Technologies to Improve Profitability

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Technologies to Improve Profitability

• Dr. Chad Lee, University of Kentucky

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CBOT Prices
December 05, 2007 1300 CST Contract Price
Corn Dec07 3934
Dec08 4364

Soybean Jan08 11170
Nov08 10370

Wheat Jul08 7684
Jul09 7410
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Input Prices

• soybean at 33/bag
• corn at 140 - 200/bag
• N at 0.45/lb
• P at 0.50/lb
• K at 0.30/lb
• Land rent????

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Keys to High Yields

1. Good genetics
2. Maximize days suitable for growing
3. 90 to 95 light interception at silking (R1)
4. Adequate nutrients, water and air to complete
   plant growth and seed fill

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SLATS ON A BARREL
TOTAL YIELD
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Biotech, Current Corn Traits

• Bt corn borer
• Bt rootworm

• RR2, GT
• LL

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Biotech, Current Soybean Trait

• Roundup Ready

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Biotechnology

• Useful tools when needed
• weed control
• Pest management

Rural Myth 1
Biotechnology automatically equals yield
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Corn-Borer Advantage Late PLANTING
Princeton, KY
Average Planting Date Corn Yield (Bu/A) (2000-2005) Corn Yield (Bu/A) (2000-2005) Bt (CB) Hybrid Advantage (Bu/A)
Average Planting Date Non-Bt Hybrid Bt Hybrid Bt (CB) Hybrid Advantage (Bu/A)
April 7 195 197 2
April 22 208 211 3
May 9 189 196 7
May 24 167 178 11
June 9 118 141 23
Herbek and Bessin
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Trophy hunting
Rural Myth 2
Im saving money by waiting to spray.
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Technologies genetics

• Adapted
• High-Yielding

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Yield performance (Soybean)
More
2007 2007 Favorable Proj. Price Projected
Rank of Variety UKSPT Variety Diff. Acres Addnl. per Revenue
Planted1 MG Bu./A5 Bu./A5 Bu./A Planted1 Bu. Bu.4 Lost
1. Pioneer 94M80 L4 34.4 42.2 7.8 92,000 717,600 9.00 6,458,400
2. NK S49-Q9 L4 33.9 42.2 8.3 75,900 629,970 9.00 5,669,730
3. Asgrow AG4703 L4 40.5 42.2 1.7 56,350 95,795 9.00 862,155
4. Pioneer 94B73 L4 44.4 0 0 47,150 0 9.00 0
5. Pioneer 94M30 E4 43.2 0 0 44,850 0 9.00 0
6. Southern Cross Michael E4 39.3 40.4 1.1 40,250 44,275 9.00 398,475
7. Asgrow AG4903 L4 39.5 42.2 2.7 34,500 93,150 9.00 838,350
8. Asgrow AG3906 3 39.7 0 0 33,350 0 9.00 0
8. Vigoro V48N7RS L4 40.6 42.2 1.6 33,350 53,360 9.00 480,240
9. Pioneer 94M50 E4 43.8 0 0 32,200 0 9.00 0
10. NK S43-B1 E4 N.I.T. ?   27,600 ? 9.00 ?
                 
          517,500 1,634,150 9.00 14,707,350


(Based on performance in 2007.)
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Early Maturity Hybrids, 2007
No. of Hybrids Top Yielding Bottom Yielding
CBRR 12 3 0
CONV. 11 0 6
CBRWRR 8 2 1
RR 6 1 2
CB 5 1 1
VT3 4 2 2
CBLL 3 2 0
RWRR 3 0 0
CBRW 1 0 0
HX1LL 1 1 0
HXLLRR 1 0 1
HXP 1 0 0
IT 1 0 1
TOTAL 57
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Selecting hybrids and varieties

• High yield
• Proper Maturity
• Technology Traits
• Other traits

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Bt Corn options, 2008

• YieldGard Corn Borer (Cry1Ab)
• YieldGard Rootworm (Cry3Bb1)
• YieldGard Plus (Cry1AbCry3Bb1
• Herculex (Cry1F) )
• Herculex RW (Cry34Ab1Cry35Ab1)
• Herculex Xtra (Cry1FCry34Ab1Cry35Ab1)
• Agrisure CB (Cry1Ab)
• Agrisure RW (mCry3A)
• Agrisure CB/RW (Cry1ABmCry3A)
• YieldGard VT RW (Cry3Bb1)
• YieldGard VT Triple (Cry1Ab Cry3Bb1)

Source Ric Bessin
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Insects Controlled by Bt Corn
ECB SWCB BCW FAW CRW
YieldGard CB - -
YieldGard RW - - - -
YieldGard Plus -
Herculex -
Herculex RW - - - -
Herculex Xtra
Agrisure CB - -
Agrisure RW - - - -
Agrisure CB/RW -
Source Ric Bessin
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Biotech, Near Future?

• Optimum GAT
• corn and soybean
• Anthracnose Stalk Rot Resistance
• corn
• Roundup RReady2Yield
• soybean
• Yield
• Corn
• Biofuels (amylase)
• Corn

• Seed oil composition
• soybean
• Dicamba resistance
• soybean
• Drought Tolerance
• corn and soybean
• Nitrogen utilization
• Corn
• SmartStax (8 genes)
• corn

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Hybrid Breeding
F1 Seed
F1 Hybrid
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Technology planting
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Agronomics Planting Date

• Corn
• April 1 to May 1 Western KY
• April 15 to May 15 Central and Eastern KY

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Planting Date Effect on Corn Yield
Average Planting Date Princeton, KY Corn Yield (Bu/Acre) (6 -Yr Avg.) (2000 - 2005) Avg. Loss (Bu/A)
April 7 196 -14
April 22 210 0
May 9 193 -17
May 24 172 -38
June 9 130 -80
Average of 2 hybrids (Bt Non-Bt) Average of 2 hybrids (Bt Non-Bt) Average of 2 hybrids (Bt Non-Bt)
Herbek and Bessin
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Planting date, optimum dates

• Princeton
• Lexington

May 1 - 7
April 19 - 25
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Technology planting
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Plant populations

• Corn 24,000 30,000 plants/acre
• Full Season Soybean 100,000 plants/acre
• Double crop soybean 180,000 plants/acre

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Most important Technology right now
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Fertilizer Costs
Nutrient /lb lb/acre /acre
N 0.45 150 67.50
P 0.50 30 15.00
K 0.30 30 9.00
91.50
Nutrient /lb lb/acre /acre
N 0.45 150 67.50
P 0.50 100 50.00
K 0.30 100 30.00
147.50
You cannot afford to over-fertilize. . .
You cannot afford to under-fertilize. . .
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Keys to High Yields

1. Good genetics
2. Maximize days suitable for growing
3. 90 to 95 light interception at silking (R1)
4. Adequate nutrients, water and air to complete
   plant growth and seed fill

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