Selecting And Breeding Corn For Protein And Oil In South Dakota

Since the year 1910, the South Dakota Experiment Station, Agronomy Department, has been developing four separate strains of Minnesota 13 corn. These may be grouped into two pairs of strains, the first pair being high protein and low protein and the second pair high oil and low oil. The selection and breeding of these several strains has been carried out in pursuance of a project which was started previous to the organization of the present Agronomy Department, by the then Agronomists, Mr. 0. Willis and Mr. W. L. Burlison. The object of the project as originated, according to the records, was in large part to secure corn which should have, for instance a high amount of protein, or a high amount of oil, which apparently would increase the value of the corn for manufacturing oil. Since the present Agronomy Department began to conduct the project, it has been conducted with slight modifications, largely with a view to accomplishing, or at least of demonstrating the practicability of accomplishing, the production of the strains of corn involved. The writers believe that some information has been acquired, which points somewhat conclusively toward an apparent fact that it is easily possible in South Dakota to secure, by chemical and mechanical selection, strains of corn that are either high or low in protein, or either high or low in oil. Accordingly we are making the present report as a report of progress, and more especially in view of the fact that it is the plan somewhat to modify the manner of the investigation.