2021 SureForce Corn Trial – Southwest MN
What We Were Testing For:
To evaluate SureForce™ at three different treatments in the field and the formation of uniform seedbed conditions across the different treatment types. The agronomy team will evaluate the uniformity of emergence and evaluate the seedling depth during the 2021 growing season. Yield data will be collected at harvest to determine the efficacy of the down force treatments and develop best management practices for growers to utilize on their own farms based on the outcomes of these trials.
Early Season Findings:
Down force treatments were captured using AgFiniti for this SureForce™ trial.
Trial Location:
Southwest Minnesota
Product Tested:
SureForce™
Crop Type:
Corn
Cropping Practice:
Conventional
Heavy DF Setting Seeding Depth
Medium DF Setting Seeding Depth
Manual DF Setting Seeding Depth
Outlying Factors:
This field experienced cold weather during the germination process. Corkscrew symptoms, which is a deformed elongation of the mesocotyl in corn, was the result from the cold temperatures. Germination and emergence is slower when temperatures fall below 50°F. Even with the cold temperatures that this field experienced this spring, the actual population is acceptable from the targeted seed drop.
Dry soil conditions at planting hindered the development of a good seed trench. Under dryer soil conditions, more downforce was required to maintain the seed trench quality and prevent sidewall collapse. In this case, Heavy vs. Manual downforce settings increased the actual population by 3.2%.
This growing season will allow us to gain valuable insights to help us advise growers on best management practices during a dry planting season.