Never Plant F2 Stacked Corn
Corn farmers in Mindanao, especially those who have been planting stacked corn, know very well how costly this genetically modified corn is. Stacked corn is hybrid corn that already contains the genes for resistance to Asiatic corn borer and readiness for glyphosate herbicide application. This was made possible through genetic engineering.
The Asiatic corn borer is a dreaded insect pest that could render huge losses to farmers. On the other hand, readiness for glyphosate herbicide application enables farmers to apply the herbicide on their corn fields to kill weeds without worrying about burning their crop.
Two multinational companies sell seeds of stacked corn - Monsanto and Pioneer.
Because the brother of a friend of ours in Matalam, North Cotabato knows the high cost of stacked corn fully well, he tried to find out if the yield would decrease if he plants F2 seeds. He has been planting F1 stacked corn for sometime now and has been getting excellent yields. However, he noted that many farmers - are constrained from planting this corn variety because of its high cost. Thus, he wanted to know how much would be lost if F2 or second generation seeds are planted.
Although his trial using Monsanto and Pioneer stacked corn was not repticated, his results are quite revealing and farmers may take their cue from him. Yield losses from the F2 seeds of one company was as high as 25 percent, while the other was twice as much. Not only that, the corn ears were much smaller and not pleasing to the eyes. Our friend, however, did not want to reveal which of the two companies had more yield losses. The corn ears that he showed appear to have lost much of the hybrid vigor and resistance to the Asiatic corn borer of the F1 seeds.
Be that as it may, farmers should compute for themselves if they can afford to take the risk or would rather plant other hybrid corn varieties. The decision is yours.
