As evidence of Stine's ongoing commitment to selecting varieties for increased yields at advanced populations, starting in 2015, Stine's research plots will be converted to our new Twin 20 row configuration. To do this required the construction of 12 all-new research planters and the purchase of 12 new larger tractors to pull them. Each planter employs specialized seed splitters and row cones that allow us to plant small quantities of seed accurately, and we will also utilize a GPS-based tripping system to ensure each plot is evenly spaced. With this system, Stine researchers will be able to plant four four-row plots concurrently, with a total of over one million plots.
Soybean research team leader Rodney Pentico says Stine’s philosophy is that the future of soybean yields, just as with corn, lies in finding varieties that will excel in narrower rows and at increased planting populations relative to today's varieties. “Converting our entire program to the Twin 20s configuration will lead to varieties that have been bred from start to finish for narrower rows and higher populations,” says Pentico.
To learn more about our HP Twin 20s system or our research program, contact your Stine Regional Sales Agronomist.