Although field corn has been extensively evaluated under conventional production conditions, very few systematic trials of field corn hybrids or open-pollinated varieties have been done in organic systems. Doing small plot trials on organically-managed fields has unique challenges compared to fields where herbicides can be used to manage weeds in alley-ways between plots. For the last three years, Cornell's corn breeding project has worked out techniques for field corn variety evaluation on organic farms and evaluated a range of hybrids (most involving publicly-available inbreds) and open-pollinated varieties using these techniques. The field techniques developed include special cultivations and intersown buckwheat for weed control. A number of highly productive hybrids and some competitive open-pollinated varieties have been identified.
See more of Symposium--Organic Seed Production and Breeding for Organic Production Systems
See more of C04 Seed Physiology, Production & Technology
See more of The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 6-10, 2005)