Oswald No-Till Farm Cleghorn, IA | If memory serves, I am thinking that 3780 was an early Pioneer x B73 and 3541 was a later B73 cross. 3541 didn't work "here" that well as we didn't have the heat to drive it while 30 miles away 3541 was a barn burner. Between those two, Pioneer sold a lot of seed especially considering that both had quite a bit of ear flex requiring only 2/3 the population we use now.
We used a lot of 3780 on this farm at the time. It "made" Pioneer around here similar to how some of the hot Dekalb (Monsanto) parents "made" a market for Dekalb 5 years ago.
3780 could really get hit with corn borer with respective ear drop. On the bean walking crew there were times we could see where Dad planted it the year before due to the amount of volunteer corn. Even with ear drop, it would often out yield other genetics. It was the beginning of high yield/moisture expectations that we all enjoy now.
I think the last big year for that line was in the early-mid 1980's. By then, 3732 Pioneer came along and would beat 3780 IF you were to increase population for 3732 to run. I began running the planter in 1984 and remember my first year planting at 24,000 moving up to 26,000 now up to 32-34,000.
1983 was hard on 3780 due to heat sensitivity. By 1988, 3475 was dominating Pioneer sales around here and it too had issues with heat because it set-up grain fairly early and often died prematurely.
By the early 1990's Pioneer dominated with 3737/3751 in the early slot and 3394 through the heart of the cornbelt. At its peak, 3394 was on more acres than any other seed company had in total acres. But, we eventually learned that GLS would take it big time.
I don't remember other brands much before then as I was too young but do know that Grandpa liked Dekalb more than Pioneer because Grandpa didn't like Wallace's politics from way back.
The history of the seed industry is rather interesting for sure.
Tom
Edited by notilltom 12/21/2010 10:06
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Nominations for best seed corn variety of all time?
