn hybrid seed.

Extension Response

To help producers with these challenges, Mississippi State University Extension Service faculty and professional staff developed the MSU Extension Corn Hybrid Demonstration Program.

• The program evaluated an average of 21 hybrids originating from eight to ten companies each year from 2014 to 2023 (2015–2024 planting years).
• The program allows growers, crop consultants, and other professionals to observe the performance of elite hybrids, plant characteristics, and environmental responses for hybrids that are voluntarily entered and validated by rigorous university hybrid trial or relevant market standards.
• Mississippi cropping systems are represented with multiple locations to increase the reliability of results.
• Seed companies are granted the discretion to enter their best adapted hybrids and genetic traits; this helps to create an elite group of hybrids for evaluation.

Economic Impacts

• Trial data show that the average yield for the 2015–2024 crop years could increase by 27 bushels per acre if the best-performing corn hybrids were used.
• A 90% adoption rate of the top hybrids could result in estimated revenue increases of $634.9 million for Mississippi producers for these crop years.
• We estimate that revenue from these yield increases could support 6,043 jobs in the Mississippi economy earning $182.6 million, generate $113.6 million in value-added, and result in $933.8 million in total output.
• This program could generate increases of $211,681 in local taxes, $4.8 million in state taxes, and $48.3 million in total federal taxes. These tax revenues support public goods and services and would increase as a result of the increased yields.

M2480-23 (10-25)

Erick Larson, PhD, Extension/Research Professor, Plant and Soil Sciences