Coastal Trials Data Tables
Interior Trials Data Table
Table 4. Dates & Corn Heat Units 2016
| Year | Location | Planting Date | Harvest Date | Growing Days | 2016 CHU | Average CHU | Years of CHU Average |
| 2016 | Abbotsford | May 3 | Sept 14 | 134 | 2707 | 2420 | 55 |
| Agassiz | May 6 | Sept 21 | 138 | 2839 | 2740 | 24 | |
| Enderby | May 6 | Oct 5 | 152 | 2973 | 2999 | 24 |
Pacific Field Corn Association: Report on 2016 Field Trials
Silage Hybrid Evaluation:
The number of hybrids submitted for testing was 79, a decrease of one from last year. Table 1 shows entry numbers since 2001. Fifty-one early hybrids and 28 late hybrids were submitted. Twenty-one in the Abbotsford Early test and 13 in the Agassiz Late test were submitted for the first time. Table 2 summarizes age profile of entries. The number of clients was nine, up from eight last year. The Interior trial located at Enderby continued for a sixth year.
Table 1. Number of Entries per year
Table 2. Summary of entries for 2016
| Location | Total | New Entries | Two Years | Three Years | >= Four Years |
| Abbotsford | 51 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 7 |
| Agassiz | 28 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 5 |
| Enderby | 22 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
Table 3. Summary of Trial Averages
Table 4. Dates and Corn Heat Units (at the top of this page).
Detailed tables for Abbotsford, Agassiz and Enderby can be found in the links at the top of this page.
Overall growing conditions in the lower mainland were excellent throughout the season with respect to temperature, corn heat units and soil moisture. Drier conditions through August were not severe enough to significantly affect yields as was the case in 2015.
Abbotsford.- 24 test years
The May 3rd planting date at Abbotsford was 12 days earlier than the 24 year average (May 15) while harvest date was about one week earlier (Sept. 14 vs Sept. 22) resulting in the growing days being close to the average (134 vs 130). Corn heat units (CHU) were 12% higher than the 55 year weather data average for Abbotsford and 6% higher for the 24 years of hybrid testing in Abbotsford. Average trial yield was 1.2 t DM/ha (6%) higher than 2015 and 17% higher than the average. Trial yield of 21.7 t DM/ha was the highest over 24 years. Whole crop moisture content was 5.6% higher than 2015 (34.7 vs 29.1%) and 7.3% higher than the average (34.7 vs 27.4%). Grain percentage was 1.9% higher than 2015 (46.9 vs 45.0%) and 4.2% higher than the average (46.9 vs 42.7%). The coefficient of variability (CV) for Dry Matter Yield, Dry Matter percentage and Grain percentage were 8.2, 6.1 and 4.3% respectively. CV is a measure of the dispersion (or spread) that describes variability of the data around the average.
Agassiz.- 36 test years
The May 6th planting date at Agassiz was close to the 36 year average (May 5) as was harvest date (Sept. 21 vs Sept. 22) resulting in the growing days being close to the average (138 vs 140). CHU were 10% higher than the 122 year weather data average for Agassiz (2839 vs 2568) and 4% higher for the last 18 years of hybrid testing. Average trial yield was 1.4 t DM/ha (8%) higher than 2015 and 5% higher than the average. Trial yield of 18.6 t DM/ha was the 12th highest over 36 years. Whole crop moisture content was 0.8% lower than 2015 (36.4 vs 37.2%) and 5.4% higher than the average (36.4 vs 31.0%). Grain percentage was 4.2% lower than 2015 (46.8 vs 51.0%) and 2.5% higher than the average (46.8 vs 44.3%). CV’s for Dry Matter Yield, Dry Matter percentage and Grain percentage were 8.8, 4.3 and 3.7% respectively.
Enderby.- 6 test years
The May 6th planting date at Enderby was 8 days earlier than the 6 year average (May 14) while harvest date was close to average (Oct 5 vs Oct 3) resulting in the growing days being 10 days longer (152 vs 142). CHU were very close to the 24 year weather average (using Vernon). Average trial yield was 2.8 t DM/ha (15%) higher than 2015 and the average. Trial yield of 21.6 t DM/ha was the highest of all six years. Whole crop moisture content was 1.4% lower than both 2015 and the average (30.3 vs 31.7%). Grain percentage was 2.4% lower than 2015 (46.8 vs 49.2%) and 1.8% higher than the average (46.8 vs 45.0%). Trial quality was significantly improved and only four plots were discarded due to damage. CV’s for Dry Matter Yield, Dry Matter percentage and Grain percentage were 10.5, 7.4 and 5.7% respectively.
There were no significant lodging events are Abbotsford, Agassiz or Enderby for 2016
Data for Abbotsford, Agassiz and Enderby 2016 and over-years was released October 24-25th. Data table drafts posted on Farmwest.com October 28th and announced November 8th.
The Pacific Field Corn Association Hybrid testing program continues to identify top performing silage hybrids for B.C. producers. Significant increases in both total crop and grain yield as well as grain percentage have been identified. Figure 1 shows steady improvement in yields identified for the top ten hybrids tested at Abbotsford since 1993 and 2007. Figure 2 shows similar steady improvement in yields identified for the top ten hybrids tested at Agassiz since 1980 and 2001. Figures 3 and 4 show grain yield and grain % improvements of top ten hybrids at Abbotsford (last 10 years) and Agassiz (last 16 years).
