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Stine agronomist: Don’t switch hybrids…yet

This week’s weather forecast looks better for planting, but saturated fields may continue to keep some Midwest farmers sidelined for a while. And some are asking if it’s time to switch to an earlier-maturing corn hybrid.

Todd Schomburg, director of agronomy for Stine Seeds, says the short answer is “not yet”.

“If you’re in the Minnesota area, that third week of May is really kind of your timing when you consider maybe moving it a little earlier,” Schomburg says. “But the majority of the people, if they can stay in that (May) 25th to 30th before they make any changes, they’re really a lot better off.”

The weather can change quickly, he says.

“We can ramp up a lot of heat units in a short time period. Then, all of sudden, if you use a shorter-day hybrid, you’re going to give up some yield potential.”

Switching to an earlier-maturing hybrid could potentially cost growers five to 20 bushels per acre in their final yield, Schomburg says, depending on growing conditions the rest of the year.