2014 pfr partners - beck's hybrids literature/pfr...2014 pfr partners this publication is a...

2

2014 PFR Partners

This publication is a summary of Beck’s Hybrids 2014 agronomic research managed by

the Central IL Practical Farm Research Center located near Downs, IL. Management

options for farming operations are endless, and farmers don’t have time to evaluate all

procedures or new technologies. On-farm research is costly, time consuming, and often

confusing. That’s why we developed our Practical Farm Research (PFR)® Partner

program. This program conducts different studies across multiple locations on growers’

actual farms to learn how different management practices and new technologies

perform in their own field environments. Simply put, it’s research focused with the

farmer in mind.

Beck’s CILPFR research team conducted various on-farm agronomic trials in corn and

soybeans throughout Illinois. All agronomic trials were managed and directed by Jason

Webster, Central IL Practical Farm Research Director along with Operations Lead

Clayton Stufflebeam and PFR Assistant Ben Arteman.

2014 Central IL PFR Team (L to R)

Jason Webster, Will Hogan, Guy Hainline, Ben Arteman, Erin Heidrick, Clayton Stufflebeam, Mark Plunk

Introduction

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2014 PFR Partners

Nitrogen Management Studies 4

Under-Application N Rate 7-9

Over Application N Rate 10-18

V10 N Timing Trials 19-21

AgLeader OptRx® Variable Rate N 22-25

360 Y-Drop™

N Placement 26-29

Urea Topdress 30-32

V5 Corn Fungicide Trials 34-38

VT Corn Fungicide Trials 39-49

CropKarb® Corn Trials 50

Soil-Applied Insecticide 51-53

Carbon Penalty 54

Elixor™

55

Start Right 56

SUL4R-Plus® 57

Site-Specific Multi-Hybrid Corn Planting 58-66

TrackTill 67-68

Soybean Fungicide 69-75

CropKarb® Soybean Trials 76

InstaGro Soybean Trails 77

Site-Specific Multi-Variety Soybean Planting 78-80

Table of Contents

OptRx® is a registered trademark of Ag Leader Technology. Y-Drop™ is a trademark of 360 Yield Center, LLC. CropKarb® is a registered

trademark of McRight Services, LLC. Elixor™ is a trademark of Biovante, LLC. SUL4R-PLUS® is a registered trademark of Charah, Inc.

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2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Nitrogen Management Studies

OptRx® is a registered trademark of Ag Leader Technology. Y-Drop™ is a trademark of 360 Yield Center, LLC. Factor® is a registered trade-

mark of Midtech R&D and distributed by Rosen’s, Inc.

These trials were designed to compare multiple types of nitrogen management

programs to the growers’ normal nitrogen management systems. The nitrogen

components that we will evaluate in this trial consist of nitrogen rate, timing, form, and

placement. This study was designed as an agronomic segment of Beck’s PFR Partner

Program, which cooperates with Beck’s customers to conduct agronomic research on

their own farms. A PFR Director works with each PFR Partner or cooperator to develop

agronomic protocols and then implements the plan in cooperation with the grower.

These nitrogen trials include evaluation of:

Under-Application of -30 lb. N/A.

Over-Application of +30 lb. N/A.

Over-Application of +60 lb. N/A.

V10 Timing vs. grower’s normal

OptRx® Variable Rate Nitrogen

360 Y-Drop™ System Placement

Dry Urea Topdress

CILPFR Intern Erin Heidrick with PFR Partner Greg Pfeifer

The protocols in this particular study are constant, with the exception of the grower’s

normal nitrogen program, which can change at each trial site. Each treatment consists

of the same total rate of nitrogen as the grower’s normal, with the exception of the

OptRx treatment, which variable rate applies based upon plant needs.

Nitrogen stabilizers were used on all treatments that surface-applied nitrogen: 360 Y-

Drop placement and urea topdress. Factor®, a nitrogen stabilizer from Rosen’s, Inc.,

was used as a volatilization inhibitor to help protect nitrogen that was applied on the soil

surface. This stabilizer protects from volatilization for up to 14 days until rain occurs so

that hydrolyzation will occur below the soil surface. This will decrease the risk of

atmospheric losses.

We found that the average rate of nitrogen across all trials was 188 lb. N/A.—63% of

which was applied preplant and the remaining 37% was applied as a sidedress.

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2014 PFR Partners

Nitrogen Cooperators


Tom and Lisa Uthell Family

Uthell Seed Sales—Teutopolis, IL

CIL PFR Team

Jason Webster, Clayton Stufflebeam,

and Ben Arteman.

Craig Kilby

Beck’s Team Sales Agronomist

Dan Herr

Graymont Cooperative Association

Jonathan Perkins

SIL PFR Director

Team Sales Agronomist

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2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Nitrogen Rate Studies

Through this year’s intensive nitrogen research studies, Beck’s CIL PFR team tried to

evaluate the percentage of growers that were using economic optimum nitrogen rates.

The following is a summary of multiple locations where growers’ normal nitrogen rate

programs were compared to either decreasing their total rate by 30 lb./A. or increasing

the total rate by +30 lb./A. and +60 lb./A. This additional nitrogen was sidedressed

either early with the grower’s normal program or at growth stage V10 with our late-

season programs. The summary analyzes the higher and lower nitrogen rates at each

timing as well as all of the trials together.

Growers with correct nitrogen rate = 35%

Growers with wrong nitrogen rate = 65%

This year’s results indicated that 35% of our PFR Partners were indeed implementing

economic optimum nitrogen rates. When these growers adjusted their normal rate

programs, no economic gains were incurred.

As far as the other 65% are concerned, they did experience economic returns higher

than their current nitrogen program by increasing or decreasing their total nitrogen rate.

Interestingly enough, 39% of those growers could have applied less nitrogen, and 61%

of them needed to apply more.

Simply put, 65% of our PFR Partners were using the wrong rate of nitrogen.

“Hitting the Bullseye”

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2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Under-Application N Rate

-$17.94 loss in net return per acre^

^Net return based on $0.60/lb. N and $4.15/Bu. corn

Average reduced nitrogen rate of –28.8 lb.

2-Year average yield loss of –10.0 Bu./A.

-$23.97 loss in net return

-8.5 Bu./A. yield loss

39% of reduced nitrogen rate trials provided economic gains

-60.0

-50.0

-40.0

-30.0

-20.0

-10.0

0.0

10.0

20.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

Under-Application Yield Summary

Under-applications resulted in average yield losses of 8.5 Bu./A., with only 39% of the

total number of applications offering positive economic gains. This particular under

application trial has been conducted over the past two years with average yield losses

of 10.0 Bu./A. and economic losses of $23.97. The red line in the chart signifies the

break-even point for reduced nitrogen applications. Even though yield may have

suffered from lack of nitrogen in some of the trial locations, the lower cost of nitrogen

allowed for economic gains.

36 Trial Locations

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2014 PFR Partners


Grower Location Hybrid

Yield

Response

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 5385A3 -7.5

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* -8.4

Jim Rafferty Le Roy, IL LG2620 -4.0

Triple V Farms Roanoke, IL Phoenix 5842EZ**

-4.0

Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL DKC 64-87 -7.5

Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL BECK 5475AMXT™*

+0.9

Ron Bork Piper City, IL BECK 6175wx -2.0

Ron Keiser Arrowsmith, IL BECK 6175wx -10.3

Brian Wilson Merna, IL Phoenix 5842A4** -9.5

EJ Kelley Normal, IL BECK 6626AMX-R™*

-34.2

Steve Sowers Colchester, IL BECK 5475AM™*

-54.8

Kirk Sims New Windsor, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

-0.5

Brian Robinson Galesburg, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

-4.1

Webster Farms Kempton, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

-9.5

Hunt Farms Blandinsville, IL BECK 5475AMX™*

-0.2


+7.9

Tim Brouwers Manteno, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

-12.6

Tim Brouwers Moweaqua, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

-30.0

Coffman and Downs Moweaqua, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

-4.8


-8.2

T&R Farms Teutopolis, IL BECK 6175AM™*

-8.4


-19.1


5.6


-4.0

Gary Deters Teutopolis, IL BECK 5828AM™*

-0.8

Koester Farms Effingham, IL BECK 5828AM™*

-20.1

John Ryerson Cornell, IL LG 2620 -7.7

Jim Girard Pontiac, IL BECK 6626AMX-R™*

12.3

™*®XL is a registered trademark of Pioneer. XL brand seed is distributed by Beck’s Superior Hybrids, Inc.

** Phoenix® is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Phoenix® brand seed is distributed by Beck’s Superior Hybrids, Inc.

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2014 PFR Partners



Yield

Response

Mike Follmer Graymont, IL DKC 61-88 2.5

Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL FS 63SX1 -1.0

Doug Raber Gridley, IL DKC 57-92 -6.0

Brent Clark Pontiac, IL BECK 5435AMX-R™*

-19.8

Jeremy Schlipf Gridley, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

-10.9

Marv Hilti Cullom, IL Stone 6358 -15.7

Kyle Finley Alvin, IL BECK 5475AMX™*

+0.9

Brad Dorsey Moro, IL BECK 6272™*

-9.7

“PFR Partners expands our research and the learning potential of our Practical

Farm Research studies by doing the same research projects on a larger scale in

farmers’ fields. This approach gives inquisitive farmers a means for combining

ideas and questions involved in specific PFR studies with their own farming

operation where the learning can become first hand and experiential.”

Scott Beck, Vice President and PFR Director

Beck’s Hybrids, Atlanta, IN


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2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S V5 +30 N Rate


^Net return based on $0.60/lb. N and $4.15/Bu. corn. Averages are calculated from economics of each treatment.

Average increased nitrogen rate of +31.8 lb. N/A.

+3.34 Bu./A. average yield gain

40% of early +30 lb. N/A. nitrogen rate trials provided economic gains

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

Yie

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esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

Early +30 lb. Yield Summary

20 Trial Locations

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2014 PFR Partners


+$7.48 gain in net return per acre^




60% of late-season +30 lb. N/A. nitrogen rate trials provided economic gains

-20.0

-15.0

-10.0

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

V10 +30 lb. Yield Summary

25 Trial Locations

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2014 PFR Partners






21% of early +60 lb. N/A. nitrogen rate trials provided economic gains

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

Early +60 lb. Yield Summary

19 Trial Locations

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2014 PFR Partners






23% of late-season +60 lb. N/A. nitrogen rate trials provided economic gains

-10.0

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

V10 +60 lb. Yield Summary

26 Trial Locations

PFR Partners Danny and Brian Wilson, Normal, IL

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2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Nitrogen Rate and Timing

$(20.00)

$(15.00)

$(10.00)

$(5.00)

$-

$5.00

$10.00

Ne

t R

etu

rn (

$/A

.)

