Stine continues to evolve its one-of-a-kind corn and soybean breeding program. To do this, we’re always looking for the latest and greatest technologies to help improve our systems so that we can generate the data we need to develop the highest-yielding genetics. Much of our breeding program’s success can be attributed to the sheer number of plots we plant and the industry-leading innovations we use to generate the data that results from those plots.
When we say our breeding program is growing, we’re not joking. We operate one of the industry’s largest and most prolific corn breeding programs. This year, we planted 995,000 soybean plots, up from 975,000 plots in 2018. For corn, we planted about 350,000 plots, up from approximately 300,000 in 2018. “Breeding is a numbers game. You have to have more material to get the material you want,” notes Warren Stine, assistant director of corn research. As we continue to grow our breeding program and expand plots, we’re pleased to work with our friends from ALMACO to explore their latest harvest technology, including the ALMACO R2 Twin-Plot combine.
The new ALMACO R2 Twin-Plot combine features a top-fed axial rotor technology that allows for a true split, twin rotor. This means that we can now harvest twin plots faster, cleaner and more efficiently. This new technology can harvest multiple crops, from corn and soybeans to small grains, wheat and flowers. Where we previously had separate combines for corn and soybean plots, we’re now able to use this new technology for both. The combine includes interchangeable rotor parts, which can be easily swapped out in as little as 15 minutes, saving us a lot of time and allowing us to harvest plots up to 2.5 times faster than our other equipment could do in a single plot.
We’re also seeing great efficiencies with this equipment in our soybean plots. Because of the combine’s innovative rotary threshing and high-torque design, it opens up our window for harvest, allowing us to harvest sooner, even when the pods are at higher moisture levels. The design allows us to get through a field without stopping or slowing down when the pods are normally too wet to thresh.
Last year, Stine was the only company in the industry to have access to the new ALMACO R2 combine. In our first trial run with the combine, we harvested 75,000 plots in 15 days. Since then, we’ve worked closely with ALMACO to provide input and new ideas to make the heads more efficient. This year, ALMACO redesigned components of the soybean header based off our feedback, and we’ve added two additional combines to our fleet.
“Stine is again leading the way in innovations to drive better data to deliver growers the highest-yielding corn and soybeans in the industry,” notes Rodney Pentico, Stine’s soybean research team leader. “Last year, with one R2 combine alone, we were able to take out more of our plots than any other equipment that preceded it. We recognize what that machinery can do for our program, and we’re excited that we had the opportunity to experience it first.”
To learn more about Stine’s corn and soybean breeding programs, visit here. For more information on the ALMACO R2 combine, visit ALMACO’S website.