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SW MN and Gold Canyon AZ | How do seed companies select varieties?? They select based on as much data as they can collect from a broad area. Why ?? Becasue selecting from one area is just that ,one area, one weather pattern. What if the weather changes (which it does)?? You have now selected a hybrid based on last years weather at your farm.
When I make recomendations for the next season I look at local farmer trials, other company trials, our Elite company trials, north,south east west, 2 yr averages 3 year averages if available ect.... If a hybrid or variety does well across ALL those environments I know that my odds are better, selecting those hybrids for the next year. I will NEVER select just soley based on the plot at my farm, never ever ever.Having said that a good variety usually wins 70% of the plots so the chances of it winning my own are above average but not guarenteed.
Yes I have a yield monitor on my combine and do look at maps. I allways strip hybrids so I can see suttle differences in reaction to PH, soil types ect...this is basically for "fine tuning" recommendations. But even that is not exact science.
No company that I know of selects soley based on one area, none......
The U of M had an article years ago on selecting hybrids and varieties. Using data from 4 locations instead of one showed the advantage the next year in selecting from the average of 4 locations instead of the one you were closet to.
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Value from seed dealer