Nitrogen Rate and Timing Summary

-30 lb. N

V5 +60 lb. N

V10 +60 lb. N

V5 +30 lb. N

V10 +30 lb. N

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 1 illustrates the economic results from increased and decreased nitrogen rates. Under

applications of nitrogen resulted in net losses of $17.64/A., however the real story from this

study is the fact that an additional 30 lb. of nitrogen at the V10 growth stage proved to be the

only treatment that realized net economic gains. Providing that same additional 30 lb. of

nitrogen at V5 was apparently too early, considering the heavy rainfall that was seen in many

of the trial locations.

Figure 2 reveals the differences in additional N applied at both V5 and V10. The V10 +30

applications achieved net returns $12.52/A. higher than the V5 +30 applications. This again

may be a result of heavy rainfall occurring at or after the V5 growth stage. In general, an

additional 60 lb. of nitrogen supplied the highest yields in the study, but overall returns suffered

due to the added nitrogen cost.

+$0.82

+$12.52

$(12.00)

$(10.00)

$(8.00)

$(6.00)

$(4.00)

$(2.00)

$-

$2.00

$4.00

$6.00

$8.00

$10.00

Ne

t R

etu

rn (

$/A

.)

Early vs. Late-Season Sidedress N

V5

V10

+30 lb. N +60 lb. N

Figure 2.

15

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S +30 N Rate


Yield

Response

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 5385A3 +3.4

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

+4.1


Triple V Farms Roanoke, IL Phoenix 5842EZ** +7.5

Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL DKC 64-87 -4.0


+5.2

Ron Bork Piper City, IL BECK 6175wx +3.0

Ron Keiser Arrowsmith, IL BECK 6175wx +5.6

Brian Wilson Normal, IL Phoenix 5842A4**

+2.5

E.J. Kelley Normal, IL BECK 6626AMX-R™*

+0.9

Steve Sowers Colchester, IL BECK 5475LM™*

+4.0


-1.3


+8.0


+4.9


+7.1

Hunt Farm Blandinsville, IL BECK 5475AMX™*

+2.2


+5.8


+3.2


+8.5


-0.8

“I rely on the Beck’s PFR Partners program to determine whether or not I am

utilizing the correct method of applying nitrogen on my farm. They bring value to

my operation by showing me what other programs are available. If these other

programs are more profitable than what we usually do, then we need to take a

hard look at our nitrogen management system.”

Greg Pfeifer

Mazon, IL



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2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S +30 V10 N Rate


Yield

Response

Matt Burgener Moweaqua, IL DKC +9.0

Gary Eckel Noble, IL BECK 5828AM™*

-1.1

Ridgely Farms Parkersburg, IL BECK 5828AM™*

-4.0


+9.2


+10.6

John Ryerson Cornell, IL LG2620 +9.2


+22.5

Mike Follmer Graymont, IL DKC 61-88 +0.4

Mackinson Dairy Pontiac, IL NK 71U-3122 -2.3

Mark Fourez Oakwood, IL BECK 5475AMXT™*

+5.3

Jeff Bressner Graymont, IL DKC 63-33 +15.0

Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL FS 63SX1 +5.0

Doug Raber Gridley, IL DKC 57-92 +10.0


-1.9


+3.7

Marv Hilti Cullom, IL Stone 6358 +24.9

Kent Hetzer Newton, IL DKC 61-88 +6.4

Kent Hetzer Newton, IL DKC 61-88 -14.7

T & R Farms Teutopolis, IL BECK 6175AM™*

-0.5

Wakefield Farms Effingham, IL BECK 5828AM™*

+20.7


+8.2


-4.8

Gaither Farms Moweaqua, IL DKC +6.7

Linus Schumacher Teutopolis, IL BECK 5828AM™*

+0.7



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2014 PFR Partners



Yield

Response



+10.8

Jim Rafferty Le Roy, IL LG2620 +3.9

Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL DKC 64-87 +3.9


+11.5

Ron Bork Piper City, IL BECK 6175wx +5.0


Brian Wilson Normal, IL Phoenix 5842A4** +5.2


+6.4

Steve Sowers Colchester, IL BECK 5475LM™*

+6.6


+3.2


-1.5


+12.0


+5.5


+7.7


+1.5


+3.0


+5.8


+19.5



“The PFR Partners program is a great tool to evaluate nitrogen programs. The

different rates and timings we were able to apply seemed to fit right into the

wheel house of what producers have been thinking about. Am I applying the

correct rate of nitrogen? Am I applying it at the correct time? Through the PFR

Partner program, we were able to apply different rates of nitrogen at V5 and V10

growth stages to let growers see first-hand on their own yield monitors how it

affected yield and profitability. I think that means a lot to see it in their own field,

rather than just reading plot results from other locations.”

Dan Herr, Graymont Co-op

Graymont, IL

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2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S +60 V10 N Rate


Yield

Response



-4.5


-3.4


+6.7


+2.0

John Ryerson Cornell, IL LG2620 -5.0


+26.2

Mike Follmer Graymont, IL DKC 61-88 +1.4

Mackinson Dairy Pontiac, IL NK 71U-3122 -6.9

Mark Fourez Oakwood, IL BECK 5475AMXT™*

+5.2


Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL FS 63SX1 +5.0



+8.1


+4.1


Kent Hetzer Newton, IL DKC 61-88 +6.4

Kent Hetzer Newton, IL DKC 61-88 -0.7


+2.1

Wakefield Farms Effingham, IL BECK 5509A3 +37.5


+1.7


+0.6

Gaither Farms Moweaqua, IL DKC +5.9


-0.6

Travis Worman Teutopolis, IL DKC 62-97 +21.4

Travis Worman Teutopolis, IL DKC 62-97 +11.1


+0.4

Wakefield Farms Effingham, IL BECK 5509A3 +10.7


+3.0


19

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S V10 Timing Study

This year we continued our research of late-season nitrogen applications by way of

high-clearance equipment and nitrogen toolbars from Hagie Manufacturing and Miller

St. Nazians. Beck’s PFR Partner nitrogen testing included extending nitrogen sidedress

timings to growth stages near V10. The high-clearance units are able to apply nitrogen

up to pre-tassel heights and give a much larger window for sidedress application. The

protocol used for this timing study compared a grower’s normal early sidedress timing

to later sidedress timings near the V10 growth stage. By saving the last fifty pounds of

nitrogen for later in the season, we are trying to give the corn a finishing supply for the

last part of the growing season. Up until the V10 growth stage, the corn is

supplemented by the nitrogen that the grower has already applied. The last fifty pounds

at a later growth stage potentially aids in more grain fill.

The photos above illustrate the difference between sidedressing at a smaller growth stage

(around V5) as opposed to sidedressing at the V10 growth stage.

The chart to the left depicts at what

growth stage the corn plant uptakes

nitrogen, and what process that nitrogen

is used for in the plant. Later sidedress

timings allow growers to finish nitrogen

programs, helping to ensure season-long

nitrogen availability.

Credit: Iowa State University Extension

20

2014 PFR Partners




4-year average yield increase of +3.06 Bu./A*

with returns of +$16.34/A.

+3.03 Bu./A. yield advantage

67% of V10 timing trials provided economic gains

In general, V10 late-season nitrogen sidedress applications resulted in yield gains of

3.03 Bu./A. along with economic gains of $12.57/A. when compared to the growers

normal earlier sidedress program.

The 75% of the late-season sidedress timing trials that proved economic gains

averaged increases of $22.09/A. Although the other 33% did not prove positive, the

average return losses were within an average of $6.46/A. of the grower’s normal

program.

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

Yie

ld A

dva

nta

ge (

Bu

./A

.)

V10 Timing Yield Summary

21 Trial Locations +$22.09/A.

-$6.46/A.

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2014 PFR Partners



Yield

Response

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 5385A3 -1.1

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* +6.0


Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL DK 64-87 -5.1


+1.2

Ron Bork Piper City, IL BECK 6175Wx 0

Jeremy Schlipf Gridley, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* +3.1

Dan Hesterberg Armstrong, IL Phoenix 5842A4** +10.7


-0.6


+0.1


+4.9


-1.9

Webster Farms Buckingham, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

+7.7


+1.8


+4.8


+10.3


-0.7


+1.1


-1.5


+9.7


+11.1



22

2014 PFR Partners

OptRx crop sensors measure and record plant health data in real-time using reflectance

of light shone on growing corn plants. Sensors can be installed across an application

boom to collect information while sidedressing nitrogen. Data is logged and mapped to

be used for analysis for real-time variable rate applications. OptRx sensors help

growers apply nitrogen based on crop vigor. For example, the sensor tells the applicator

to apply less nitrogen on healthy corn plants and more nitrogen on weaker, nitrogen

deficient corn plants, according to a calibration specific to that field. In addition, OptRx’s

advanced light-sensing technology is not dependent on ambient light, which offers

maximum flexibility for use both day and night.

The protocol for the 2014 OptRx trials consisted of growers reducing their normal

nitrogen rate by 50 lb. N/A. and then implementing the OptRx system to apply variable

rate nitrogen as a way to finish their overall nitrogen program.

BECK’S OptRx® Variable Rate Nitrogen

Hagie STS10 with nitrogen toolbar equipped with OptRx sensors.

OptRx® is a registered trademark of Ag Leader Technology

23

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S OptRx® Variable Rate N Study

$1.80 gain in net return per acre^


2-year average increases of +1.5 Bu./A with economic gains of +$11.19/A.

2-year average nitrogen savings of –6.1 lb. N/A.

+0.56 Bu./A. yield gain 54% of OptRx trials provided economic gains

OptRx saved 0.5 lb. N per acre on average


On average, OptRx trials proved minimal yield gains or losses compared to our PFR Partners’

normal nitrogen programs. However, the real story with this particular trial stems back to our

“Hitting the Bullseye” concept in the beginning of this report on page 6. Only 35% of our

growers did in fact hit the bullseye in choosing economic optimum nitrogen rate on their farms.

