Co-Op Seeks High-Yield, Open-Pollinated Corn

Co-Op Seeks High-Yield Open-Pollinated Corn Seedtime Cooperative Project SCP is in the first stage of producing high-yielding open-pollinated OP corn lines The Midwest group of farmers is looking for an alternative to high-priced hybrid seed “How long it takes will depend in part on how many growers will cooperate in hand pollinating and selecting the pure inbred lines ” says Jeffrey Goss SCP spokesman “That process will take about 4 years and stabilizing the lines will take another 10 ” Most existing OP corn lines have not improved in the past 100 years Major OP crop improvement efforts stopped when hybrid corn was introduced A few exceptions can produce as much as 150 bu yields with optimum conditions The co-op hopes to improve on those yields using modern seed selection methods Goss says the selection process will be carried out under different growing conditions in Missouri Tennessee and Kentucky Cooperators will start by selecting 200 of their best ears These will be segregated by variation in color stem heights and similar traits Initially the SCP members will be looking for the greatest differences hand-pollinating them to create the inbred lines “Within about five years we expect to have significantly improved yields ” explains Goss “We will be constantly upgrading and adding new progeny ” Initially corn lines will be selected for yield standability and root strength Inbred lines will then be top-crossed within the best strains to stabilize the traits “Professor Dennis West University of Tennessee will evaluate data this fall ” says Goff “His evaluations will be used to select which lines to work with next spring ” The co-op is limiting its work to farms between the 34th and 39th parallels areas with a similar climate The area includes most of Missouri Tennessee and Kentucky as well as southern Illinois and Indiana and northern Arkansas “Within two or three years cooperating growers will be able to create their own hybrids and begin selecting lines that work best in their own soils and conditions ” says Goff “Advantages include being able to save and plant their own seed OP corn has a wider genetic base than today’s hybrids so it is less vulnerable to total crop failure from weather or disease like the corn blight that struck in 1970 ” Goff says OP corn has also been shown to be nutritionally superior It has a higher protein level as much as 4 percent higher higher free sugar mineral and fatty acid content The co-op started with 8 farmers Several more have joined Interested farmers are encouraged to get involved and at least sign up for the monthly newsletter “We know more about genetics than we did 70 years ago ” says Goff “That knowledge will speed the process We will be able to do in 14 years or less what would have taken 40 in the past ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Seedtime Cooperative Project Newsletter c/o Luke Eby 170 Blue Heron Drive Delano Tenn 37325 or Ezra Brubaker Bates County Produce Rt 3 Box 55D Rich Hill Mo 64779

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