Plot Data--What’s in a Name and Number?

(Data as of 10/20/2026)

Hello! My name is John “Mac” McNamara and I am your Frontier Technical Seed Advisor. In my 35 years of working in the seed business with growers like you in Eastern Nebraska, I have seen many growing extremes in crop production. During this time, I have noticed that there are always genetics that rise to the top during these extremes and offer consistent performance in thick and thin years in high and low yield environments. Those are the ones to focus in on. Our goal this fall is to provide you with timely insightful data on those genetics in a quick and simple form.
 
While evaluating hybrids and varieties before and during harvest, consider the following before you decide what to plant next season.

1. My philosophy is quite simple with genetic data---The more environments’ genetics are exposed to, the more confidence you should have in the results. Yes, the local plot is a great resource for a specific genetic package. How did that same hybrid do everywhere else? Considering the interaction between environment and genetics is important for proper placement and management for products to perform at their highest potential. Soil type, organic matter content, pH and fertility levels play larger roles in the final product performance than ever before.
2. Compare apples to apples! If you have planted 112-day corn in the past, compare its performance with the performance of other 112-day hybrids.
3. Evaluate this year’s total performance — not just yield! Don’t get us wrong, yield is important — but it is very hard to rate corn and soybean genetics based on one year’s performance. Look at multiple years’ data from multiple environments We must face the fact that the weather, which is out of our control, plays a very large role in the final evaluation of how a product performs. We can recognize and manage fixed factors such as soil types, fertility, diseases present, etc., and choose seed products that best fit these factors.
4. Place the total package! Many hybrids sold in Eastern Nebraska are bred to perform best in dryland environments that have a soil type high in clay content and low soil fertility levels. If you place a hybrid known to do well under an irrigated, high fertility environment into this situation, the results will usually be lower than expected.

Finally, consider the information and service that Frontier can offer you. Are you satisfied with the product information and in-season backing that your current seed supplier offers? The combination of Asgrow, DeKalb and Croplan offers genetic diversity and field support for corn and soybeans that is unmatched in the seed industry today. These genetics offer the diversity to perform in your maturity zones, under your conditions and your management goals. Our field personnel communicate with you to maximize matching these genetics with your conditions. Contact your local Frontier Field Advisor regarding how these packages can work for you!