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2009 Seed Resource Guide Proven Performance One Farmer after Another
MASTERS CHOICE
At Masters Choice we are dedicated, from top to bottom, to developing the healthiest corn plants in the whole industry. We have made it our goal to create healthy plants through advanced plant breeding. That program was started by our head plant breeder, John Rucker. Thirty years ago John made a conscious decision to set Masters Choice hybrids apart from the industry. At that time, the country was breeding for a flint-hard endosperm that would stay intact during export. John, knowing that the other companies were taking away sugar and density, decided to go against the industry standard and breed Masters Choice plants for natural health. Sugar relates directly to plant health, insect tolerance, and digestible energy. The unique thing about Masters Choice is that through natural plant breeding, we deliver record yields AND solid nutrition. This has been John’s focus from then until now.
In the past few years, Masters Choice has seen tremendous growth and new developments. These developments include the addition of new hybrids to our conventional lineup; MC-468, a huge hybrid at only 83 days; MC-545, an extremely high health hybrid at 109 days; MC-573, a tremendous hybrid with outstanding yield potential and adaptability at 111 days; MC-618, a very versatile, economical hybrid at 112 days. We are also very excited about our new, specialty hybrids: MC-MasterGraze™; Lean Beef Maker; MC-618 and the new series of MC Little Giant™. We feel that these new hybrids have the potential to take the industry by storm. Despite the changes we have experienced, you can still count on Masters Choice to provide you with hybrids that make a difference to you, the grower.
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C o n v e n tio n a l H y b rids Masters Choice is a company with one focus: developing hybrids that benefit you, the grower. We are geared towards developing corn hybrids that offer you the opportunity to be more profitable in your farming operation. The corn we have bred fits into four very distinct categories: 1) digestible grain for livestock consumption 2) hybrids for maximum silage production and nutrition 3) high yielding pipeline grain and 4) corn for ethanol production. Because of our unique breeding formula, we can focus on corn that is capable of top-end yields and great standability. At the same time, this formula produces corn with great starch availability making for a very nutritious grain for livestock. The extensive research and breeding done at Masters Choice has also enhanced the 5 and 6 carbon sugar levels in the stalk and leaves of the corn plant allowing for high digestibility of the fodder and plant health; vital components to a top quality silage hybrid. l eadi n g com p etitor
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The f irst area, highly digestible grain produced for livestock consumption, is under more scrutiny because of the increase in grain price. Livestock producers are searching for a grain corn that increases the feeding efficiency in their operation and reduces input costs. For many years, corn breeders have been developing hybrids with hard texture (as shown above on left) for export markets. In contrast, Masters Choice has been developing hybrids that promote high nutrition (as shown above on right). With the onset of new technology for testing grain for starch availability, Masters Choice hybrids have proven to be much higher in available starch than industry flint grain for livestock feed. The analyses proved that there are significant differences in starch availability between the industry’s current grain for livestock and the floury, palatable grain from Masters Choice; up to 15% more available starch. Some companies are realizing the benefits of a high-energy grain for feeding efficiency and are attempting to breed palatable hybrids for their own lineups. Unlike Masters Choice, they are many years behind as far as advancing these hybrids to current yield levels. The unique thing about Masters Choice grain is that it maintains cell density and high test-weight while offering more nutrition.
M C H YB R I D S . C O M
MASTERS CHOICE
The seco n d area for corn is for silage production. The unique combination of nutritious grain and highly digestible stalk and leaves, make the Masters Choice hybrids a very special blend that offers a more elite energy package. We have been recognized as an industry leader in the corn silage portion of the market. With more nutrients and tonnage, packed into the very dense stalk (as pictured below), livestock producers have come to appreciate that MC corn hybrids make a difference to their profitability. Our commitment to growing corn hybrids with higher levels of 5 and 6 carbon sugars (giving us that sweet smelling silage), will always be important to us.
