Selecting well-adapted and superior corn hybrids is critical to the success and profitability of your farm. Accordingly, Mississippi State goes to great lengths to evaluate, assess and analyze corn hybrid performance. Our university variety testing programs have long played an important role in generating sound, third-party performance evaluations from which Mississippi growers can better identify superior genetics. Furthermore, we also conduct a Corn Hybrid Demonstration Program, which enhances the information available for Mississippi producers to make hybrid selection decisions. These Demo trials are grown in numerous on-farm locations throughout the state where you can observe and evaluate hybrid performance and traits of our region’s most elite hybrids.

Hybrids selected for this program must be validated by producing superior grain yield in the Mississippi Corn for Grain Hybrid Trials or be a relevant market standard. Hybrids are selected annually and grouped into two distinct sets based upon performance in dryland or irrigated culture, since both these cropping systems are prevalent in Mississippi and significantly affect hybrid adaptability. Seed companies are also granted the discretion to enter a newly-released hybrid which they believe is more promising. This establishes a very elite group of corn hybrids for evaluation.

Following is a complete summary of the grain yields and plant characteristics evaluated in the 2017 trials grown in 23  irrigated or dryland locations throughout Mississippi.

2017 Corn Hybrid Demo Program Summary