Page 36 - Logan County Farm Outlook - Spring 2013

2013 LOGAN COUNTY FARM OUTLOOK MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com March 21, 2013
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drought mitigation,” Fields said. “Thus,
rootworm protection has a drought-
tolerance effect.”
What characteristics are being
worked on now that might provide
higher or more
reliable yields in the
future?
Fields said:
“Increased protection
against insects, greater
nitrogen-use efficiency,
s o i l - t y p e - s p e c i f i c
hybrids, planting-
population-specific hybrids, cold-wet
tolerance and more.”
What are thenextgoals in improving
plant traits?
On the horizon, there is room for
plants to have more tolerance for cold,
heat and water (in flooding situations)
and more nutrient uptake, Fields said.
Do drought-resistant hybrids provide
the same or higher yields in good climate
years?Howdo drought-resistant hybrids
compare for highest yield varieties?
Fields said that drought hybrids are
yield-checked against other commercial
lines. They are intended to not have a
yield drag in optimal conditions.
One of the contributors to loss last year
actually took place when corn arrived at
the grain elevators. Entire loads were
rejected for Aspergillus contamination.
Aspergillus most often occurs under
drought conditions.
Poorly formed or weak
kernels are breached
by insects or nicked,
setting up for fungus.
Not really meaning
it, late last fall a Logan
County farmer quipped:
“If they could come
up with a hybrid that would prevent
Aspergillus…”
Well, lo and behold, Fields threw some
light on that too. “It is a focus of current
seed research and development,” he
said, “and post-detection mitigation.”
Fields added: “Corn borer traits help
reduce the vector site, and there are
many other practices being deployed.”
Fields said that commercially, DuPont
Pioneer’s AQUAmax and Syngenta’s
Artisan lines are bred to be drought-
resistant.
AQUAmax features key native
traits that improve performance under
water-limited environments. Featured
mechanisms include leaf stomatal
control.
Syngenta announced this month
that its newest drought product in the
Artisan line has been fully deregulated.
Agrisure Duracade is planned to launch
drought-tolerant continued