Of the PFR Partners that were wrong with their current nitrogen program, 70% achieved

average economic gains of $30.52 from using the OptRx variable rate nitrogen system.

If these growers had used the OptRx system in place of their normal program, theoretically, it

would have resulted in an additional 21% of growers utilizing the correct nitrogen rate and

hitting the bullseye.

$(80.00)

$(60.00)

$(40.00)

$(20.00)

$-

$20.00

$40.00

$60.00

$80.00

$100.00

$120.00

Ne

t R

etu

rn (

$/A

.)

OptRx Net Return Summary

46 Trial Locations

24

2014 PFR Partners



Nitrogen

Savings

Yield

Response

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 5385A3 -32.3 lb. -1.4

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* -28.4 lb. +3.2

Jim Rafferty Le Roy, IL LG2620 -22.0 lb. +1.7

Doug Raber Gridley, IL DKC 57-92 -10.2 lb. -10.0

Jim Girard Pontiac, IL BECK 6676AMX-R™* -58.6 lb. -3.3

Mike Follmer Graymont, IL DKC 61-88 -18.5 lb. +1.7

Mackinson Dairy Pontiac, IL NK 71U-3122 +44.4 lb. -5.1

Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL DKC 64-87 +12.9 lb. -13.6


+21.0 lb. -3.8

Ron Bork Piper City, IL BECK 6175wx™* -27.7 lb. -3.0

Brent Clark Pontiac, IL BECK 5435AMX-R™* +41.5 lb. +0.1

Jeremy Schlipf Gridley, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* +9.0 lb. -2.2

Art Schlipf Gridley, IL LG 2620 +46.5 lb. -0.5

Dan Hesterberg Gifford, IL Phoenix 5832A3 +8.7 lb. +1.2

Marv Hilti Cullom, IL Stone 6358 -20.4 lb. -7.4

Mark Fourez Oakwood, IL BECK 5475AMXT™* +22.8 lb. +2.4

Jeff Bressner Graymont, IL DKC 63-33 -15.9 lb. -1.0

Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL FS 63SX1 -17.7 lb. -4.0


+11.0 lb. -10.8


+11.0 lb. -3.3


-12.0 lb. -1.9


-45.0 lb. -16.9

Gaither Farms Moweaqua, IL DKC +12.5 lb. -0.5


+24.0 lb. +3.1


+43.0 lb. -0.9

Matt Burgener Moweaqua, IL DKC +25.0 lb. +21.8


+33.0 lb. -4.2

OptRx® is a registered trademark of Ag Leader Technology ™*®XL is a registered trademark of Pioneer. XL brand seed is distributed by Beck’s Superior Hybrids, Inc.


25

2014 PFR Partners



Nitrogen

Savings

Yield

Response


+10.0 lb. +17.1

Wakefield Farms Effingham, IL BECK 5509A3 +56.0 lb. +19.1

Worman Farms Teutopolis, IL DKC 62-97 +45.0 lb. +14.4


-41.0 lb. -3.5


+10.0 lb. -10.2


+5.0 lb. +7.8


-15.0 lb. +20.3


-26.7lb. -3.8


-10.3 lb. -8.0


-39.6 lb. -1.9


-24.3 lb. -1.4


-13.5 lb. +2.3



Two-year data suggests an average yield gain of +1.5 Bu./A. with economic gains of

$11.19/A. Over this timeframe, overall nitrogen rates were decreased by 6.1 lb. N/A.

compared to the growers’ normal nitrogen programs.

Based on an OptRx system price of $11,235 (3 power heads, brackets, and cables for a

40’ nitrogen toolbar) and the $11.19/A. revenue gains, break-even would occur at only

1,004 total acres.

Miller Nitro with OptRx sensors

26

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S 360 Y-Drop™ Placement Study

Y-Drop is a versatile system that can be installed on almost any spray machine and has

the ability to precision-place any liquid product within 2-3” of a crop row. Its unique

design allows the grower to apply liquid products within the row at any time throughout

the season. In this study, we installed the Y-Drop system on New Holland SP275F high-

clearance units. Factor®, a nitrogen stabilizer from Rosen’s, Inc., was used as a

volatilization inhibitor to help protect nitrogen that was applied on the soil surface. This

stabilizer protects from volatilization for up to 14 days until rain occurs and incorporates

nitrogen into the soil profile.

The protocol used for the Y-Drop system compared a grower’s normal sidedress

program to Y-Drop applications near the V10 growth stage. This also allowed us to

evaluate the overall Y-Drop system as a comparison to (or even replacement for)

typical sidedress equipment.

360 Y-Drop™ is a trademark of 360 Yield Center, LLC; Factor® is a registered trademark of Midtech R&D, Inc. and distributed by Rosen’s, Inc.

27

2014 PFR Partners


-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

Yie

ld R

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on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

Y-Drop Yield Summary

13 Trial Locations


^Net return based on $0.60/lb. N, $96.00/gal. Factor® N Stabilizer and $4.15/Bu. corn

3-year average yield increase of +2.66 Bu./A with $13.71/A. economic gains^^

^^

Economic gains based on 3-year average corn price of $5.15/Bu.


62% of Y-Drop placement trials provided economic gains


28

2014 PFR Partners


Y-Drop applications, on average, proved yield increases of nearly 4.0 Bu./A. and gains

of $10.71/A. compared to growers’ normal nitrogen programs. The risk: reward ratio in

2014 resulted in only 15% of the trials showing a yield loss (averaging less than 3 Bu./

A.). It appears that Y-Drops have the potential for increasing corn yields, with very little

risk of jeopardizing yields.

This is our third year of testing the Y-Drop system through our PFR Partner program.

Multi-year data has suggested that Y-Drops have shown a 2.7 Bu./A. yield increase

with gains of $13.71/A. over the growers normal method of sidedressing nitrogen.

Multi-year data also suggests four additional conclusions regarding sidedressing

nitrogen with the Y-Drop system:

First, the data generated indicates that a Y-Drop system could be an effective

replacement for sidedressing nitrogen compared to current sidedress

methods.

Second, Y-Drop offers the ability to apply late-season nitrogen effectively as

an add-on to current equipment. This late-season application allows growers

to replace nitrogen that may have been lost earlier in the growing season.

Third, Y-Drop offers the ability to apply variable rate nitrogen (and other

products) over a wide time span.

Finally, growers who currently have high-clearance sprayers and are

considering either a nitrogen toolbar or a Y-Drop system should note that V10

applications with a nitrogen toolbar out-yielded the Y-Drop by 1.4 Bu./A. with

higher net returns of $7.15/A.^ on average over the past 3 years. With these

differences, growers would have to evaluate the overall cost of each system to

determine which best fits their operations.

^Returns based on yield difference, 3-year average corn price of $5.15 and Factor® N Stabilizer cost.


29

2014 PFR Partners



Yield

Response


Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* +0.5


Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL DK 64-87 +4.1


-3.3


Dan Hesterberg Armstrong, IL Phoenix 5842A4** +0.1


Brian Wilson Normal, IL Phoenix 5842A4** +1.3


+1.5


+19.5


+6.7


+7.8

360 Y-Drop™ is a trademark of 360 Yield Center, LLC



Above: Initial Y-Drop design used through 2014

At Right: Newly designed Y-Drop to be tested in 2015

30

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Urea Topdress Study

This study alters a grower’s normal nitrogen program by replacing the final sidedress

nitrogen with a later V10 urea topdress treatment. The topdress urea treatment was

applied with a Miller Condor dry fertilizer spreader.

Urea topdress has become a popular method of applying nitrogen in some parts of

Beck’s marketing area. Dry 46-0-0 urea is applied with a spinner truck over top of corn

during the growing season. The advantages with this system are that it’s easy to apply

and acres can be completed very quickly. The disadvantage with urea is its volatility—

the loss of nitrogen as atmospheric gas when it converts to ammonia. Another concern

is the possible crop injury from the urea prills landing on leaf tissue, causing leaf burn.

All urea treatments were treated with Factor®, a urease inhibitor distributed by Rosen’s.

Photo 1: Urea spread pattern

Photo 2: Miller Condor dry spinner truck

Factor® is a registered trademark of Midtech R&D and distributed by Rosen’s, Inc.

31

2014 PFR Partners


-10.0

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

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se (

Bu

./A

.)

Urea Yield Summary

13 Trial Locations


^Net return based on $0.59/lb. N, $96.00/gal. Factor and $4.15/Bu. corn

2-year average = –3.18 Bu./A, -$12.59/A.

-1.65 Bu./A. yield loss

15% of Urea trials provided economic gains

Irrigated location

Urea topdress applications resulted in average yield losses of 1.65 Bu./A., with net losses of

$13.45/A. compared to the growers’ normal methods of sidedressing nitrogen. Only 15% of the

topdress trials proved higher returns over PFR Partners’ usual programs.

The red arrow indicates the highest yielding trial location in this study. It is interesting to note

that it is also the only location under an irrigation pivot. As previously stated, one of the

concerns with urea is that it is a surface-applied nitrogen application, unlike other programs

that mechanically incorporate the nitrogen fertilizer into the soil. This surface application

creates opportunity for volatilization—the loss of nitrogen into the atmosphere as it converts to

ammonia. The irrigated trial location gave us the ability to use water as an incorporation

method, thus preventing potential volatility. If this irrigated location is removed from the study to

only compare non-irrigated sites, the average yield and return losses become –2.9 Bu./A. and -

$18.38/A., respectively. This data is very comparable to the two-year average yield response of

–3.18 Bu./A. with losses of -$12.59/A.

Factor® is a registered trademark of Midtech R&D and distributed by Rosen’s, Inc.

32

2014 PFR Partners



Yield

Response


Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* -5.5


Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL DK 64-87 -3.2


+0.6


Dan Hesterberg Armstrong, IL Phoenix 5842A4** -3.0

Ron Keiser Arrowsmith, IL BECK 6175wx -8.4

Brian Wilson Normal, IL Phoenix 5842A4** -3.2


-8.4


-4.2


+13.4


+3.6

Soltwedel Farms Partnership Effingham, IL DKC +5.6


-3.1

“I love reading Beck’s Practical Farm Research Book, but their PFR® Partners

Program takes it one step further by bringing the research testing to my farm! It

really brings real value to my farming operation by allowing me to compare my

current farming techniques to other programs. By doing this, I can determine if

there are ways that I can improve profitability on my farm.”

