Traits of Abbe Hills OP Seed Corn
Abbe Hills Open Pollinated (OP) is a silage, grazing, and feed variety of yellow dent corn. It was selected from Reid's some time after the Civil War, and has been grown and selected on the same eastern Iowa farm since seeds were brought here in 1903. It is a moderately tall corn that requires about 100-103 days to reach maturity.
Abbe Hills OP seed has been grown for many years using low input and organic practices, although the farm is not certified. The seed has been treated with neither fungicides nor insecticides. To reduce the risk of disease or insect damage before germination, planting should be delayed until the soil is quite warm, which is usually late May in eastern Iowa. Like most open pollinated corn, Abbe Hills should be grown at relatively low plant density. To maximize grain yield, plant it at no more than 20,000 to 22,000 plants per acre in the final stand. Nitrogen fertilizer should be applied moderately. Excessive nitrogen and too high plant density may actually decrease overall grain yield.
Because Abbe Hills OP has been selected for so many years under Midwestern conditions, it may not perform as expected if grown far outside the region. With adequate fertility, moisture, and management, Abbe Hills OP yields about 100-130 bushels of grain per acre. Mid-season high winds, second generation corn borers and stalk rot seem to be its biggest problems in eastern Iowa, although improvements made in the crop since 2006 have improved yield and standability considerably