Beck's Hybrids, kinze extend collaboration on multi-hybrid planting

Beck's Hybrids recently announced a continued collaboration with Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. to conduct on-farm research by providing expertise in hybrid placement, developing spatial management zones, and site-specific seeding.

Since 2012, Beck's Hybrids has been a leader in developing a multi-hybrid concept planter by conducting research in their Practical Farm Research (PFR) program.

"We're excited to not only be a lead partner in this new technology, but to bring Midwest farmers the opportunity to utilize the multi-hybrid corn planting system on their own farms," said Scott Beck, vice president of Beck's Hybrids. "As a seed company it is our goal to bring farmers quality, high-performing products for their acres. We are also committed to evaluating new technologies to increase yields and profitability."

Through Beck's PFR Partners program, multi-hybrid corn planting will be utilized in on-farm research in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa in spring of 2014. Each PFR partner will work with company representatives, along with Beck's Hybrids to test the new technology. Kinze Manufacturing will provide three 4900 series single-row, multi-hybrid concept planters.

"Kinze is excited to be working with Beck's Hybrid again this year," said Rhett Schildroth, senior product manager at Kinze Manufacturing. "The positive results we observed in their research the last two years pushed us to develop the 4900 multi-hybrid concept planter. Farmers need to see this new agronomic practice in the field and have a practical way to implement it.

In addition, New Holland Agriculture will provide each multi-hybrid concept planter with a Genesis T8 tractor. Raven Industries will be the electronic provider.

"At New Holland, we are proud to be a part of the planting trials and being associated with Beck's Hybrids, a premier seed company, as well as Kinze Manufacturing," said Gary Wojcik, marketing segment leader at New Holland Agriculture. "We're also excited to have the opportunity to showcase our latest Genesis T8 series tractors which feature the easiest to operate, highly efficient Auto Command continuously variable transmission (CVT)."

Beck's Hybrids became a leader in the multi-hybrid corn planting system in 2012 when the initial design was developed and tested by Jason Webster, central Illinois Practical Farm Research director at Beck's Hybrids. In Beck's Hybrids two years of on-farm research, an average of 9.5 Bu./A. yield increase was achieved with a net profit of $54.24 per acre.

"Beck's on-farm research has shown significant yield and profitability increases by changing hybrid placement on the fly based upon varying degrees of yield potential throughout a field," said Webster. "By collaborating with Kinze, we will be able to effectively evaluate and perfect the success of multi-hybrid planting, ultimately bringing farmers an agronomic and economic advantage."