Pioneer’s efforts to understand the impact of agronomic practices and environmental conditions in optimizing hybrid production for the ethanol industry are also progressing significantly. Their research to-date suggests an optimum exists for grain yield and extractable starch or total fermentables, based on plant population and applied nitrogen per acre. Pioneer recommends hybrid selection for yield and agronomics first, followed by the hybrid designation as either HTF or high extractable starch. Additionally, their research suggests that managing the field for optimum yield also maximizes extractable starch or total fermentables (O’Bryan 2004).