Brad Dorsey

Moro, IL



33

2014 PFR Partners


$12.57 $10.71

$1.80

$(13.45) $(15.00)

$(10.00)

$(5.00)

$-

$5.00

$10.00

$15.00

V10 Y-Drop OptRx Urea

Nitrogen Trial Return Summary

Our 2014 PFR Partner nitrogen testing allowed us to compare different methods of

applying nitrogen compared to growers’ standard programs being used today.

Of the four programs that we compared, topdress urea applications were the only

nitrogen application method that offered substandard results.

It is interesting to note that the V10 and Y-Drop™

applications were all profitable

systems over and above our PFR Partners’ current programs in 2014. This may be a

result of all being late season nitrogen applications. Nonetheless, growers would have

gained additional returns of $10.71 to $12.57/A. by implementing a V10 or Y-Drop

application.

OptRx® variable rate applications did not offer large revenue gains, but did in fact offer

higher returns compared to programs being implemented today. It is also interesting to

note that 70% of PFR Partners that were incorrect with their current nitrogen program

(Bullseye page 6), received positive results and average economic gains of $30.52 from

using the OptRx variable rate nitrogen system.

We are hopeful that applying nitrogen carefully will offer economic and environmental

advantages in the future. It would be our ambition to utilize this technology to help

eliminate wasteful nitrogen applications, while at the same time identifying and/or

correcting areas where nitrogen deficiency has occurred.

OptRx® is a registered trademark of Ag Leader Technology. Y-Drop™ is a trademark of 360 Yield Center, LLC.

34

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S V5 Fungicide Trials

Beck’s Hybrids conducted V5 fungicide research trials in 2014 as a part of the PFR

Partners program. This program was designed to apply multiple fungicide products in

side-by-side comparisons in an on-farm testing project with growers interested in evalu-

ating fungicides.

This report states the name of the Partners, the location of the farm, corn hybrid tested

and the yield response of each specific fungicide treatment.

All fungicide treatments are 15 gallons per acre or higher, ground-applied with either a

Hagie STS, Miller Nitro or New Holland Guardian high-clearance sprayer. All applica-

tions were made at the V5 growth stage.

The products used in this protocol included the following:

1. 2 oz. Stratego® YLD Trifloxystrobin + Prothioconazole Bayer

2. 4 oz. Priaxor®

Pyraclostrobin + Fluxapyroxad BASF

Bayer CropScience recommends using a 50% rate of Stratego YLD on V5 corn while

BASF recommends 100% rate of Priaxor.

New Holland Guardian Spraying V5 Fungicide

Stratego® is a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience LP

Priaxor® is a registered trademark of BASF

35

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S V5 Stratego® YLD Study


Corn Price Return

$3.50/Bu. +$3.38/A.

$4.15/Bu. +$5.53/A.

$5.00/Bu. +$8.33/A.


^Net return based on $8.17/A. Stratego YLD and $4.15/Bu. corn

3-year average yield increase of +3.30 Bu./A


90% of Stratego YLD treatments provided economic gains

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

V5 Stratego YLD

Break-Even

1.97 Bu./A.

36

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S V5 Stratego® YLD Study





Yield

Response

Triple V Farms Roanoke, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* +4.9

Tim Lovejoy Prairie City, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* +3.6

Tim Lovejoy Prairie City, IL BECK 5828AMX™* +0.1

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 5131AM™* +4.2


Webster Farms Kempton, IL BECK 5828AMX™* +8.7


Roger Gualandi Kempton, IL BECK 5475AMXT™* +2.5

Roger Gualandi Kempton, IL PHOENIX 5552A4** +4.6

Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL BECK 5385A3 +2.0

“Our farm benefitted directly when Beck’s PFR partner program supported us

with product and computer analysis in testing fungicide on our 2014 corn acres.

Beyond this, participating in PFR partners has helped us improve our overall data

gathering. Better information means a more efficient operation. Thank you

Beck’s!”

Billy Peterman, Peterman/Bailey Farms

Clay City, IL

37

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S V5 Priaxor® Study


-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

V5 Priaxor Yield Summary


^Net return based on $16.97/A. Priaxor and $4.15/Bu. corn



84% of Priaxor treatments boosted yields

36% of Priaxor treatments provided economic gains

Corn Price Return

$3.50/Bu. -$6.86/A.

$4.15/Bu. -$4.98/A.

$5.00/Bu. -$2.52/A.

Break-Even

4.09 Bu./A.

38

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S V5 Priaxor® Study





Yield

Response

Triple V Farms Roanoke, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* +8.0

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 5131AM™* +3.0




Roger Gualandi Kempton, IL BECK 5475AMXT™* +3.2

Greg Pfeifer Mazon, IL BECK 5828AMX™* +8.0

CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 5475AMXT™* +1.8

CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 5509A3 -0.5

CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 5828AMX™* +10.8

CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 6175AMXT™* +0.8

CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 6948A3 +2.3

CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK EX 1420 (5939 Genetics)™* +1.7

CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK EX 1434 (6365 Genetics)™* +0.8

CIL PFR Downs, IL PHOENIX 5552EZ** +1.3

CIL PFR Downs, IL PHOENIX 5832A3** -2.0

CIN PFR Atlanta, IN PHOENIX 5832A3** +4.4

CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 5828AMX™* +1.5

CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 5509A3 +3.4

KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK 5509A3 +0.2

KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK 5828AM™* +7.2

KY PFR Henderson, KY PHOENIX 5832A3** +1.8

SIL PFR Neoga, IL PHOENIX 5832A3** +13.5

SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 5828AM™* -10.4

SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 5509A3 -4.2

For more replications and to better understand hybrid performance, individual PFR

location trials were added into this summary.

39

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S VT Fungicide Trials

Beck’s PFR Team Completing Side-by-Side Fungicide Trials

Beck’s Hybrids conducted fungicide research trials in 2014 as a part of the PFR

Partners program. This program was designed to apply multiple fungicide products in

side-by-side comparisons in an on-farm testing project with growers interested in

evaluating fungicides on their farms.

This report states the name of the Partners, the location of the farm, corn hybrid tested,

and the yield response of each specific fungicide treatment.

All fungicide treatments are 15 gallons per acre or higher, ground-applied with either a

Hagie STS, Miller Nitro or New Holland Guardian high-clearance sprayer. All

applications were made at the VT growth stage.

The products used in this protocol included the following:

1. 4 oz. Stratego® YLD Trifloxystrobin + Prothioconazole Bayer

2. 10 oz. Headline AMP®

Pyraclostrobin + Metconazole BASF

Stratego® is a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience LP. Headline AMP is a registered trademark of BASF

40

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S VT Stratego® YLD Study



^Net return based on $16.31/A. Stratego YLD, application $7.00 and $4.15/Bu. corn


Corn Price Return

$3.50/Bu. -$5.36/A.

$4.15/Bu. -$2.02/A.

$5.00/Bu. +$2.34/A.


92% of Stratego YLD treatments boosted yield


-10.0

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

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se (

Bu

./A

.)

4 oz. Stratego YLD Yield Summary

Break-Even

5.62 Bu./A.

41

2014 PFR Partners






Yield

Response

Gary Clapp Emington, IL BECK 5475AMXT™*

+2.0

Gary Clapp Kempton, IL BECK 5385A3 +3.3

Gary Clapp Cabery, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

+2.0

Jim Rafferty Downs, IL BECK 5828AMX™* +3.5

Triple V Farms Roanoke, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

+5.0

Mackinson Dairy Pontiac, IL Wyffels 7888 -5.9

Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL DKC 57-92 0.0

Brent Clark Pontiac, IL G14R38 +2.7

Brian Arteman Bellflower, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

+4.1

Brian Arteman Bellflower, IL BECK 5475AMX™*

+3.1

Jim Girard Pontiac, IL Channel 213-59 +1.1


Doug Raber Gridley, IL DKC 65-19 -3.0


Brad Henry Le Roy, IL LG 2620 -2.3

Brian Wilson Normal, IL Channel +4.6

EJ Kelley Normal, IL BECK 5509A3 +4.3

Bob Spratt Le Roy, IL DKC 63-33 +7.0

Bob Spratt Le Roy, IL LG2620 +2.8



Webster Farms Emington, IL Phoenix 5552EZ** +7.1

Webster Farms Cabery, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

+4.8

Webster Farms Cabery, IL BECK 6948A3 +2.6

Webster Farms Cabery, IL BECK 5509A3 +16.4


+4.4

Webster Farms Emington, IL BECK 5385A3 +2.5


+7.9

42

2014 PFR Partners





Yield

Response

Webster Farms Kempton, IL BECK 5385A3 +2.8


+1.5


+6.3

Webster Farms Herscher, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

+10.4

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 5140HR™*

+14.0



Alan Ramsey Herscher, IL BECK 5475AMXT™*

+5.6

“The PFR Partner fungicide trials are a great tool and always seems to be a hot

topic among producers. Farmers tend to have varying mentalities when it comes

to fungicide applications. Beck’s PFR Partner program allows us to bring high-

clearance equipment to a growers farm and let them evaluate different fungicide

products on various corn hybrids. I don’t know of any other program in the indus-

try that allows growers the opportunity for both equipment demonstrations along

with agronomy testing on their farm!”

Dan Herr, Graymont Co-op

Graymont, IL

43

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S VT Headline AMP® Study

Headline AMP® is a registered trademark of BASF


^Net return based on $20.31/A. Headline AMP, $7.00 application and $4.15/Bu. corn

4-year average yield increase of +5.86 Bu./A.

Corn Price Return

$3.50/Bu. -$6.80/A.

$4.15/Bu. -$2.99/A.

$5.00/Bu. +$1.99/A.


