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Demonstration plots have been a foundational research tool in agriculture since Seaman A. Knapp began using them in the early 1900s. Today, they are just as relevant and are utilized to highlight the newest varieties and hybrids to farmers currently engaged in production agriculture.
Shelly Pate Kerns, a Tennessee native, was recently hired as the LSU AgCenter corn, grain sorghum and cotton specialist. One of her duties will include managing corn and grain sorghum demonstration plots and helping with the selection sites. Kerns is a trained pathologist in both cotton and soybean.
“On-farm demonstration plots are instrumental in gauging the performance of varieties and hybrids in commercial settings,” Kerns said.
In Louisiana, corn hybrid plots are planted across the state to provide the agriculture sector with nonbiased scientific information that is anchored in the fields of growers. These demonstrations will allow farmers to make informed decisions regarding how well corn hybrids perform in a real-world environment.
Last year, 12 corn hybrids were tested in the on-farm demonstration plots. Yields ranged from 170 to 259 bushels per acre.
While AgCenter Experiment Station scientists conduct hybrid trials at several research stations across Louisiana, one pertinent question remains: Are these hybrids suitable for different growing regions in the state? These on-farm demonstrations are geared toward answering this question.
The demos may also answer other important questions such as soil-type performance and what yields are in irrigated and nonirrigated settings.
These plots are in commercial fields, and the plots will undergo the same management strategies that the producers use in their fields. Data will be recorded concerning planting and harvest dates, soil type and irrigation events.
“Growers that plant farm demos are helping to provide data that is used for hybrid selection by growers throughout the state,” Kerns said.
Another important research component involves stand counts. Approximately 30 days after planting, a stand count will be undertaken to ensure that plant populations are consistent and do not skew any data.
At harvest, data will be recorded including yield, percent moisture and test weights.
In a typical year, there will be anywhere from 10-20 hybrids involved in the demo plots. The results of the demonstration are published annually on the AgCenter website. A publication entitled Corn Hybrids for Grain is published annually and can be found on the website.