l eadi n g com p etitor TM
The third and most obvious market in today’s corn industry is for high yielding corn that farmers can harvest and sell as pipeline grain. As a corn producer, you expect the hybrids that you plant to YIELD. Masters Choice has always had a focus on high yielding, great standing corn. Take our challenge and prove for yourself our superior grain yields! Area number f o u r includes corn hybrids developed for ethanol production. A corn hybrid that works best for livestock nutrition is also a hybrid that works best for ethanol production. Masters Choice is working in conjunction with the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center for further testing of our grain for ethanol production with a future interest in cellulose ethanol production. We are a small corn company, but we compete with the biggest companies very successfully. With our excellent history and our newest elite hybrids, we think you will agree. One aspect of the business, that you just cannot find with mega-companies, is the personal touch. As a company, we uphold high standards, and think of you more than just a number, you are a neighbor. We care about your success.
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C o n v e n tio n a l H y b rids
Plant Sugar
Prolific
Stress Tolerance
EXC
MED
HIGH
NO
EXC
MC-470 87 Day M-T GOOD EXC GOOD GOOD GOOD AVG MC-490 94 Day M-T EXC GOOD GOOD GOOD EXC
EXC
GOOD
EXC
MED
AVG
NO
EXC
AVG GOOD
EXC
GOOD
EXC
AVG GOOD GOOD
AVG
NO NO
MC-515 98 Day M-T EXC GOOD GOOD EXC GOOD EXC GOOD MED HIGH
NO
MC-525 102 Day T
AVG
NO
V-HIGH
NO
T
EXC
AVG
AVG GOOD
EXC EXC
GOOD
EXC
GOOD GOOD
GOOD MED
GOOD GOOD LOW EXC
EXC
MED
MC-530 105 Day M-T EXC GOOD GOOD EXC GOOD GOOD GOOD MED MC-545 109 Day M-T EXC GOOD GOOD GOOD EXC
MED V-HIGH
NO
GOOD GOOD GOOD MED V-HIGH
EXC
EXC
YES
MC-550 110 Day M-T
EXC
AVG GOOD
MC-573 111 Day T
EXC
GOOD GOOD
MC-564 112 Day T
GOOD
EXC
EXC
GOOD GOOD GOOD
EXC
MC-618 112 Day M
EXC
AVG
EXC
GOOD GOOD
AVG
MC-620 112 Day
EXC
AVG
EXC
MC-565 113 Day M-T GOOD EXC MC-615 115 Day M
S
EXC
AVG
EXC
EXC V-GOOD EXC
EXC
EXC
EXC
EXC
AVG
EXC
EXC EXC
AVG GOOD
GOOD HIGH
EXC
EXC
EXC
AVG
EXC
EXC
EXC
HIGH
EXC
EXC V-GOOD
GOOD HIGH
EXC
EXC V-GOOD
HIGH
NO
EXC
AVG V-GOOD EXC V-GOOD
MED
AVG
NO
MED
HIGH
NO
EXC
AVG
EXC
GOOD LOW
HIGH
NO
EXC
HIGH
EXC
AVG
GOOD HIGH GOOD
EXC
EXC
EXC
GOOD
EXC
EXC
GOOD GOOD
EXC
EXC
M-H
NO
GOOD HIGH
AVG
EXC
EXC
EXC
GOOD GOOD AVG
AVG
MED V-HIGH
NO
AVG V-HIGH
EXC
GOOD
EXC
GOOD GOOD GOOD HIGH V-HIGH
YES
GOOD HIGH
EXC
EXC
GOOD
EXC
EXC
EXC
EXC
MC-590 116 Day T
EXC
EXC
EXC
EXC
GOOD
MC-625 115 Day M-T EXC GOOD EXC EXC
EXC
GOOD MED
GOOD AVG
Stay Green
HIGH GOOD
HIGH
MC-500 95 Day
EXC
Stalk Quality
Ear Placement
GOOD
Plant Health
Dry Down
V-GOOD
Fert. Requirement
No-Till Use
MC-468 83 Day M-T GOOD AVG GOOD EXC
Early Vigor
Grain Quality
Test Weight
Ear Pick
Nutirition
Plant Height
Relative Maturity
Product
The Masters Choice Hybrid division offers U.S. and Canadian corn producers conventional grain hybrids that “make a difference to the grower”. Through our own proprietary genetics, the research and development team has a strong commitment to product performance. Our hybrid portfolio is second to none. We provide high yielding corn plants built through our own foundation seed. Few hybrid corn companies in the U.S. can claim their own proprietary genetics; Masters Choice is one of the few. We constantly strive for improvements in our hybrid lineup to provide consistent top yield potential. We work hard to achieve good dry-down, high test weight, and vital agronomic characteristics. Good plant health is essential for disease and insect tolerance along with standability and easy harvesting. These are characteristics that Masters Choice have been working to develop for over 30 years.
