DEKALB® hybrids hailed as back-to-back champions in South Cotabato corn derby

DEKALB® 8131S and DEKALB® 8899S, Bayer’s corn hybrids for Mindanao, emerges once again as the top yield performers in the recently concluded Farmers’ Field Day and Corn Derby held in the province of South Cotabato last September to October 2023. DK 8899S is the champion in the low elevation category with a shelling recovery of 81.1% and a yield of 11.81 MT/ha. Meanwhile, DK 8131S dominates the high elevation category with a shelling recovery of 81.3% and a yield of 12.1 MT/ha.

Last year, DEKALB® 8131S was also certified by the DA-Provincial Agricultural Office to be the top yielder of the Provincial Corn Derby, with DEKALB® 8899S coming in second place.

"DEKALB®'s back-to-back win in the South Cotabato Provincial Corn Derby signifies DEKALB® and Bayer's commitment to excellence. Time and time again, we deliver excellent results, be it in government-initiated competitions like corn derbies, or in farmer field trials. By joining such events, we further strengthen our foothold in the market. But moreover, we are able to win our farmers' trust-- that they can count on DEKALB® varieties to significantly improve their yield and income,” says John Vince Cruz, Bayer’s Brand Portfolio Manager for Rice and Corn Seeds.

DEKALB® has steadily been regaining its momentum since its comeback in Mindanao in 2019. Smallholder farmers and big landowners alike have been sharing their positive feedback on the hybrids; highlighting its excellent shelling recovery, resistance to various diseases, as well as its combative properties against above-ground pests like fall armyworm (FAW). 

Jonel Caberto, Bayer’s Market Development Lead, owes this win to the hybrids’ key features and benefits. “Ang corn derby na ginanap sa South Cotabato ay variety specific according to location. For low elevation, we used our DK 8899S as our hybrid entry, and DK 8131S for high elevation. Based sa result na nakuha ng DA, lumalabas na ang DK 8899S ang may pinaka mataas na yield dahil ang 8899S ay suited sa low elevation. Ang ginanap na corn derby ay POT ng DA at wala tayong intervention. Mataas ang shelling recovery at yield, matibay laban sa ear and leaf diseases, maganda ang kulay, at matibay ang stalk—yan ang mga factors kung bakit maganda ang dalawang hybrid na ito para sa Mindanao.” 

Similarly, corn seed retailers in the region have noticed how DEKALB® is getting more and more traction after its return in the Mindanao market, especially when DK 8131S, Bayer’s latest corn hybrid, was launched.

“Noong dumating ang 8131S, masasabi kong gamechanger [ito]. Maganda ang feedback ng farmer na bumili dito at sinubukan itanim…Out of 10 farmers, 8-9 ang naghahanap ng 8131S variety,” shares Ahmelic Agrivet Supply, a dealer in Banisilan, North Cotabato. Similarly, QL Agricultural Supply tags 8131S as a ”gamechanger”, saying that a lot of their customers are inquiring about the hybrid. Their store started with 10 bags of DK 8131S but are now expecting a sales volume of almost 1,000 bags. BAKA Enterprise from Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao fondly recalls, “Noong sinubukan namin ang 8131S, kami po ay nagalak. Hindi po kami napahiya [sa farmers dahil] binigyan po kami ng napakagandang recovery, mabigat na mais. Hinigitan ng 8131S ang expectation namin.”

Bayer, through its DEKALB® hybrids, has created a legacy of incredible innovations and established a history of unmatched hybrid seed performance potential in the field, and we have our corn derby wins to prove it. Needless to say, Bayer will continue the pursuit of innovative seed technology and crop protection that Filipino farmers can continue to rely on for the years to come.

Want to read more stories like this? Check out our previous corn derby wins: