Dr. Chad Lee, University of Kentucky

December 05, :00 CST ContractPrice CornDec07393’4 Dec08436’4 SoybeanJan081117’0 Nov081037’0 WheatJul08768’4 Jul09741’0 2

 soybean at $33/bag  corn at $140 - $200/bag  N at $0.45/lb  P at $0.50/lb  K at $0.30/lb  Land rent???? 3

1. Good genetics 2. Maximize days suitable for growing to 95% light interception at silking (R1) 4. Adequate nutrients, water and air to complete plant growth and seed fill 4

5 Economics Weather TOTAL YIELD Soil Fertility Hybrid Genetics Planting Date, Seeding Rate Pest Management Timely Harvest Soil Structure TOTAL YIELD Soil Fertility Hybrid Genetics Planting Date, Seeding Rate Pest Management Timely Harvest Soil Structure Economics Weather

 Bt corn borer  Bt rootworm  RR2, GT  LL

 Roundup Ready

 Useful tools when needed  weed control  Pest management Rural Myth #1 “Biotechnology automatically equals yield” sometimes

Average Planting Date Corn Yield (Bu/A) ( ) Bt (CB) Hybrid Advantage (Bu/A) Non-Bt HybridBt Hybrid April April May May June Herbek and Bessin Princeton, KY

Rural Myth #2 “I’m saving money by waiting to spray.”

 Adapted  High-Yielding

12 More 2007 FavorableProj.PriceProjected Rank of VarietyUKSPTVarietyDiff.AcresAddnl.perRevenue Planted 1 MGBu./A 5 Bu./APlanted 1 Bu.Bu. 4 Lost 1. Pioneer 94M80L ,000717,600$9.00$6,458, NK S49-Q9L ,900629,970$9.00$5,669, Asgrow AG4703L ,35095,795$9.00$862, Pioneer 94B73L ,1500$9.00$0 5. Pioneer 94M30E ,8500$9.00$0 6. Southern Cross MichaelE ,25044,275$9.00$398, Asgrow AG4903L ,50093,150$9.00$838, Asgrow AG ,3500$9.00$0 8. Vigoro V48N7RSL ,35053,360$9.00$480, Pioneer 94M50E ,2000$9.00$0 10. NK S43-B1E4N.I.T.? 27,600?$9.00? 517,5001,634,150$9.00 $14,707,350 (Based on performance in 2007.)

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 High yield  Proper Maturity  Technology Traits  Other traits

YieldGard Corn Borer (Cry1Ab) YieldGard Rootworm (Cry3Bb1) YieldGard Plus (Cry1Ab+Cry3Bb1 Herculex (Cry1F) ) Herculex RW (Cry34Ab1+Cry35Ab1) Herculex Xtra (Cry1F+Cry34Ab1+Cry35Ab1) Agrisure CB (Cry1Ab) Agrisure RW (mCry3A) Agrisure CB/RW (Cry1AB+mCry3A) YieldGard VT RW (Cry3Bb1) YieldGard VT Triple (Cry1Ab + Cry3Bb1) Source: Ric Bessin

ECBSWCBBCWFAWCRW YieldGard CB YieldGard RW YieldGard Plus Herculex ++ - Herculex RW Herculex Xtra ++ Agrisure CB Agrisure RW Agrisure CB/RW Source: Ric Bessin

 Optimum GAT  corn and soybean  Anthracnose Stalk Rot Resistance  corn  Roundup RReady2Yield  soybean  Yield  Corn  Biofuels (amylase)  Corn  Seed oil composition  soybean  Dicamba resistance  soybean  Drought Tolerance  corn and soybean  Nitrogen utilization  Corn  SmartStax (8 genes)  corn

F1 Seed F1 Hybrid

 Corn  April 1 to May 1: Western KY  April 15 to May 15: Central and Eastern KY

Average Planting Date Princeton, KY Corn Yield (Bu/Acre)* (6 -Yr Avg.) ( ) Avg. Loss (Bu/A) April April May May June *Average of 2 hybrids (Bt & Non-Bt) 21 Herbek and Bessin

 Princeton  Lexington May April

 Corn : 24,000 – 30,000 plants/acre  Full Season Soybean: 100,000 plants/acre  Double crop soybean: 180,000 plants/acre

Nutrient$/lblb/acre$/acre N P K Nutrient$/lblb/acre$/acre N P K You cannot afford to over-fertilize... You cannot afford to under-fertilize...

1. Good genetics 2. Maximize days suitable for growing to 95% light interception at silking (R1) 4. Adequate nutrients, water and air to complete plant growth and seed fill 27