GOOD
EXC
EXC
GOOD HIGH HIGH
M C H YB R I D S . C O M
NO
EXC
AVG
GOOD AVG
MASTERS CHOICE
MC-468
83 Day
High yield, early flowering, quick grain set up, and excellent dry down Outstanding northern movement Strong agronomics and good stress tolerance
MC-468 is a wide-leafed, medium to tall plant that yields big girthy ears. Good stalk density and digestibility. A very “showy” hybrid for only 83 days. Plant 28,000-32,000. Grain & Silage
Yields with later hybrids at lower harvest moistures
MC-470
87 Day
Medium to tall hybrid with good root strength Outstanding yield across a wide range of environments Solid agronomics with good yield stability
MC-470 is an 87 day hybrid with outstanding yield potential. This hybrid can be planted early as well as late with good east to west adaptability. MC-470 is a medium to tall hybrid with very good plant health. Plant 24,000-30,000. Grain
Starts a little slow, but finishes strong
MC-490
94 Day
Tall hybrid with good stalk and root system Excellent ear flex allows plant population flexibility Strong leaf disease resistance Yield stability under heat and moisture stress
This early variety has exceptional vigor. It just “bursts” out of the ground. It’s a real high yielder for high quality grain with high test weights. Handles both early and late plantings well. Best hybrid to pollinate under harsh summer heat when planted late. Plant 26,000-30,000. Grain & Silage
MC-500
95 Day
Tall “showy” hybrid with good stalk quality Low ear set with maximum leaf coverage Excellent yield and profit potential More sugars with slightly less starch
MC-500 is a true silage work horse. More leaves above the ear (15 or more). It produces an abundance of high quality silage. MC-500 is a tall hybrid with solid agronomics and good adaptability. Plant 24,000-32,000. Silage
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C o n v e n tio n a l H y b rids
MC-515
98 Day
Great on low input to yield scores Very dependable, solid work horse Stable yield from east to west Solid, semi-girthy ears High quality grain on a solid, white cob
MC-515 is a very dependable hybrid with high-end yield potential and good yield stability. MC-515 gives good yield stability under heat and moisture stress. We think you will soon come to appreciate the hard working hybrid that MC-515 is becoming known for. Plant 25,000-30,000. Silage & Grain
Potential MPG hybrid
MC-525
102 Day
East to west adaptability with good plant health Medium to tall plant with low ear set Better at high population and fertility Dependable stalk and root strength
MC-525 is a 102 day variety that can consistently yield with medium and full season varieties. It has lots of big girthy ears that dry down very quickly. The faster dry down of this hybrid keeps it from being an MPG hybrid. Top-end yield potential with good yield stability. Plant 28,000-32,000. Grain
MC-530
105 Day
High, stable yield across years and geography Very good standability Outstanding yields in marginal conditions Very girthy and expandable ears High quality grain on a solid, white cob
MC-530 has been and will continue to be “Mr. Dependable”. You just can’t match this one up wrong because of its wide range of adaptability. It is very digestible, high quality nutritious grain. This hybrid is best when planted early, not late. Has earned the prestigious MPG rating. Plant it at rates of 24,00032,000 seeds per acre. Silage & Grain
Best used north of I-70
MC-545
109 Day
High yield potential Best north as full season hybrid Excellent vigor and stay green High sugar and very dense stalks
MC-545 is an extremely healthy corn plant with excellent disease resistance and stay green potential. The versatility of this hybrid and excellent stress tolerance are going to give it wide adaptability. Plant 26,000-32,000. Grain & Silage
Potential MPG hybrid
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MC-550
110 Day
High quality grain on a solid, white cob Outstanding top-end yield across a wide range of environments Solid agronomics, good grain and test weight Girthy, sweet stalks make great silage Long flex ears
