Dependable NuTech® Hybrids Earn Connor Kelley’s Trust
Each growing season has its own uncertainties. For Connor Kelley of Lexington, Illinois, that means planting hybrids that you can depend on — strong standability, solid agronomics, and high-end yields no matter the conditions. “What impressed me the most this year were some of the rougher corn fields that set yield records, despite how little rain we got in August,” shared Connor. “I was really happy with the way the NuTech hybrids stood up to the drought and disease pressure.”
Connor farms around 5,000 acres of corn and soybeans with his father Mike Kelley, and brother-in-law Jared Philip at MK Farms. For the past decade, they’ve worked closely with Randy Winterland, DSM with NuTech Seed®. “Randy is great, very knowledgeable about the agronomy, the seed, you name it – he’s a big reason why we plant what we do.” Connor explains, it’s the reliability in those relationships that keeps them coming back to NuTech Seed year after year.
While yield matters, Connor emphasizes that success on their farm comes down to the bottom line, making sure they are being as efficient as possible with nutrients, herbicides, fungicides as well as seed. “A big reason we have a strong relationship with NuTech, compared to competitors, is that it’s both cost effective and you get the high-end yield potential.”
In fact, Connor set a handful of yield records on his farm this year. “NuTech brand 71A7 yielded really well, setting a farm record with increased yields over 10-15 bushels an acre.” In general, they saw a lot of really good corn this past year and Connor stressed, “I think it’s a testament to what’s in the bag and how far the technology in NuTech hybrids have come, just getting stronger, more consistent and more reliable, even when you don’t necessarily have the perfect growing conditions.”
When selecting hybrids, Connor considers a hybrid’s total agronomic package, standability, top end yield potential and dry-down. With a month-long harvest, they work to balance the hybrid portfolio with both early and fuller season maturities. “That’s where having strong agronomics is important – you need to have faith that the hybrid out there towards the end of harvest is still going to be standing, not dropping ears. This year I was happy with the standability and agronomics of all my NuTech hybrids.”
Connor’s experience with NuTech has shown him that you get more than just strong yields — you get reliability, consistency, and confidence season after season. “We’re not afraid to try those new NuTech hybrids, they’ve gone through so much testing that I feel confident in going ahead and planting a mix of new hybrids next season along with a few of the tried-and-true hybrids.”
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The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Please contact your NuTech Seed sales representative for information and suggestions specific to your operation. Product performance is variable and depends on many factors, such as moisture and heat stress, soil type, management practices, and environmental stress, as well as disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. Data provided by NuTech Seed customers.
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Powercore® Enlist® Refuge Advanced® corn products with HX1, VTP, ENL, LL, RR2. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above-ground insects. In EPA-designated cotton-growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with PowerCore Enlist Refuge Advanced products.
Vorceed™ Enlist® products with V, LL, RR2, ENL. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution with multiple modes of action for above- and below-ground insects. The major component contains the Herculex® XTRA genes, the RW3 trait and the VTP trait. In EPA-designated cotton growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted for Vorceed Enlist products.
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