Texas A&M AgriLife Research conducts corn performance tests each year to provide growers in Texas with accurate and unbiased information on hybrid performance at locations across the state.
Selection of superior hybrids that are well adapted for a given region is essential for maximizing yield and profit.
Corn for grain production in 2024 was estimated at 14.9 billion bushels, down 3% from the 2023 estimate, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The average yield in the United States was estimated at a record high 179.3 bushels per acre, 2 bushels above the 2023 yield of 177.3 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 82.9 million acres, down 4% from the 2023 estimate.
Texas harvested 1.86 million acres in 2024, the USDA noted. The yield for the Lone Star state was 112 bushels per acre, which was a decline of 10 bushels per acre in 2023. Texas produced 208.3 million bushels in 2024, which was about 56 million bushels less than the previous year.
This year, six irrigated and five non-irrigated test sites were planted in the major production regions of Texas. Major corn production regions include the Western Gulf Coastal Plain, Southern Texas Plains, East Central Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies and High Plains. A total of 212 entries were evaluated across 11 locations, representing 34 unique hybrids from six commercial seed companies. Commercial seed companies enter hybrids into each trial location at their own discretion.
Performance trials are managed by personnel from the Crop Testing Program, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and financed by fees collected from participating commercial seed companies. Test sites are on privately owned farms or at Texas A&M University AgriLife Research Centers. All entries are randomized and replicated four times at each location. All test sites are managed according to practices common to each production region. Field maps and planting plans can be found at the link below shortly after planting. Following harvest, results are statistically analyzed and made available at: http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/corn/.
Results are available online at www.hpj.com.
