b'A certain amount of nutrientssuchtune with that trend. as nitrogenare required to generateWhile increasing populations could a bushel of corn, he says. That figure iscause a slight reduction in ear size, basically the same whether corn is tall orThompson says, that reduction can be short. However, shorter corn can allowovercome by the resulting increase in total growers to apply with greater precisionears per acre when using a high-yield, and timelier in-season applications, whichhigh-density planting scheme.could lead to efficiencies. With respect to the current status of non-GM varieties that are already in trials Grower Benefits in the United States, Leake says Bayers Annual corn yield losses in the U.S. duecurrent trials with farmers have gone very to lodging and greensnap range fromwell this season.2%-75% depending upon growth stage,We are planning for a targeted com-amount of breakage and other factors.mercial introduction of the Preceon Smart Leake says that, in addition to ben- Corn System featuring our breeding trait, efits including pest protection, access,he says.yield potential and season-long access,Thompson says the concept of shorter, short-statured corn decreases this kind ofhigh-population corn is nothing new to weather-related production risk.Stine Seed Company.There is a reduced risk of losses fromWe began selling a designated line high winds and challenging weather con- of HP [high population] corn hybrids in ditions, Leake says. Short-stature corn2014, he says. Since that time, the com-hybrids significantly increase tolerance toHarry S. Stine standing in Stine Seedpany has marketed to growers more than lodging and greensnap, withstanding windCompanys demo plot among another of its120 lines that are considered either short gusts up to at least 50 mph.newer hybrids. This hybrid has not quitestature and/or high population. In that The reduced plant height of short-stat- reached full maturity but will barely exceedway, the idea is not a theory, but rather ured corn hybrids also provides growerssix feet in height.PHOTO: STINE SEED COMPANY actual products that we are selling today. the flexibility to further optimize and pre- We have versions that are conventional scribe fertility, pest and disease manage- genetics, as well as herbicide-traited and ment with standard ground equipment.created when it comes to plant heightinsect-traited versions. Season-long access provides a morereducing overall biomass or influencing precise and timely application of cropear size.Whats Next?protection and other inputs when the cropGenerally speaking, corn that isAs for what can be expected over the needs them most or when field conditions10% shorter and planted at the samenext decade in terms of short-statured allow, Leake adds. population as taller corn should resultcrops, Leake says Bayer is focused on With respect to yield potential, Leakein a net reduction of per acre biomass,bringing short-statured corn systems to says the production stability of their Smarthe explains. However, one of the mainmarkets around the globe.Corn System provides growers with moreadvantages of shorter corn can be theThompson says Stine Seed Company flexibility, peace of mind and reducedopportunity to plant that corn at higherhas been on the forefront of advocating overall business risk.densities to maximize leaf surface areafor shorter corn that growers can plant atThe root systems of breeding traitand sunlight interception. So, corn that ishigher densities to maximize yields. short stature corn hybrids have dem- 10% shorter but planted 10% thicker wouldHe says the company is pleased that onstrated the potential to explore morelikely result in a similar per acre biomass. the industry is recognizing this trend as soil volume faster, which could lead toWhen it comes to ear size, plantingthe future for corn production. increased stress tolerance, better utiliza- density influences some genetics, spe- We will continue to breed and develop tion of nutrients and water, and greatercifically, the ones often referred to asnew, higher-yielding corn lines into the yield stability, adds Leake.flex-eared, to a certain degree. However,future, he says. We will not place any modern genetics have become morestipulations on height, but rather will let Not All Created Equal adaptable to changes in row width andyield and standability inform our deci-Thompson says not all hybrids are equallypopulation, especially if the breeder is insions.SW 20/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2023'