A highly discussed topic in the agricultural sector is the sensitivity of corn to climate and environmental conditions, especially drought and heat, which are by far the most aggressive in terms of productivity. Annual variations related to these phenomena are becoming increasingly visible, with a strong impact on yields obtained in the last 5 years.

And things become more complicated and diversified as the years go by. If 20 years ago the discussion was only about drought, more recently about heat, now new challenges arise, such as the increase in nighttime temperatures, as in 2023, a record number of nights with temperatures above 20°C was recorded, impacting corn reproduction. Certainly, we can add other issues, such as desertification, the increase in average annual temperatures, etc.

All these add to other challenges that Romanian farmers must face, such as fluctuating prices, legislative changes, and increasingly complex agricultural policies. In this context, farmers' decisions are becoming more and more complicated but with significant implications for the future.

What can we do? How can we choose suitable products?

A recent and complex study in the USA clearly demonstrated how important the choice of corn hybrid/genetics is, ranking it third after weather and fertilization in terms of its impact on production.

Choosing the right hybrid is responsible for a minimum of 20% of production. So, it matters more than most farmers expect.

For about 10 years, Romanian farmers have had a reliable partner in corn cultivation – Optimum®AQUAmax®, certainly the most well-known brand for corn kernels, not only in Europe but in any corn market worldwide, being by far the preferred brand of farmers.

What exactly has determined the popularity and trust given?

Very simple: Stability and Adaptability, two extremely important characteristics in the current context, are mandatory to consider when selecting products for establishing new crops.

In the RITAC tests, independent trials in various locations throughout the country, the two characteristics of Pioneer corn hybrids were demonstrated. Specifically, this year, the most important maturity group, 300 – 400 FAO, covering over 65% of the cultivated area, was tested at 8 locations with the top 58 hybrids, under non-irrigated conditions, across the country from Caracal to Bârlad, from Constanța to Arad. The average yields obtained in these locations ranged from 3.5 t/ha to 10 t/ha.

Corteva Agriscience participated in these tests with 5 hybrids from this maturity segment, and Pioneer hybrids dominated in all segments:

• The most stable portfolio – all 5 hybrids are in the TOP 10
• Complete podium – 1st place – P9889 hybrid, 2nd place – P8834 hybrid, 3rd place – P9975 hybrid
• The best average – 8.3 t/ha
• The smallest difference between "the best-positioned hybrid" and "the weakest-positioned hybrid" – 413 kg/ha
• The most stable and productive hybrid, three years in a row – P9889
• The most productive early hybrid – P8834

It is evident that we cannot randomly choose the future hybrids to be sown! Between the best hybrid, P9889, with 8517 kg/ha, and the last-ranked, there is a difference of over 2500 kg/ha. The last hybrid in terms of average yield in the trials recorded a production of 5990 kg/ha. In practice, making the correct choice of the hybrid in this case means a quantitative increase of 2.5 t/ha.

Even in the case of not comparing the extremes but taking the top-ranked hybrid, P9889, with a yield of 8517 kg/ha, and comparing it with the trial average of 7456 kg/ha, the Pioneer hybrid has an advantage of 1061 kg/ha, enough to cover the total price of the hybrid. Details can be found at:

YouTube link 1

and

YouTube link 2