USMARC_Field_35C_ _35D-2017.docx

USMARC is requesting your recommendations in selecting corn hybrids and soybean varieties for the 2017 cropping season. All hybrids/varieties recommended should be yield proven (no experimental hybrids) in area test plots. A description of the recommended hybrids/varieties with supporting plot data should be included with bids. Individual hybrid/variety characteristics ratings, not provided in seed guide, should be described in each field’s comment section.

Field descriptions include a minimum request for insect resistance via GMO’s. Additional or amplified events may be bid. Additional benefits of recommended hybrid will be considered when accepting or determining winning hybrid.

You may offer a recommendation for all fields described or only for fields you select. The same corn hybrid may be offered as the recommended hybrid on more than 1 field(s) description. To help manage environmental risks, genetic diversity of hybrids should be considered.

Hybrids/varieties selected by USMARC will be the best value for USMARC; decisions will be based on yield data, genetic diversity, GMO events, plant characteristics and price.

USMARC feed needs are significantly impacted by climate. Rotations, seed hybrid/variety and quantities are subject to pre-plant adjustments.

Small allotments of seed may be delivered in bags. Large allotments of seed should be packaged in center flow bulk seed Pro-boxes. We would prefer to be able to return any unopened/undamaged bags for refund. Please state your position regarding this in the quote.

Vendors of selected hybrids will be notified of awards as soon as selections have been determined.

Seed deliveries can be made as soon as you have been notified of selections. Deliveries should be made by April 1, 2017.

Soybeans

All Soybean Varieties submitted for consideration should have the following characteristics:

· High yield potential

· Medium bush plant structure with good to excellent standability.

· Good to Excellent ratings for SDS

· SCN resistance

· Good to Excellent ratings for phytophthora

· Shattering resistance

· Pre inoculated & treated seed, both fungicide and insecticide.

Corn acres usage

Corn fields not identified for potential silage harvest will be harvested as either earlage or dry grain. Recommended grain harvest moisture content should be included for all hybrids.

Desirable Hybrid characteristics – Silage Hybrids

· High starch digestibility

· High NDF digestibility

· Soft kernel texture

· Slow kernel drying

Desirable Hybrid characteristics- All Hybrids

Yield- Yield consistency.

Early Season vigor – Strip till and no till seedbeds, in furrow pop-up fertilizer will be applied.

Late Season Intactness – All hybrids should have good staygreen and harvest appearance. Strong stalks and roots.

Soils –

Primary soil type of the individual fields is a Crete silt loam with 0 to 1% slopes; this soil is moderately well drained. Several fields include a percentage of a Hastings silt loam variant. Hastings silt loam areas tend to have 3 to 6% slopes and are well drained.

Most fields also have pockets of Butler and/or Fillmore silt loams. These soils are poor to very poorly drained. Individual field descriptions will note if there is a significant portion of poorly drained soils in the field.

For more detailed soil descriptions, the legal description and latitude-longitude for each field have been provided and fields may be viewed on the internet at: http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov

Nutrient management-

UNL recommendations are used for determining nutrient applications, a corn yield goal of 220/240 bushels or 25/27 tons silage per acre will be used to generate recommendations.

Individual field descriptions will indicate primary N source and the most recent soil test data on P, K, Mg, Ca, and Na. Soil pH, CEC, OM% is also provided.

Phosphorus is applied at maintenance levels as required. Most phosphorus is supplied by periodical applications of manure.

GMO’s-

Events not approved for export should not be bid.

For event rotation purposes, Rootworm event history for each applicable field is provided.

Planter –

John Deere Max Emerge vacuum planter, 30” rows, equipped with ProMax 40 flat metering discs. Central Commodity System (CCS).

Unless otherwise specified, most seedbeds are prepared with striptill unit.

USMARC Fields #’s 35C & 35D. 220 acres, gravity irrigated. A Liberty Link soybean variety, 2.8 to 3.2 relative maturity. Soybeans will be planted in 30” rows on a strip tilled or conventional seedbed.

35C- P-79ppm, K-447ppm, Mg-451ppm, Ca-2,981ppm, Na-50ppm, S-7.33ppm, Z-1.33ppm, OM-2.37%, pH-6.67, CEC-20meq/100g

Crete silt loam, 0 to 1% slope, large pockets of butler silt loam, poorly drained. A portion of fields have been leveled to accommodate gravity irrigation.

Recommended Variety _____________ Recommended planting population: ______

Seed treatment: ___________________

# 140K count units: _______ Price/140,000 CT: ________ Total field seed cost:________

Comments: ______________________________________________________________