84% of Headline AMP treatments boosted yields

40% of Headline AMP treatments provided economic gains

-15.0

-10.0

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

10 oz. Headline AMP Yield Summary

Break-Even

6.58 Bu./A.

44

2014 PFR Partners


Yield

Response

Gary Clapp Emington, IL BECK 5475AMXT™*

+3.5

Gary Clapp Kempton, IL BECK 5385A3 +6.2

Gary Clapp Cabery, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

+1.7

Jim Rafferty Downs, IL BECK 5828AMX™* +4.0

Mackinson Dairy Pontiac, IL Wyffels 7888 -1.0

Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL DKC 57-92 +4.0


Brian Arteman Bellflower, IL BECK 5828AMX™* +5.3

Brian Arteman Bellflower, IL BECK 5475AMX™* +8.3




Jeff Bressner Graymont, IL DKC 61-88 -9.0

Brad Henry Le Roy, IL LG 2620 +0.4

Brian Wilson Normal, IL Channel 213-59 +5.0

EJ Kelley Normal, IL BECK 5509A3 +4.8





Webster Farms Kempton, IL Phoenix 5552EZ** +4.4

Webster Farms Kempton, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

+7.1




+8.1



+10.0






45

2014 PFR Partners



Yield

Response

Dennis Webster Kempton, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

+1.1


+9.9

Webster Farms Herscher, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

+11.2

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 5140HR™*

+7.9



Alan Ramsey Herscher, IL BECK 5475AMXT™*

+12.7

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 5475AMXT™*

+5.1

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK EX1420 (5939 Genetics)™*

+11.5

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN Phoenix 5552EZ** +13.0

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 6175AMX™*

+11.0

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK EX1434 (6365 Genetics)™*

+1.3

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK EX8361 (6347 Genetics) +6.1

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 6948A3 +15.4



Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK 5509A3 +2.1

Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK 5828AMX™*

+11.9


Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK 5475AM™*

-6.2


-2.9

Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK 6575HR™*

-3.9


+4.0

Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK 6984A3 -0.9

Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK EX1420 (5939 Genetics)™*

-1.6


+4.2

Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK EX8361 (6347 Genetics) -5.7

Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY Phoenix 5552EZ** +2.0




46

2014 PFR Partners



Yield

Response


+0.8


-3.4

Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK 6575HR™*

+3.2


+2.4



-1.4


-2.7

Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY Phoenix 5552EZ**

-2.8

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 5475AMXT™*

+10.6

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 5509A3 +5.7

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

+13.3

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 6175AMXT™*

+1.1

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 6948A3 +0.2

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK EX1420 (5939 Genetics)™*

+13.8

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK EX1434 (6365 Genetics)™*

+10.0

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL Phoenix 5552EZ** +14.4

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL Phoenix 5832EZ**

+0.8

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL Phoenix 5832A3 +16.7

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 5828AM™*

-10.2

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 5509A3 +9.4

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL Phoenix 5832A3 +19.8


-11.5

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 5509A3 +22.5

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 5475AMX™*

+5.0

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK EX1420 (5939 Genetics)™*

+0.2

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL Phoenix 5552EZ** +14.4


+11.9

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 6272AM-R™*

+3.2




47

2014 PFR Partners



Yield

Response

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK EX1434 (6365 Genetics)™*

+0.1

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 6626AM-R™*

+14.8

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 6948A3 -4.8

Beck’s OH PFR London, OH BECK 5475AM™*

+14.5

Beck’s OH PFR London, OH BECK 6175AM™*

+19.5

Beck’s OH PFR London, OH BECK 6948A3 +19.3

Beck’s OH PFR London, OH BECK EX1420 (5939 Genetics)™*

+22.5

Beck’s OH PFR London, OH BECK EX1434 (6365 Genetics)™*

+26.0

Beck’s OH PFR London, OH Phoenix 5552EZ** +18.4




48

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S VT Quilt Xcel™

Study

Quilt Xcel™ is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

VT Quilt Xcel Treatment

VT Quilt Xcel Yield Summary

Corn Price Return

$3.50/Bu. -$17.47

$4.15/Bu. -$15.98

$5.00/Bu. -$14.02

Grower Location Hybrid Yield

Mackinson Dairy Pontiac, IL Wyffels 7888 +0.6

Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL DKC 57-92 +3.0



Jim Girard Pontiac, IL Channel 213-59 -0.3


Doug Raber Gridley, IL DKC 65-19 0.0

Jeff Bressner Graymont, IL DKC 61-88 -4.0

+2.3 Bu./A. yield advantage from VT Quilt Xcel treatments.

63% of Quilt Xcel treatments boosted yield


^Net return based on $18.52/A. Quilt Xcel, $7.00 application, and $4.15/Bu. Corn

Break-Even

6.15 Bu./A.

49

2014 PFR Partners

$(15.00)

$(10.00)

$(5.00)

$-

$5.00

$10.00

$15.00

Net Return by Hybrid

Green=Low Orange=Medium Red=High

The best way to analyze this particular study is to break out fungicide performance by a

hybrid’s fungicide response rating. The chart above illustrates fungicide response by

corn hybrid. At Beck’s Hybrids, we identify a fungicide response rating for each corn

hybrid in our product portfolio. This particular fungicide rating can be a great predictor of

how corn hybrids respond to various levels of leaf disease. We must pay close attention

to weather conditions, crop rotation, leaf disease presence as well as fungicide

response ratings for each hybrid to fully comprehend and evaluate fungicide

applications.

As depicted in the chart above, corn hybrids with a low or medium fungicide response

rating realized little to no financial gain from fungicide application. Hybrids in the study

that are classified with a high fungicide response rating might help explain the financial

gains that occurred as a result of fungicide applications.

These fungicide response ratings cannot replace scouting fields for leaf disease but can

give an indication of how hybrids need to be managed throughout the growing season.

Please contact your local Beck’s representative for more information regarding corn

hybrid fungicide response. For more information on fungicide research please refer to

pages 308-309 of the 2014 PFR Book for multi-location fungicide studies.

BECK’S VT Fungicide Trials

http://www.beckshybrids.com/Portals/0/SiteContent/Literature/2015%20Literature/2014-Practical-Farm-Research-PFR-Book.pdf

50

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S CropKarb® Study

Grower Location Yield Response Hybrid

Mackinson Dairy Pontiac, IL -1.0 Wyffels 7888

Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL -1.0 DKC 67-92

Brent Clark Pontiac, IL +2.1 G14R38

Marv Hilti Cullom, IL +7.7 Stone 6404

^Net return based on $4.15/Bu. commodity price minus $8.83/A. CropKarb

CropKarb is a registered trademark of McRight Services, LLC.

CropKarb is a true biostimulant product, utilizing “next generation” biostimulant

chemistry. CropKarb is a proprietary formulation of urea nitrogen, potassium, boron, a

proprietary mobile carbon source, and DeltAg’s active catalyst chemistry. CropKarb is

designed to enhance bloom set, fruit sizing, and bulking. CropKarb works by delivering

key nutrients and catalysts, as well as a supplemental mobile carbon source to the

fruiting portion of the crop. CropKarb can be applied on its own, but mainly will be used

as a tank mix with a foliar application.

$1.71 gain in net return per acre^


51

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Soil-Applied Insecticide Study

In an effort to evaluate potential rootworm resistance, Beck’s PFR Partner program

evaluated the response of four different rootworm trait platforms, with and without a soil-

applied insecticide.

3.07

0.92

4.95

7.92

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

Soil-Applied Insecticide Trait Response

Cry34/35

GENSSX

MIR604

NONE

$(13.62)

$(22.60)

$(2.55)

$9.42

$(25.00)

$(20.00)

$(15.00)

$(10.00)

$(5.00)

$-

$5.00

$10.00

$15.00

Ne

t R

etu

rn (

$/A

.)

Soil-Applied Insecticide Trait Response

Cry34/35

GENSSX

MIR604

NONE

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 1 reveals the average yield gain from soil-applied insecticides. In general, yield

gains of 4.21 Bu./A. were realized from additional insect protection. Figure 2 illustrates

that each of the rootworm trait platforms did not receive ample yield benefit to offset the

cost of the soil-applied insecticide. As a result, net losses averaged -$2.55 to -$22.60/A.

When evaluating soil-applied insecticides on non-traited hybrids, economic gains of

$9.42/A. were achieved. Special thanks to Bork Ag LLC of Piper City, IL for conducting

these insecticide trials.

52

2014 PFR Partners

Hybrid Trait Package Yield Response Insecticide

Beck 5475AMX™*

Cry34/35 +2.0 Force® 3G

Dekalb 57-92 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 0.0 Force 3G

BECK 5828AMX™*

Cry34/35 +3.0 Force 3G

FS 60ZX1 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 0.0 Force 3G

DKC 60-67 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 +3.0 Force 3G

FS 61JX1 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 +1.0 Force 3G

BECK 6175AMX Cry34/35 +3.0 Force 3G

FS 62SX1 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 -2.0 Force 3G

Phoenix 5832A3** MIR604 0.0 Force 3G


FS 63SX1 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 +2.0 Force 3G

DKC 64-87 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 -1.0 Force 3G

Mycogen 2C788 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 +2.0 Force 3G

Mycogen 2C799 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 -2.0 Force 3G

DKC 61-54 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 0.0 Force 3G

Stone 6258 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 0.0 Force 3G

FS 59MV4 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 +5.0 Force 3G


BECK 5475AMX™*



BECK 5828AMX™*


FS 60ZX1 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 +5.0 Force 3G


FS 61JX1 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 +3.0 Force 3G

BECK 6175AMX™*


FS 62SX1 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 +2.0 Force 3G

Phoenix 5832A3** MIR604 -5.0 Force 3G



Force® is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Counter® is a registered trademark of AmVac Chemical Company Corporation.

Capture® and LFR® are registered trademarks of FMC Corporation.



53

2014 PFR Partners

Hybrid Trait Package Yield Response Insecticide

FS 63SX1 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 -1.0 Force® 3G


Mycogen 2C788 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 +3.0 Force 3G

Mycogen 2C799 Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35 -6.0 Force 3G

BECK 6175AMX™*

Cry34/35 +0.3 Counter® 15G

BECK 6175AMX™*

Cry34/35 -0.7 Force 3G

BECK 6175AMX™*


BECK 6175AMX™*


Phoenix 5552EZ** MIR604 +7.6 Counter 15G

Phoenix 5552EZ** MIR604 +9.7 Force 3G


Phoenix 5552EZ** MIR604 +9.0 Capture

® LFR

®

Phoenix 5552EZ** MIR604 +3.0 Capture LFR


BECK 6175RR™*

None +1.4 Counter 15G

Phoenix 5552GT** None +9.7 Counter 15G

BECK 6175RR™*

None +7.7 Force 3G

BECK 6175RR™*

None +2.4 Force 3G

Phoenix 5552GT** None +6.5 Force 3G


Phoenix 5552GT** None +11.1 Capture LFR

Phoenix 5552GT** None +15.9 Capture LFR



Force® is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company.

