Intro 0:00 Podcast 01:12

Beck's Hybrids uses Product Characterization Research (PCR) to decide where each hybrid or variety will perform best before recommending it to farmers.

1️⃣ What “Product Characterization” Means It’s a structured, multi-location testing system that answers: What soil types does this hybrid like? How does it respond to high vs. low fertility? Does it handle drought or wet conditions better? What population (seeding rate) maximizes yield? Is it defensive (stable) or offensive (high top-end yield)? How does it react to stress (heat, disease, compaction)? Instead of just asking “Does it yield well?”, PCR asks: Under what conditions does it yield best — and where should we place it?

2️⃣ How They Do It Beck’s runs replicated field trials across many environments in the Midwest and beyond. They test hybrids under: Multiple planting populations Different fertility levels Various soil types Irrigated vs. dryland Tillage systems Stress scenarios (e.g., drought or disease pressure) This builds a performance profile for each hybrid or soybean variety.

3️⃣ Hybrid / Variety Placement Strategy After characterization, each product gets categorized by placement: 🌱 High-Management / High-Response Hybrids Respond strongly to higher populations and fertility Thrive in highly productive soils Highest yield potential, but require management Best for aggressive growers 🌾 Stable / Defensive Hybrids Maintain yield across stress environments Handle variable soils well Less sensitive to population changes Good for tougher ground 🌽 Soil-Specific Placement Some hybrids are identified as: Better on clay Better on sandy soils Better in poorly drained fields Strong under drought stress For soybeans, similar classification occurs around: Row width response Population sensitivity White mold tolerance Iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance

4️⃣ Why This Matters Many companies rely heavily on: Company trials University plots Strip plot comparisons Beck’s PCR attempts to go deeper by: Testing at many stress levels Collecting large datasets Matching genetics to micro-environments The goal is: Right product, right acre. Instead of planting one hybrid across the whole farm, PCR encourages placement by field characteristics.

5️⃣ Practical Example A hybrid might show: Top 5% yield in high fertility + 36,000 population Average performance at 28,000 population Weak performance under drought PCR would classify it as: High-yield, high-management, productive soils only. Another hybrid might: Yield 95% of the top hybrid But outperform in drought Show stable results across populations That one gets positioned for variable or stress-prone acres. Bottom Line Product Characterization Research = detailed agronomic profiling of hybrids to optimize placement, not just compare yield. It’s about: Maximizing ROI per acre Reducing risk Matching genetics to management

TOP Ag Services is a Beck's Hybrids seed dealer as well as a franchise partner for Sweetwater Technologies. We provide Hybrid Corn Seed, Soybean Seed, and Wheat Seed. Beck's has access to the best genetics and trait technologies from suppliers worldwide. Through Sweetwater Technologies we have access to industry standard name brand herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and many others! We have access to biological stress mitigators, biological fertility foliar, and many other products in the category of crop protection and stress prevention. Through our business associates Dirks Bros, we offer fertilizer, soil sampling, and a whole suite of crop nutrition solutions. We are the first to market with the best products & provide the latest, most accurate agronomic information through proven research. If you need agronomic assistance or want to be added to these updates, feel free to reach out via the messaging feature or contact us at topagservices.com/contact or call us at 417-684-5301 to be connected with someone who can help you. All information here is for informational purposes only. It is not a recommendation for your farm. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this presentation without seeking other professional advice. The contents of this presentation contain general information and may not reflect current agronomic or developments or address your situation. We (Wendell Koehn and all of his affiliates, guests, or assistants) disclaim all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on any content in this presentation.