Hopefully at this point in the growing season all of the work you’ve put into your corn crop—from scouting and weed control to seed-buying decisions and planting to in-season management—is really starting to materialize as your corn tassels and those ears develop kernels.
Our F2F Genetics Network™ team has been able to connect with many of the farmers who planted our seed this year, and now seemed like a good time to share a bit more from the field and introduce you to some of the individuals who are part of our growing network of farmers.
Want quality genetics at a fair price?
F2F Genetics conventional hybrids produced great ROI results last year, and we’re committed to making sure our seed delivers both value and return on investment to farmers again in 2020.
Let’s take a moment to meet a pair of farmers in Kansas and Missouri who planted F2F Genetics corn this year:
Christopher Fisher is a sixth-generation farmer who helps run the family operation alongside his father and grandfather in the northwest corner of Kansas. He learned about FBN while studying ag at Kansas State University, and the Fisher family became members earlier this year.
They planted all 4,000 acres on their farm in 2020 to F2F Genetics conventional hybrids, taking advantage of a zero percent financing offer that will allow them to pay for their seed after harvest. “The zero percent financing for the year is huge,” said Fisher.
The Fishers plan on selling their grain this year to a local dairy that only accepts non-GMO corn, so the financial upside of planting F2F Genetics corn was too hard to pass up. And even though it was their first time growing conventional corn in years, the switch has gone smoothly.
All of it looks really good," he said. "We are really happy with our stand and excited to get to harvest it."
- Christopher Fisher, Kansas
“Honestly, it didn’t change anything for our herbicide program,” he explained. “We plant 20-inch rows, so we canopy a little bit faster. Our weed control was pretty minimal.”
A hail storm hit their region earlier this season, but Fisher said the crop has recovered well.
“All of it looks really good," he said. "We are really happy with our stand and excited to get to harvest it."
Weather also posed a threat to Brandon Salladay’s crop in Central Missouri earlier this spring. A few days after he planted 340 acres to F2F Genetics conventional corn, an unseasonably late snowstorm resulted in four to six inches of accumulation.
“It took three days to get rid of all of it,” Salladay recalled. “It was just a very wet snow. Water was running everywhere.”
Snow is fairly uncommon for that time of the year in his region, so he was understandably worried about both the impact of cold temperatures and excessive moisture on his crop.
“Well, I tell you, we had corn spiking through the ground 15 days after that—I would say 99 percent of the seed,” said Salladay. His crop has progressed well since then and is now standing tall and strong.
For Salladay, growing conventional corn this year was all about return on investment. “Our biggest decision factor in planting F2F Genetics seed was cost, there’s no question about that,” he said.
“FBN is sharing the anonymous yield data they are compiling and I can see other producers' success in their fields. It seemed like a no-brainer to me.”
- Brandon Salladay, Missouri
But he also appreciates the insights he receives on seed performance.
“FBN is sharing the anonymous yield data they are compiling and I can see other producers' success in their fields,” he said. “It seemed like a no-brainer to me.”
For farmers looking for the insect protection and additional over-the-top herbicide application options offered by traited hybrids, the Master Farmer™ line distributed through F2F Genetics Network has strong yield potential at competitive prices.
Here are two farmers in vastly different parts of the country—Alabama and North Dakota—who planted Master Farmer™ hybrids this spring.
Price Counts farms in Northern Alabama, where he grows primarily corn and cotton in addition to some wheat and double crop soybeans.
In 2019 he planted Master Farmer™ hybrids on roughly 400 acres. That traited corn seed performed so well that Counts nearly tripled the acreage he planted to it this spring.
“Looking at the bottom line, if I'm going to cut the same yield and corn is costing me $250-$275 a bag,” said Counts, “and the FBN corn with the same traits is $159-$169 a bag, it just made more financial sense to go with the FBN corn.”
This year he planted two different Master Farmer™ hybrids—the 115-day and 117-day glyphosate-tolerant varieties—alongside other seed varieties he planted to see how they compare.
"Looking at the bottom line, it just made financial sense to go with the FBN corn."
- Price Counts, Alabama
Having performed a few yield counts in his fields, he’s pleased with what he sees so far.
“It's got a better looking ear right now, to be honest,” said Counts, “but the combine hasn’t run yet. We’ll see when we harvest.”
Tyler Maus planted an 81-day, glyphosate-tolerant Master Farmer™ hybrid to 80 acres on his family-owned cattle operation in the southwestern corner of North Dakota.
Having generally focused on small grains and pulse crops in the past, Maus has only recently begun growing corn and is still searching for the right hybrids for the operation.
“It's got very good color and looks healthy. We’re excited to see what's going to happen."
- Tyler Maus
“The two things that drew me to this hybrid were the growing days and the price point,” said Maus, who joined FBN toward the end of 2019.
“We want to see if it will fit into our operation,” he said, explaining that this year is somewhat of a trial run for the seed variety on his farm. He’s feeling optimistic mid-way through the season—particularly following some much-needed rain in the early part of July.
“It's got very good color and looks healthy,” said Maus. “We’re excited to see what's going to happen.”
Want to learn more about the F2F Genetics Network™? Find out how we’re putting power back into farmers hands and helping you maximize profit potential for your operation.
The sprout logo, "FBN" and "Farmers Business Network" are registered service marks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. “F2F Genetics Network” is a trademark of Farmer’s Business Network, Inc. “Master Farmer” is a trademark of Masters Choice. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. F2F Genetics Network branded seed products and other seed products are offered by FBN Inputs, LLC and are available only in states where FBN Inputs, LLC is licensed. Terms & Conditions are subject to change at any time and without notice. See sales order form for additional terms and conditions. All sales are subject to entrance into a Master Distribution Agreement, where applicable, and the terms and conditions set forth therein.