Counter® is a registered trademark of AmVac Chemical Company Corporation.

Capture® and LFR® are registered trademarks of FMC Corporation.



54

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Carbon Penalty Study

Previous Crop C:N Ratio

Wheat 80:1

Corn >50:1

Soybeans <20:1

This PFR Partners Study evaluates corn after corn rotations and the greater carbon-to-nitrogen

ratio associated with corn residue. As producers evaluate whether to grow continuous corn,

considerations must be given to the "carbon penalty" that can be associated with corn after

corn. Corn residue is classified as non-fragile residue, and will decompose much slower than

residue from soybeans. Table 2 shows carbon-to-nitrogen ratios for various crop residues. This

residue is a heavy carbon load and needs to go through a period of decomposition. This

process can immobilize nitrogen that is intended for plant consumption. Corn after corn

requires a different approach to nitrogen management than corn following soybeans.

The controlled burning of stalks was evaluated at Illinois Central College and compared to no-

till and conventional-till corn after corn situations.

This controlled burn proved to reduce carbon loads and actually increased corn yields by 18.0

Bu./A. compared to using tillage to decompose residue. These results are very similar to

Beck’s CILPFR study, which shows a 5-year average yield gain of 14.3 Bu./A. (these results

can be found on page 205 of the 2014 PFR Book). This residue will ultimately add organic

matter and water holding capacity to the soil. We conducted this controlled burn to prove corn

residue is actually carbon material that must be decomposed quickly to eliminate potential corn

yield losses due to immobilization of nitrogen.

Table 2.

Photo 1. Controlled Burn at CILPFR

Treatment Yield Yield Loss Return

Controlled Burn 206.7 - - - - - -

No-Till 170.8 -35.9 -$148.99

Conventional-Till 188.7 -18.0 -$74.70

Table 1. ICC Controlled Burn Results


55

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Elixor™ Goss’s Wilt Study

This PFR Partner study evaluates the effects of Elixor, a 57% concentrated phosphorous acid

that is an EPA-registered systemic fungicide and bactericide. This product helps control

Phytopthora, Pythium and other root rots, and kills fungal diseases on contact. Elixor boosts a

plant’s immune response against mildews, common rusts and leaf blights, which in turn

increases crop yields.

Studies are also underway with Elixor to test the control or prevention of Goss’s Wilt, which has

been a progressing disease in Illinois. Goss’s Wilt is caused by the bacterium Clavibacter

michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis and is a bacterial disease that infects vascular tissue of

the plant causing a systemic infection.

Treatment Yield Moisture Net Return^

Return +/-

Control 229.1 17.3 $950.77 - - -

32 oz. Elixor @ V10 234.7 17.4 $957.01 $6.24

Elixor contributed a 5.6 Bu./A. yield advantage in this year’s study which equated to a $6.24

return on investment. Figure 1 displays two-year data from V10 Elixor treatments, proving an

average yield increase of 5.75 Bu./A. and return of over $10.00/A. Although Goss’s Wilt was

not detected in this trial location, these results are promising and should be evaluated further.

^Net Return is based on $4.15/Bu. corn, $11.00/A. Elixor, and $6.00 application

Elixor is distributed by Biovante, LLC.

$- $2.00 $4.00 $6.00 $8.00

$10.00 $12.00 $14.00 $16.00 $18.00

2013 2014

Re

turn

/A.

Elixor Treatment Year

2-Year Elixor ROI Summary

Figure 1

56

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Start Right Study


Yield

Advantage Return

Mike & Matt Elsasser Sparland, IL DKC 63-33 +18.0 $64.20

Mike & Matt Elsasser Sparland, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

+5.9 $13.98

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 6348A3 +5.6 $12.74

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 5509A3 +9.4 $28.51

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 6175AMXT™*

+4.1 $6.51

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 5828AMX™*

+6.8 $17.72

This PFR Partners study evaluates Start Right, a product that assists root growth and

plant development. Start Right is a proprietary formulation of nutrients sequestered in a

concentrated organic acid. It is fortified with a carbon synergist, fermented plant

extracts, and extracts of Ascophyllum nodosum and Chondrus crispus. It is labeled for

use on all crops at planting or early sidedressing. Start Right was applied at 1 qt./A. at

planting.

This is the first year that we have tested Start Right within our PFR Partner program. The

results are promising with a yield advantage of +8.3 Bu./A. and a net return of $23.95/A.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

5-10-5

Total Nitrogen 5.00%

1.97% Ammoniacal Nitrogen

2.46% Urea Nitrogen

0.57% Other Soluble Nitrogen

Available Phosphoric Acid (P2O5) 10.00%

Soluble Potash (K2O) 5.00%

Zinc (Zn) 0.60%



57

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S SUL4R-PLUS® Study

Grower Location Yield Response

Mackinson Dairy Pontiac, IL +2.7

Mackinson Dairy Pontiac, IL +0.1

Brent Clark Pontiac, IL +2.9

Mayberry Farms Memphis, MO +5.5

Mayberry Farms Memphis, MO +10.0

^Net return based on $4.15/Bu. commodity price minus $27.00/A. SUL4R-PLUS

SUL4R-PLUS® is a registered trademark of Charah, Inc.

SUL4R-PLUS® product is the most versatile form of sulfur in the sulfate form. It puts you in

control of the application process, making application easier while enhancing soil quality and

improving production of all crops. SUL4R-PLUS product is a premium sulfate product that is

manufactured to the highest degree of quality to ensure a uniform pellet size and density that

mixes better with inputs and provides superior coverage. It blends better with NPK products

than ammonium sulfates, as ammonium sulfates are smaller and spread with less uniformity. It

is also easy to handle, and has negligible dust. SUL4R-PLUS product dissolves only where you

want it to – in the soil. It starts working almost immediately. SUL4R-PLUS is applied at 400 lb./

A. and contains 16% sulfur and 22% calcium.



58

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Multi-Hybrid Planting Study

In 2014, Beck’s Practical Farm Research Team began its third year of evaluation in

regard to multi-hybrid corn planting. At Beck’s Hybrids, we are passionate about

recommending the right corn hybrid for our customers’ farms. This was the driving force

behind introducing Beck’s Hybrids very first multi-hybrid planter that was built back in

2012. This planting concept is designed to automatically change corn hybrids on the fly

as it plants through varying soil type changes or management zones.

It’s been a long and interesting journey for the PFR team testing the concept and reality

of multi-hybrid planting. Photo 1 shows a picture of the very first PFR planter used to

perform multi-hybrid corn planting back in 2012. This planter was a Kinze 3500 8/15

split row planter that was converted to do our first multi-hybrid research. Precision

Planting hydraulic drives and a Seed Sense 20/20™ directed prescriptions to this

planter, and for our initial year research it worked as theorized.

In 2013, Beck’s Hybrids expanded its research and testing by partnering with Kinze

Manufacturing. Through this partnership, Kinze supplied our PFR Team with a second

multi-hybrid planter, a 16 row 3600 twin row planter (Photo 2). Site-specific hybrid and

seeding rate prescription files were directed to this multi-hybrid planter by an Ag

Leader® Integra controller with SeedCommand

™.

In 2013-2014, Becks PFR team also reached out to Great Plains Manufacturing to

secure two 20’ twin row planters (Photos 3-4) to expand our multi-hybrid planting

research even further. These planters were primarily positioned in Western and

Southern Illinois. Stufflebeam Farms in Lewistown, IL and Uthell Seeds in Teutopolis,

IL were pivotal in researching multi-hybrid planting with these Great Plains planters.

Photo 1 Photo 2

Ag Leader® is a registered trademark of Ag Leader Technology

59

2014 PFR Partners


These planters gave us the benefit of loading the planter with two hybrids but also gave us the

ability to plant the hybrid of choice in various management zones in the field. The front row

units of the twin row planter were designated for corn hybrids that were classified as “defensive

hybrids”, while the back row units were loaded with a more “offensive hybrid”. The concept of

this design allowed us to plant “defensive” corn hybrids on tougher soils with lower organic

matter, water holding abilities, or cation exchange capacity. “Offensive” corn hybrids were then

planted on the best soils of the farm that typically have the highest yields. Individual hydraulic

motors/clutches on the front and rear drive shafts allowed us to change corn hybrids at each

soil type or management zone while travelling throughout the field. As this process happened,

corn rows were shifted 8” left or right to allow for the corn hybrid transition. Photo 5. illustrates

this transition with the twin row planting design.

One of the problems associated with twin row multi-hybrid planting was the fact that the 8”

offsets caused issues with auto-steer AB lines. To account for these 8” transitions, we installed

multi-directional GPS receivers on the planter tractors. This sliding GPS receiver was

programed to automatically move 8” left or right to account for the shift in row as the hybrid

changes from the front or rear of the multi-hybrid planter. This allowed the use of one standard

AB line for auto-guidance, eliminating wide or narrow rows on the outside rows of the planter.

Photo 3 Photo 4

Photo 5 Photo 6

60

2014 PFR Partners

The Great Plains planters used in 2014 were equipped with the Raven OmniRow® advanced

planter control system, which features patent-pending planter control technology that

automatically adjusts AB lines to account for the multi-hybrid shifts.

Even though the twin row transition multi-hybrid planting did have some logistical issues, the

overall concept of using one planter to plant both multi-genetic corn and soybeans as an

overall systems approach does seem attractive. This package also allows the ability for

growers to utilize both narrow row corn and soybeans in the twin row format.

From our initial idea of multi-hybrid planting, our intention was to ultimately have the ability to

change corn hybrids on the fly in a single row, dual corn meter design. This scenario would

eliminate the twin row 8” transitions as well as the extra row units on the planter. As part of a

result of Beck’s PFR testing program, Kinze announced on December 10, 2013 the world’s first

electric multi hybrid concept planter. This new electric drive multi-hybrid concept planter (Photo

7) has new row units that incorporate two meters for every row. The meters feed a single seed

tube, so the row unit gauge wheels, openers, and closing wheels are identical to a standard

Kinze 4000 series row unit. This was only possible by using the new electric drive option on

the Kinze 4000 series meters. By eliminating the drive chain and clutch, it allowed Kinze to

orient the meters close together so that they feed a single seed tube.

