[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

So, rubicon, you put it to the breast test and it passed? I guess that makes you a scientist.

What about a pesky thing known as "gene transfer"? Hardier corn has led to hardier weeds known as "Super Weeds". These super weeds can't even be killed with Roundup weed killer. The natural balance of nature has been lost, thanks to the know-it-all genetic engineers.

I was kinda wondering what experience or education makes you a scientist too and since you ask rubicon? Grew corn for many years, hybrids became popular in our area in the late 50s and early 60s, Dekalb 805 was a really good one we used a lot. We plowed the ground for planting and cultivated the corn then to kill the weeds etc. before no till came along. This required numerous trips over the ground. We also had to put poison on the seed in the corn planter bin to keep cutworms away from the seed and young corn plants and had to spray mainly for cutworms and flea beetles once the corn came up.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/timeline/corn.htm

This story clip appeared as "Hybrid Corn", published in the Yearbook of Agriculture, 1962.

Besides an increase in production, other benefits have been achieved by the use of hybrid seed. Hybrids make more efficient use of applied fertilizer. Progress has been made in developing hybrids resistant to some insects and diseases; the result is a product of higher quality and a more stable yearly production. Because of their greater uniformity in maturity and resistance to lodging, the hybrids have helped make large-scale mechanization possible.