Behind the seed: Stine’s agronomy team elevates product performance through the PDP program
March 2025Data drives our decisions at Stine· Seed Company. Research and innovation are behind everything we do. Our industry-leading corn and soybean breeding programs and Elite Yield Trials set the foundation for our commitment to delivering high-yielding, high-performing products. To take this a step further, our agronomy team spearheads our Product Development Plot (PDP) program, an initiative designed to rigorously evaluate our hybrids and varieties before commercialization.
“Our PDP plots provide important data that helps us refine and validate our products before they reach growers' fields. By expanding and refining our PDP program each year, we ensure the products we introduce are backed by extensive, real-world performance insights.”
Tom Larson, director of agronomy
Soybean PDPs
Maintaining consistency and accuracy is key to our PDP program. This year, we will establish soybean PDP plots in 70 locations across the country, up from 50 last year. Each plot typically features seven to eight varieties, including a key competitor, with two to three maturity sets per location. We’ll also include our soybean blends in plots this year. To ensure accurate evaluations, our agronomy team ensures all planting populations are a set at 140,000 per acre.
Additionally, our agronomy experts conduct reference checks throughout the season and gather critical data, including soil fertility, disease presence (such as iron deficiency chlorosis and soybean cyst nematodes) and seed treatment performance. These insights allow us to understand how each variety withstands environmental pressures and optimize recommendations for growers.
“Soybean PDP plots give us a comprehensive look at how products perform under diverse conditions. This research informs our decisions and enhances our training efforts so our sales team can confidently guide growers in selecting the right varieties for their fields.”
Tom Larson, director of agronomy
Corn PDPs
Our corn PDP plots serve as a critical evaluation tool for both Stine Elite Yield Trial products and industry hybrids prior to commercialization. Each Stine region features at least one corn PDP plot, with lines planted by height or maturity in replicated trials. These plots help our team analyze a variety of agronomic traits, ensuring only the best hybrids advance to market. This year, we’re excited to add another trait package that we’ll evaluate in our corn plots, SmartStax® PRO.
Agronomic evaluations in our corn PDP program include:
- Seed quality and emergence
- General plant observations
- Disease susceptibility ratings
- Plant, ear and tassel heights
- Silking and pollination dates
- Root and stalk integrity
- Grain quality and test weight
“By the season’s end, we will have analyzed over 80 agronomic attributes for each product. The depth of our research guarantees we deliver hybrids with proven performance, ensuring growers can rely on Stine genetics to maximize yields.”
Tom Larson, director of agronomy
Expertise from Stine’s agronomy team
Beyond the PDP program, Stine’s agronomy team provides year-round expertise to growers, offering insights on product selection, planting strategies, disease management and more. Their hands-on approach ensures growers receive personalized recommendations based on real-world performance data.
To learn more about our PDP plot program and see our research in action, connect with a Stine sales representative today.