MC-550 is known for extremely high quality grain. In addition to the great quality, it is one of the most prolific grain hybrids we’ve ever produced. Has earned the prestigious MPG rating. Plant 27,00030,000 on best soils for silage or grain or plant at 15,000-18,000 for prolific grain on less productive soils. Grain & Silage
Prolific hybrid (at 15-18,000 population)
MC-573
111 Day
Outstanding yield potential Excellent roots and stalks Excellent fall appearance and intactness Potential MPG hybrid
MC-573 has a very wide range of adaptation. Equally strong north to south, east to west. Very stress tolerant and very high yielding. This hybrid will catch your eye, and soon prove to be a favorite. Plant 24,000-32,000. Silage & Grain
MC-564
112 Day
Long flex ears with great yields
You’ll love the heavy test weight of MC-564. It will give you the big yields you’re looking for with intensive agronomic inputs, but it also won’t disappoint you if growing conditions are less than perfect. Plant 24,000-30,000. Grain
Medium tall plant with great yields Best performance central-west
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MC-618
112 Day
Very dense leafy stalks High plant sugars Excellent plant health Handles marginal conditions and stress well
MC-618 is a modestly priced hybrid that handles stress extremely well. Great plant vigor and excellent nutrition describes this hybrid. It will not yield with our top hybrids under optimum growing conditions. Plant 24,000-30,000. Silage & Grain
MC-620
112 Day
Very high in protein and sugars Very digestible and offers lots of energy Handles marginal conditions well Excellent early canopy More dense tonnage in bottom 3-4 ft of stalk
This little “shorty” will leave you amazed. You can’t imagine the tonnage MC-620 will make with the very dense, thick stalks it produces. The wide thick leaves of this short, robust hybrid offers early weed protection with maximum early canopy closure. Has earned the prestigious MPG rating. Plant at 24,00028,000 seeds per acre for silage. Silage
MC-565
113 Day
Good standability Wants good fertility Sensitive to sulfonylurea type herbicides - (Accent, Beacon, etc.)
MC-565 is a 113 day hybrid that has the potential to out yield anything on the market today. MC-565 is a good quality grain that has excellent density for best test weights. Also a good hand husker. Plant 26,00032,000. Grain
Exceptional yield to moisture hybrid
MC-615
115 Day
Very good health and stay green Fantastic quality and digestibility Very high sugar Highest milk production potential
MC-615 is the hybrid that took the silage industry by storm, and it’s still our #1 most popular silage hybrid. Great digestibility with great standability is its trademark. Use MC-615 on better soils with good fertility for best results. Has earned the prestigious MPG rating. Plant 26,000-32,000 for best silage yields. Silage
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MC-625
115 Day
Potential for maximum yield and quality Very good plant health and stay green Extreme top-end yield potential Best under good fertility Prolific hybrid
Extremely dense leaves and stalks, combine to give MC-625 the highest 5 and 6 carbon sugar levels of any hybrid we’ve tested. The starch availability is usually 100% making it the perfect choice for nutritious grain, silage or ethanol production. Has earned the prestigious MPG rating. Plant 26,00032,000 for silage or grain or 15,000-18,000 for prolific grain. Silage & Grain
MC-590
116 Day
A must try, true dual purpose hybrid Exceptionally versatile and high performing Excellent emergence and vigor For no till and early planting
A very impressive tall hybrid with thick stalks and good standability. MC-590 has very good stress tolerance, including cold spring soils and marginal fertility. It will compensate for lower populations. A must try full season hybrid. Has earned the prestigious MPG rating. Plant 25,000-30,000. Silage & Grain
M i l k Prod u ctio n Ge n etics Milk/Meat Production Genetics are unique corn hybrids that have been developed specifically for milk and meat production. MPG hybrids are a product of 30 years of breeding by Masters Choice. You can feed an MPG hybrid with confidence that your livestock will enjoy good health, breedback, and outstanding milk or meat production. MPG hybrids are only available from Masters Choice, Inc. and their distributors.