Photo 7. Beck’s Hybrids 2014 Single Row, Dual Meter Multi-Hybrid Planter


OmniRow® is a registered trademark of Raven Industries, Inc.

61

2014 PFR Partners


Beck’s PFR team began research on this new single row, dual meter planter on February 20,

2014 near Temple, Texas. This southern testing (Photos 8-9) in February allowed our team to

start testing in warm, dry soils rather than waiting until weather warmed in April and May at

Beck’s CIL PFR Center. Once planting was complete in Texas, we shipped the planter back to

Illinois for more multi-hybrid planting.

Photo 8. Jason Webster, Beck’s CIL PFR Director explaining the single row,

dual meter MH planter

Photo 9.

Multi-hybrid planting began on February 20,

2014 near Temple, Texas with the new

Kinze single row, dual meter Kinze 4900

planter.

Thank you to Perryman Farms for

partnering with the Beck’s CIL PFR team to

allow us to conduct multi-hybrid corn

research on their farms!

62

2014 PFR Partners


-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

Offensive Hybrid Placement

Offensive Hybrid in High Productivity Soils

+3.2 Bu./A. Yield Gain

+$13.42/A. Revenue Increase

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

Defensive Hybrid Placement

Defensive Hybrid in Low Productivity Soils

+6.4 Bu./A. Yield Gain

+$26.20/A. Revenue Increase

Management zones are a key component of this precision based multi-hybrid corn planting

system. Knowing where to plant each hybrid and at what seeding rate is a difficult task for

growers. Developing long term yield data is helpful in determining and understanding where

variable yielding areas are located on a spatial basis within a given field. By knowing the

spatial difference in a farm’s overall yield potential, it can allow for the use of a multi-hybrid

corn planting system to offer precision placement of corn hybrids.

2014 Multi-Hybrid Planting Results

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

63

2014 PFR Partners


Low Productivity Soils

Defensive Hybrid

+7.5 Bu./A. +$39.03/A.

High Productivity Soils

Offensive Hybrid

+8.3 Bu./A. +$46.50/A.

+7.9 Bu./A. Yield Increase = $42.77/Acre

2012-2014 Multi-Hybrid Corn Results

Figure 3

Figure 4

64

2014 PFR Partners


Figure 3 illustrates the three-year multi-hybrid corn planting summary. This data suggests that

over the past three years, multi-hybrid corn planting has proven 7.9 Bu./A. yield increases,

while increasing revenue by $42.77/A. The 2014 growing season was very important for Beck’s

PFR program in regards to multi-hybrid corn planting. In order to monitor consistency and

overall value of a product or technology, a minimum of three years of testing is needed to

prove if the concept is repeatable. Through the PFR testing program, our data indicates that

there is potential for not only yield increases but overall farm profitability as well. Although most

locations did have soil variability, there is a high likelihood that growers with a higher degree of

variable soils will have the ability to increase the overall yield response and profitability with

multi-hybrid planting.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the results of our 2014 multi-hybrid corn planting trials. When given

the opportunity to isolate the best soils on a farm and plant an “offensive” hybrid, gains of 3.2

Bu./A. and $13.42/A. were realized. It should be duly noted that there were locations in which

high amounts of rainfall affected our study in a negative fashion. In some locations, the

offensive soils happened to be the lower elevation, traditionally higher-producing areas of the

farms and experienced nitrogen losses and anaerobic soil conditions, creating a stress

environment in those offensive management zones. In these situations, a defensive hybrid was

needed to achieve positive responses.

When isolating the traditionally lower-yielding soils and planting a “defensive” hybrid, yield

gains of 6.4 Bu./A. and revenue gains of $26.20 were realized. The results from 2014 mirror

past year’s multi-year performance, indicating that precision hybrid placement is very important

on farms that do in fact contain soil and yield variability.

In reviewing the past three years of our multi-hybrid corn planting project, we tracked the

percentage of trial locations where selecting the appropriate hybrid in each zone was correct.

Figure 4 reveals that the hybrid selection accuracy in defensive soils with the appropriate

stress type hybrids, was correct 90% of the time over the three years of testing. Conversely,

when selecting an offensive corn hybrid for the highest yielding areas of a farm, the data

summary suggests a win percentage of 75%.

More research needs to be conducted to evaluate the overall practice of site-specific multi-

hybrid corn planting. However, this multi-year project has shown that the precision placement

of corn hybrids based on overall yield environment has provided the ability to increase corn

yields. As multi-hybrid planting moves forward into commercialization, it is imperative that

growers begin developing spatial management zones in order to utilize this technology.

65

2014 PFR Partners


Grower Location

Offense Advantage

in HP Soil

Defense Advantage

in LP Soil

Schuler Farms North Manchester, IN +0.7 +4.9


Schuler Farms North Manchester, IN +6.2 N/A


Eugene Stufflebeam Lewistown, IL +4.3 -5.7

Eugene Stufflebeam Lewistown, IL -4.2 +13.5

Eugene Stufflebeam Lewistown, IL +10.4 +2.7

Eugene Stufflebeam Lewistown, IL -4.4 +8.2

Schuler Farms North Manchester, IN -3.9 +3.7

Schuler Farms North Manchester, IN +5.6 N/A


Webster Farms Kempton, IL -11.6 +5.8

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL +5.7 +5.5

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL -2.6 +5.0

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL +3.6 +7.4

Webster Farms Kempton, IL -23.2 +3.3

Webster Farms Kempton, IL -7.0 -1.6

Webster Farms Kempton, IL +3.7 +7.8

Schleder Farms Green Valley, IL +5.5 +9.0

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL -20.2 +5.5

Roger Gualandi Kempton, IL -2.9 +2.7

Larry Clapp Cabery, IL +4.4 +22.0

Roger Gualandi Kempton, IL +11.5 +11.3

Brian Arteman Ellsworth, IL +14.8 +8.6


Perryman Farms Moody, TX +3.8 +4.9

Perryman Farms Moody, TX +2.7 +8.2

Perryman Farms Moody, TX -11.1 +12.4

Ron Wiegand Congerville, IL -37.3 +25.2

66

2014 PFR Partners


Grower Location

Offense Advantage

in HP Soil

Defense Advantage

in LP Soil

Bill Scott Toledo, IL +1.7 +5.2

Travis Worman Teutopolis, IL +14.0 -3.5

Probst Pork Farm Sigel, IL +11.8 N/A

Schuler Farms North Manchester, IN +2.3 -1.2

Tom Uthell Teutopolis, IL +13.3 +0.6

Schuler Farms North Manchester, IN -1.4 +3.5

Kelley Grain Farm Normal, IL +3.6 +13.3

Soltwedal Farms Effingham, IL +9.7 -6.7


Great Plains Multi-Hybrid Planters at Teutopolis, IL

“As a PFR Partner, I appreciate being on

the cutting edge of management

practices, equipment and technology. It

helps me find profitable solutions that I

can implement over my entire farm.”

Tom Uthell

Teutopolis, IL

67

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S TrackTill Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate TrackTill, a Patent Pending technology from

Agriculture Concepts, designed to eliminate wheel track or pinch row compaction

caused by center-fill planters. While driving equipment through the field, the weight of

the tractor and implement can create compacted strips of soil with each pass. As soils

become compacted, their physical properties are altered, causing changes in bulk

density, porosity and hydraulic properties- all of which can contribute negatively to yield

potential. Studies conducted by Beck’s CIL PFR Center have shown up to a 13.8

bushel per acre yield difference between the compacted center sections of the planter

versus the lighter wing sections. See page 173 of the 2014 PFR Book for more details

on Beck’s CIL PFR pinch row compaction studies.

Grower Location

Yield

Response

Pistorius Farms Blue Mound, IL +3.9

Pistorius Farms Boody, IL +10.4

Pistorius Farms Boody, IL +2.0

Average: +5.4

2014 TrackTill testing was conducted by Pistorius Farms located near the Blue Mound

and Boody, Illinois area. The TrackTill equipment was sent to Pistorius Farms early in

the spring and installed on a John Deere Bauer Built planter. In evaluating three

different farm locations, TrackTill offered average yield improvements of 5.4 Bu./A. in

2014 testing.

More research needs to be completed to continue analyzing the benefits from this

compaction alleviating equipment. Center fill planters truly offer grower’s convenience

with having a large commodity box for bulk seed delivery and easy filling. However, the

overall weight distribution of that commodity box tends to cause the potential for “pinch

row” compaction. TrackTill could be an effective means to help lift, fracture, and remove

soil density layers contributed from center fill planter pinch row compaction.

Special thanks to Craig Paulek of Pistorius Farms for conducting this TrackTill study in

Beck’s PFR Partner program.


68

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Track Till Study

TrackTill CM: The TrackTill Central Mount kit is designed to mount around the central frame of planters with 30” row spacing. Equipped with the same vertical tine tillage system as the FM model, you can count on outstanding compaction relief and runoff reduction. The CM kit includes 4 hydraulic down pressure cylinders, 4 mounting assemblies and attached vertical tine tillage rollers, each roller consisting of 3 sets of 10” tines per roller and an integrated fully adjustable hydraulic down pressure system. The vertical tillage system mounts to a toolbar behind the planter’s rear wheels and fits between closing wheels on the row units. The fully adjustable down pressure system ensures exceptional compaction relief and weight offset in every soil condition. Linked to the planter’s lift hydraulics, the tines will raise and lower with the row units. This model has been tested to fit John Deere 1770 NT planters but can be adapted to most planters with transport wheels positioned between the row units.

TrackTill FM: The TrackTill FM is designed

to mount around the frame of planters with

30” row spacing. It includes fully adjustable

pneumatic down pressure, 4 vertical tine

tillage rollers, with 3 sets of 10” tines per

roller. Aluminum cased air cylinders raise or

lower the rollers on demand and apply

consistent down pressure in even the

toughest field conditions. The kits bolt

around the planter’s 7×7 frame, positioning the tine rollers alongside the opening disks

of the row units. This model has been tested to fit John Deere Bauer Built planters but

can be adapted for other brands with forward positioned transport wheels.

