Introduction

2014 PFR Partners
BECK’S 360 Y-Drop Placement Study
Y-Drop applications, on average, proved yield increases of nearly 4.0 Bu./A. and gains
of $10.71/A. compared to growers’ normal nitrogen programs. The risk: reward ratio in
2014 resulted in only 15% of the trials showing a yield loss (averaging less than 3 Bu./
A.). It appears that Y-Drops have the potential for increasing corn yields, with very little
risk of jeopardizing yields.
This is our third year of testing the Y-Drop system through our PFR Partner program.
Multi-year data has suggested that Y-Drops have shown a 2.7 Bu./A. yield increase
with gains of $13.71/A. over the growers normal method of sidedressing nitrogen.
Multi-year data also suggests four additional conclusions regarding sidedressing
nitrogen with the Y-Drop system:
First, the data generated indicates that a Y-Drop system could be an effective
replacement for sidedressing nitrogen compared to current sidedress
methods.
Second, Y-Drop offers the ability to apply late-season nitrogen effectively as
an add-on to current equipment. This late-season application allows growers
to replace nitrogen that may have been lost earlier in the growing season.
Third, Y-Drop offers the ability to apply variable rate nitrogen (and other
products) over a wide time span.
Finally, growers who currently have high-clearance sprayers and are
considering either a nitrogen toolbar or a Y-Drop system should note that V10
applications with a nitrogen toolbar out-yielded the Y-Drop by 1.4 Bu./A. with
higher net returns of $7.15/A.^ on average over the past 3 years. With these
differences, growers would have to evaluate the overall cost of each system to
determine which best fits their operations.
^Returns based on yield difference, 3-year average corn price of $5.15 and Factor ® N Stabilizer cost.
360 Y-Drop is a trademark of 360 Yield Center, LLC; Factor ® is a registered trademark of Midtech R&D, Inc. and distributed by Rosen’s, Inc.
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