M PG f or S i l a g e Harvesting silage at the correct moisture content is extremely important when producing a corn silage crop. When a moisture tester is available, recommended moisture should be 63-70% (harvest on the wet side of the range for bunkers/bags and the dry side of the range for upright silos). When chopping at ideal moisture content, farmers should consider chop length greater than ½’’ with ¾’’-7/8” being a good target. The increased levels of 5 and 6 carbon sugars found in Masters Choice hybrids will aid in a quicker fermentation. Because of the density, the fodder will pack well when harvesting, ensuring best fermentation. With fermentation complete, an analysis of feed quality from a reputable lab will provide your nutritionist the information needed to balance your cows’ diets. Masters Choice is the leader in 12-18 hr. whole tract digestibility! = M i l k / M eat Prod u ctio n Ge n etics
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S P E C I A L T Y H YB R I D S
M asterGra z e ™
One of the new applications for grazing/forage corn is utilizing the extreme digestibility of the brown midrib gene. Brown midrib (BMR) corn varieties have a natural mutation that results in lower concentrations of lignin produced in the stems and leaves during plant development; this results in higher fiber digestion. Dense stalks with an abundance of select sugars provide more energy and nutrition than any other type warm season forage; with dry matter yields up to 5 tons in only 7 to 8 weeks. This produces more tonnage and higher quality in a shorter period of time than any other forage type, period! MC-MasterGraze™ BMR is known for expressing itself in foliage, not grain, meaning grain production is very minimal. The foliage production is due in large to the tillering capabilities, tillers that have regrowth potential after grazing or cutting in the early stages. Can be grazed or wilted for balage and haylage.
M C - 53 0 LB M ( Lea n Bee f M a k er )
Masters Choice Hybrids is introducing this new concept of a sterile corn hybrid featuring extremely dense stalks that pack sugars with incredibly high energy values. The absence of grain production on the ear (sugar conversion to starch for storage) maintains all the way through maturity, *as long as an outside source of pollen does not reach the silks while silks are alive. Inhibiting the conversion of sugar to starch is extremely important for heifer operations to maximize skeletal development, grass fed beef and dairy operations and for fall stockpile. Can be grazed early or stockpiled, made as balage, wilted for haylage or chopped. * distance of 300-500’ from other pollen sources is usually adequate
MC-618
Masters Choice completes the grazing line-up with a unique corn hybrid, one packed with very wide dense leaves, great density, and available starch. This hybrid is a little shorter than most of our corn hybrids. Leaves are more compact (stacked closer on the stalk) and in more abundance, and features unusually high sugar in the sweet tasting stalk, with a nice ear of highly digestible grain. For grazing, balage or silage where digestible grain and fodder are desired.
LITTLE gIANT™
Little Giant is a hybrid that we are very excited about. It has a whole host of different applications and can be used in a number of different settings. Its short ear-set naturally lends itself to different wildlife and conservation settings, while its ability to produce high yields and quality grain make it much more than just a conservation corn. The short, stocky stature of the Little Giant series will aid standability. The first hybrid from the Little Giant series is available this year, LG-112. This hybrid normally gets 6-6½ ft. tall with a wide, dense stalk. The grain is good quality and high yielding and sets the ear about waist high. Expect to see more hybrids in the Little Giant line-up in the next couple of years.
M C H YB R I D S . C O M
Masters Choice, Inc. 3010 St. Rt. 146 East Anna, IL 62906 866-444-1044
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