69

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Soybean PFR Partner Trials

Stratego® YLD Fungicide Trials 70-71

Priaxor® Fungicide Trials 72-73

Quadris Top®SB Fungicide Trials 74-75

CropKarb® Soybean Trials 76

InstaGro Soybean Trails 77

Site-Specific Multi-Variety Soybean Planting 78-80

Contents

Stratego® is a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience LP. Priaxor® is a registered trademark of BASF. Quadris Top® is a registered trademark of a Syngenta

Group Company. CropKarb® is a registered trademark of McRight Services LLC.

70

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Soybean Stratego® YLD Study



^Net return based on $16.31/A. Stratego YLD, $6.00 application, and $11.20/Bu. Soybeans


Soy Price Return

$10.00 +$3.49/A.

$11.20 +$6.59/A.

$12.00 +$8.65/A.


86% of Stratego YLD treatments boosted yield


-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

4 oz. Stratego YLD Yield Summary

Break-Even

1.99 Bu./A.

71

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Stratego® YLD Study



Grower Location Variety

Yield

Response

Doug Raber Gridley, IL Sun Prairie 36R21 +2.0

Jeff Bressner Graymont, IL AG3231 0.0

Steve Duffy Graymont, IL AG3334 +4.0

Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL AG3034 -1.0

Mike Follmer Graymont, IL AG3334 +2.6

Matt Jacobs Graymont, IL BECK 358R4™*

+1.6

John Ryerson Cornell, IL NK34-Z1 +2.6

Brent Clark Pontiac, IL BECK 335NR™*

-0.5

Art Schlipf Gridley, IL BECK 313NL +1.7

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 313NL +4.5

Webster Farms Herscher, IL BECK 335NR™*

+3.4

Dennis Webster Kempton, IL BECK 294NR™*

+2.9

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 358R4™*

+9.0

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 294NR™*

+9.8

For more replications and to better understand variety performance, individual PFR lo-

cation trials were added into this summary.

72

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Soybean Priaxor® Study


^Net return based on $16.97/A. Priaxor, $6.00 application, and $11.20/Bu. Soybeans


Soy Price Return

$10.00 +$6.93/A.

$11.20 +$10.52/A.

$12.00 +$12.91/A.


90% of Priaxor treatments boosted yield

57% of Priaxor treatments provided economic gains

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

4 oz. Priaxor Yield Summary


Break-Even

2.05 Bu./A.

73

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Priaxor® Study




Yield

Response

Doug Raber Gridley, IL Sun Prairie 36R21 +1.0

Jeff Bressner Graymont, IL AG3231 +1.0

Steve Duffy Graymont, IL AG3334 +3.0




-0.1

John Ryerson Cornell, IL NK34-Z1 +5.4

Brent Clark Pontiac, IL BECK 335NR™*

+1.2


Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL BECK 278R4™*

+2.9

Webster Farms Emington, IL BECK 294NR™*

+3.3

Beck’s CIL PFR Downs, IL BECK 294NR™*

+4.0

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 358R4™*

+9.9

Beck’s CIN PFR Atlanta, IN BECK 294NR™*

+10.5

Beck’s KY PFR Henderson, KY BECK 457R4™*

+0.7

Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 354L4 +3.5



Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 423NL +4.1


Beck’s SIL PFR Neoga, IL BECK 483NL +1.6

For more replications and to better understand variety performance, individual PFR lo-

cation trials were added into this summary.

74

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Quadris Top®SB Study


^Net return based on $18.38/A. Quadris Top SB, $6.00 application, and $11.20/Bu. Soybeans


90% of Quadris treatments boosted yield

30% of Quadris treatments provided economic gains

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Yie

ld R

esp

on

se (

Bu

./A

.)

8 oz. Quadris Top Yield Summary

Quadris Top® is a registered trademark of Syngenta Group Company

Soy Price Return

$10.00 -$10.18/A.

$11.20 -$8.47/A.

$12.00 -$7.34/A.

Break-Even

2.18 Bu./A.

75

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Quadris Top®SB Study

Quadris Top® is a registered trademark of Syngenta Group Company



Yield

Response

Doug Raber Gridley, IL Sun Praire 36R21 +2.0

Jeff Bressner Graymont, IL AG3231 +1.0

Steve Duffy Graymont, IL AG3334 0.0




+3.1

Matt Jacobs Graymont, IL NK34-Z1 +0.2

John Ryerson Cornell, IL BECK 335NR™*

+4.3

Brent Clark Pontiac, IL BECK 313NL +0.9


Thank you to Graymont Co-op for conducting these fungicide trials with their customers.

76

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S CropKarb® Study


Jeff Bressner Graymont, IL +1.0 AG3231

Steve Duffy Graymont, IL +4.0 AG3334

Scott Bauknecht Pontiac, IL -1.0 AG3034

Mike Follmer Graymont, IL -3.8 AG3334

Webster Farms Buckingham, IL +3.6 BECK 335NR™*

Roger Gualandi Kempton, IL +2.1 BECK 335NR™*

^Net return based on $11.20/Bu. commodity price minus $8.83/A. CropKarb, no application cost

CropKarb is a registered trademark of McRight Services, LLC.


CropKarb is a true biostimulant product, utilizing “next generation” biostimulant

chemistry. CropKarb is a proprietary formulation of urea nitrogen, potassium, boron, a

proprietary mobile carbon source, and DeltAg’s active catalyst chemistry. CropKarb is

designed to enhance bloom set, fruit sizing, and bulking. CropKarb works by delivering

key nutrients and catalysts, as well as a supplemental mobile carbon source to the

fruiting portion of the crop. CropKarb can be applied on its own, but mainly will be used

as a tank mix with a foliar application.



77

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S InstaGro Foliar Study


Webster Farms Cabery, IL +5.4 BECK 335NR™*

Dennis Webster Buckingham, IL +3.3 BECK 278R4™*

Roger Gualandi Emington, IL +0.8 BECK 298L4

Mike Frame Kempton, IL +3.5 BECK 294NR™*

^Net return based on $11.20/Bu. commodity price minus $33.35/A. InstaGro and $6.00 application.


InstaGro Foliar soybean program is a mixture of 3-18-18-1S and 23-0-0 foliar feed

fertilizer from InstaGro Manufacturing, Inc. based out of Caledonia, OH. This InstaGro

was applied at 5 gal./A., 3 gal./A. of 3-18-18-1 and 2 gal./A. of 23-0-0 at the R3 growth

stage. This was our first year evaluating this foliar feed fertilizer in soybeans and we

look forward to testing this product in the future.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

3-18-18-1


Available Phosphoric Acid

(P2O5)

18.00%


Sulfur (S) 1.00%



GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

23-0-0


Available Phosphoric Acid

(P2O5)

0.00%


78

2014 PFR Partners

BECK’S Multi-Variety Planting Study

At Beck’s Hybrids, we are passionate about recommending the right product for

customers’ soil types. Over the past two years, the Practical Farm Research team has

evaluated the concept of multi-variety soybean planting to help accomplish this goal.

Pages 55-63 of this publication describe our multi-hybrid corn planting project, and this

same system can be used for the precision placement of soybeans.

Our approach to multi-variety soybean planting is somewhat different than precision

corn hybrid placement. The goal in this study is to identify low-yielding environments

and place a stress-tolerant, tall and robust soybean variety at higher seeding rates. In

some instances, high elevation, low organic matter with low water holding capacity soils

have often times inhibited the height of the soybean plants, thus limiting the ability to

achieve full row closure. This lack of canopy exposes the soil to more sunlight, causing

higher soil temperatures and evaporation of soil moisture, creating more potential for

stress. In high-yielding environments, it is very common to see soybeans that

concentrate on too much vegetative growth. This can lead to a very tall soybean with

high potential for lodging. To combat this problem, we place a shorter, bush-type variety

planted at lower seeding rates.

Variety

Transition

79

2014 PFR Partners


Low Productivity Soils

Defensive Variety

+3.0 Bu./A. +$40.21/A.

High Productivity Soils

Offensive Variety

+3.4 Bu./A. +$36.75/A.

+3.2 Bu./A. Yield Increase = $38.48/Acre

2012-2014 Multi-Variety Soybean Results

Yield data collected across the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons indicates that multi-

variety soybean planting has the potential for similar yield and revenue increases as we

have witnessed in multi-hybrid corn planting. The figure below illustrates the two-year

yield response and increased revenue from multi-variety soybean planting throughout

central Illinois. This data suggests that average yields have increased by 3.2 Bu./A.

which correspond to revenue increases of $38.48/A.

Although this is only a two-year dataset, this concept appears to have some merit if we

can consistently select soybean varieties based on spatial management zones.

This technology has great potential in areas other than central Illinois, especially in high

pH soils and areas that struggle with iron chlorosis. In these areas, selecting soybean

varieties that are more tolerant to these conditions could increase yields exponentially.

This concept grants the opportunity to not only switch soybean varieties, but could also

allow different seed treatments to be utilized for issues like Sudden Death Syndrome or

Soybean Cyst Nematode.

To fully understand the value of this system, we will need multiple years of data, as well

as improved knowledge of how soybean varieties perform in various growing

environments. Now that we have the ability to use precision-based multi-variety

planters, it could give us the capability to possibly understand how to increase yields

and profitability in soybean production.

80

2014 PFR Partners


Educational

Blocks

Variety

Transition

81

2014 PFR Partners

Thank you to all of our 2014 PFR Partners for participating in this agronomic program. This is our fourth growing season conducting PFR Partner studies, and we are continuing to grow in size and find new studies each year. We hope that through the PFR Partner program, our customers are able to gain agronomic insight from the various trials we conduct on their farms. We are currently planning for the 2015 PFR Partner program. We look forward to working with you again during the 2015 growing season. If you are not currently a PFR Partner and would like to become one, please contact your local PFR director. If you have any questions, comments, or new ideas feel free to contact us. Thanks again. Central Indiana PFR: Toby Ripberger - Phone: (317) 385-1392 [email protected] Kentucky PFR Director: Chris Robinson - Phone: (812) 453-1891 [email protected] Southern IL PFR Director: Jonathan Perkins - Phone: (217) 690-0509 [email protected]

Ohio PFR: Kyle Hoppes - Phone: (740) 606-5953 [email protected] Central IL PFR Director: Jason Webster - Phone: (815) 584-7711 [email protected]

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