Raven Industries Inc. announced a collaboration with Kinze Manufacturing Inc. to bring a new multi-hybrid planter control system to Kinze’s product offering. In the summer of 2013, Raven introduced the first commercially available multi-hybrid planter solution that allows growers to switch between two hybrids on the fly. 

As part of the collaboration, Raven will be the technology provider for Kinze’s new 4900 series multi-hybrid concept planters being tested with select North American producers in the spring of 2014. This planter will be the first to offer producers this capability as a factory-installed option. In addition, Beck’s Hybrids, the world’s largest family-owned independent seed company, will be providing their agronomic expertise to strengthen their position as a leader in multi-hybrid planting as well as seed selection. Beck’s introduced their first multi-hybrid planter in 2012 and will be starting their third year of testing in 2014.  

"Multi-hybrid technology allows corn planting to include precision hybrid placement,” said Jason Webster, Central Illinois Practical Farm Research Director for Beck’s Hybrids.  “Placing the correct corn hybrid is one of the most important decisions a grower can make each and every year. Our multi-hybrid testing at Beck's has shown significant yield gains and profitability by changing corn hybrid placement on the fly based upon varying degrees of yield potential throughout a field."

“We’re very excited to see a quick adoption of this ground-breaking technology with one of the world’s leading manufacturers, Kinze.  Growers will quickly realize the benefits of a multi-hybrid system and the resulting ROI through the use of that technology,” said Matt Burkhart, Vice President and General Manager for Raven’s Applied Technology Division.  

To learn more about Raven Industries and their multi-hybrid planter system, please visit ravenprecision.com.