August Hybrid of the Month

Aug 01, 2024


Mike Tufte
Seed Specialist

 
DKC108-64SSPRO
Our Hybrid of the Month series showcases some of the best hybrids on the market. As I write this, the Olympics have just started. They showcase the best athletes in the world. The USA will place in several events and bring national pride home to us. While this month’s hybrid might not be an Olympic Athlete, I think you’ll find there are some similarities.
 
Now imagine, if you will, a corn product that shoots out of the ground faster than most hybrids, protects itself from pests and packs a powerful yield punch at the end of the season. Well, this hybrid exists! It’s brought to you by Dekalb and is our Hybrid of the Month for August. We’re going to cover Dekalb 108-64 SSPRO – so let’s get started!
 
Straight from the starting gun, DKC108-64SSPRO emerges out of the ground faster than Noah Lyles (USA Sprinter and Reigning World Champion). This hybrid was known to be a quick emerger, but we didn’t realize just how quick. One of the first things I noticed about DKC108-64 is that it propels itself out of the ground like a rocket. For years, we thought of DKC54-40 as the golden standard for speedy emergence, but DKC108-64 seems to be the new king of the mountain. Given its ability to do this, we can utilize this hybrid as a true “Early Plant” option.
 
 
"DKC108-64 propels itself out of the ground like a rocket! It protects itself from pests and packs a powerful yield punch at the end of the season. You can count on this hybrid to handle the stresses of Mother Nature.”
 
One aspect we don’t talk about as often is planting populations. DKC108-64 prefers those medium populations. We can get a response from higher populations, but we must also be feeding the crop. So where do we place those medium populations? DKC108-64 is fairly diverse, but we want to keep it away from scenarios where it would get “wet feet.” We have found that waterlogged soils can slow it down, so we want to provide it with the best conditions to maximize its yield potential.   
 
After its rapid emergence, we can watch this hybrid grow into its own. The seedling development is just as fast. Above ground we can see those stalks elongating nicely. DKC108-64 is known for having great stalk strength. What we don’t see is below ground. Those roots are probably even more impressive. They have a more coarse and penetrating type structure. Because they penetrate well, they hold that plant in place nicely and firmly. I would relate the stalk and root strength to Ryan Crouser (USA Shotput, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist). He’s the favorite to win it again, much like DKC108-64 is favored to stand tall and strong while packing a punch!
 
Earlier we mentioned pest control. Pests can be weeds, insects, or disease. DKC108-64 handles the burdensome three in different ways. This hybrid is bred as a SmartStax Pro. That means we have the protection of the older SmartStax AND the new RNAi technology for rootworm control. From a disease standpoint, DKC108-64 has an agronomic package worthy of bragging about. You can find good to great field tolerance ratings against most common disease pests in the area, including tar spot. Weeds are controlled by the canopy. As this hybrid matures, you’ll notice it has a large leaf that lays out, giving us a more-dense canopy. It shines in all three categories - much like Simone Biles Owens (USA most decorated Olympic Gymnast)! Since the Olympics has 4 events for female gymnasts and Simone excels in all of them, we better add a fourth that DKC108-64 excels in as well. That would be stress tolerance. It’s no secret we’ve had some dry growing seasons recently. Even with the lack of moisture, DKC108-64 has still given us some yields to write home about. All-in-all, you can count on DKC108-64 to handle the stresses of Mother Nature.
 
As we approach harvest time, we’ll want to keep an eye on this hybrid. It is a true “die-and-dry” hybrid. The plant itself dries down rather quickly, which is a good thing. From this standpoint, it mimics Katie Ledecky (USA Swimmer and 1500m Gold Medalist). She swims consistently all race long, but really kicks it in gear that last 50 meters. For this reason, I would recommend we watch DKC108-64 and harvest it at an optimal time.  
 
In the end, what more could you ask for? DKC108-64SSPRO shoots out of the ground as fast as Noah Lyles. It bears roots and stalks as strong as Kyle Crouser. It excels at 4 events (pests and stresses) just like Simone Biles Owens. It grows consistently all season long and really finishes strong like Katie Ledecky. This hybrid does it all, just like Anna Hall (USA Heptathlon Reigning World Champion).
 
DKC108-64SSPRO has quickly earned a Gold Medal in our seed lineup. If you’re interested in adding it to your game plan for next spring, call your local Key Cooperative Agronomist. They are here to help you maximize your ROI and be your Essential Business Partner!  
 
 

Read More News

Nov 08, 2024
Booking options available for Purina RangeLand calf creep and Wind & Rain Mineral.
Nov 07, 2024
The Gift Cards for Gallons program is going on now!
Nov 06, 2024
The USDA raised corn yield by 0.2 bu/acre and lowered soybean yield by 0.1 bu/acre. Pretty small changes to U.S. production, which was on par for the typical “nonevent” that is the October USDA report.

Related Topics