From plots to performance

As hard as it is to think ahead while harvest is still on the horizon, growers will soon be booking seed for the 2026 cropping season—well before the first yield numbers from 2025 corn or soybeans are in. Fortunately, we already have valuable insights to share from the 2024 season. This year’s data comes from a wider range of locations across the territory, offering a more generalized picture at each site—but also making it more likely the results reflect conditions close to your own farm.

In 2024, scattered rainfall created planting windows nearly every week. Showers were often localized, avoiding widespread washouts but still delivering timely moisture to many areas. Some regions remained in drought, but early-planted corn still performed well, and soybeans also benefited from those early planting dates. Unfortunately, late-season rains that could have boosted yield potential missed much of the territory, holding back some crops that had otherwise strong starts.

Site Background

All sites are on a corn-soybean rotation. Corn trials were planted at 32,500 seeds per acre, and soybeans were planted at 140,000 seeds per acre. Planting dates vary by location as well as whether the site was conventional till or no-till. We had 13 total testing sites for corn and 16 for soybeans.

The included charts highlight data from our legacy and key replicated trials—Figures 1 and 3 represent seven locations of MorCorn hybrid trials, and Figures 2 and 4 represent six locations of MorSoy trials.

MorCorn Hybrids

In the 2024 growing season, a total of 56 corn hybrids were tested across MFA territory, including 25 experimental varieties being considered for our product lineup.

The experimental XP2403 has been advanced to the MorCorn family as MC 3809 VT2P. It outperformed our current early selection of MC 3617 VT2P by 12.3 bushels per acre across all 13 replicated sites in 2024, adding valuable performance to the portfolio. While its best yields were on highly productive ground, MC 3809 VT2P also showed versatility among field conditions and was a consistent performer throughout the MFA footprint.

MC 4390 TRE continues to have impressive yields in our replicated plot program. Out of the seven products in the 113-day relative maturity selection, MC 4390 TRE outperformed the other six products by 10.1 bushels per acre on average over our 13 replicated sites—including its predecessor, MC 4311 TRE, by an average of 20.7 bushels per acre. These results solidified our decision to bring it forward as a value-added product.

MC 4412 TRE continued to show its consistency and top-end potential in its third season of testing, yielding an average of 8.1 bushels per acre above the plot average at all 13 replicated sites. Disease tolerance was evident when comparing hybrids in the 2024 testing cycle. MC 4412 TRE performed well, especially when disease pressure was higher. We see MC 4412 TRE as a true go-anywhere product, offering flexibility and consistency for your operation.

MorSoy Varieties

In the 2024 growing season, a total of 74 soybean varieties were tested around our territory, including 23 experimental varieties being considered for our product lineup. 

MS 4199 E was a new addition to the MorSoy portfolio this season and proved to be a top yielder in our 2024 trials, outperforming each of the 42 products tested in our Group 4 relative maturity line. With the variable weather conditions across Missouri during the 2024 growing season, MS 4199 E was able to perform in stressed environments while also rising to the top in areas planted early and those with sufficient moisture. At one testing site in northern Missouri, MS 4199 E averaged 90.8 bushels per acre. This variety is best suited for sandy and loam soil types and excels in a high-yield environment.

The experimental XP4039 was advanced into our MorSoy lineup as MS 3901 E, our new 3.9 relative maturity E3 variety. MS 3901 E was the highest-yielding product in this maturity group that we tested this past season, outperforming eight others and averaging 69.9 bushels per acre across 15 testing sites. MS 3901 E brings a 5.9-bushel advantage over MS 3924 E, our previous 3.9 E3 MorSoy variety. This new line also serves as an excellent companion product to MS 3830 E and MS 4199 E to create a complete farm portfolio. 

MS 3830 E came out on top for a second season as the highest-yielding MorSoy variety in our portfolio, outperforming all our other commercial lines and experimental varieties. MS 3830 E averaged 70 bushels per acre across all 16 testing sites last season and continues to be our top-selling variety as well. This product truly has a place on every farm and is a favorite across our trade area.

For the 2025 growing season, we look forward to gathering yield data across 15 different testing sites in our trade territory. Keep an eye out here in Today’s Farmer and visit with your local MFA agronomy experts for those results when available.  

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