Research 

KyCGA is currently supporting the following research projects:

Hedging Against Land Values
University of Kentucky agricultural economics professor Cory Walters and PhD candidate John Barnhart are investigating the effectiveness of different financial tools ability to hedge against declines in land values.

Variety Testing & Plot Studies
KyCGA has supported the purchase of plot combines at the University of Kentucky and Murray State University for variety and plot studies.

Row Width Study
In a row-width study, UK extension agronomy specialist Chad Lee and his team constructed a planter capable of planting in twin rows, 15-inch rows and 30-inch rows. The planter was made with a John Deere frame and units, Precision Planter finger pick-up delivery and Martin Row Cleaners. In 2009, the twin rows and 15-inch rows resulted in better silage yields but lower grain yields. In 2010, the lack of rainfall doomed the studies such that grain yields were only about 120 bu/acre and no differences were observed for grain or silage yields. For 2011, Lee and his team are planning to evaluate more hybrids, more populations and more locations with a graduate student funded by the Kentucky Corn Growers Association.

Fungicides on Corn Study
According to Lee, private studies tend to have greater yield advantages for fungicide treatments than do university studies due to their ability to utilize larger research plots. The University of Kentucky (Lee, Paul Vincelli, and Katie Russell) conducted an irrigated study in 2010 to help understand if smaller plots provide a good representation of fungicide performance. Lee said the results were a bit confusing.
Leaf disease was negligible across the entire study. The south end of each plot resulted in yields that were similar between fungicide and non-treated treatments. However, the north end of the plots resulted in a yield advantage for the fungicide treatment. Why? Well, the research team is not sure. But they are curious to see if this effect occurs again another year and if this effect is similar across large plots. They also conducted standard comparisons of fungicides in a non-irrigated study, but the lack of rain doomed the study.