Corn (Zea mays L.) scientists have demonstrated that it is possible to obtain earlier vigorous high yielding inbred lines with excellent combining ability for yield and agronomic traits by utilizing different breeding techniques and genetic materials. Our challenge and unique purpose is to develop early maturing high quality GEM (Germplasm Enhancement Maize) lines for utilization in the northern U.S. Corn Belt. North Dakota (ND) corn producers will plant a record 2.6 million acres in 2007 due to renewable fuel demand that can be provided by local ethanol plants. However, this corn-ethanol relationship will only be possible in ND if high quality (high pounds per bushel as well as high starch per acre) early maturing corn products are available. We believe that competitive products can be achieved by increasing useful genetic diversity. The corn -breeding program at North Dakota State University (NDSU) has officially been breeding early maturing (65-95RM) corn since 1933 under the direction of Professors W. Wiidakas and H.K. Hayes although corn variety testing started in 1892. Corn was the first agricultural crop grown in North Dakota (ND) in environments characterized by very short growing seasons, low annual rainfall, and limited growing degree units. More than 300 years ago the women of agricultural tribes of Native Americans (Mandan, Arikara, and Hidatsa) living in the Upper Missouri Valley were the first ‘corn breeders'. We have created ‘EarlyGEM', a continuous effort to incorporate GEM germplasm into the northern Corn Belt in 2000. The purpose was to initially evaluate and identify GEM lines for adaptation to the northern Corn Belt. The program started with the evaluation of 152 GEM (A, B, and C) released lines for fifteen adaptation traits in 2001. The most adapted (based on agronomic data in Fargo, ND) and top yielding genotypes (based on GEM data accumulated during 1999, 2000, and 2001) were selected and crossed to ND2000 (elite ND line released in 2002). Only the best plants were selected for crossing. Stiff Stalk donors, including AR16026:S17-66-1-B, were identified for backcrossing in 2003. BC1:S0 plants were self-pollinated to obtain 8-10 ears from early and intermediate plants per row. Rows were screened for seedling vigor (0-9 scale) and checked for uniformity. Plants with below average agronomic characteristics were discarded. Ears were hand-harvested and we shelled individual BC1:S1 lines. GEM S1 selections were planted across three locations for early generation visual selection in breeding and disease nurseries. S1 selections were advanced to elite S2 materials and S2 seed from top selected S1 selections were crossed to commercial testers. GEM topcrosses (≤ 90RM) were evaluated in partially balanced lattice designs for grain yield and agronomic traits at 6 ND environments. GEM trials are reported in this presentation. Late-temperate and tropical derived maize germplasm are adapted to ND based on the efforts involved in this project. Based on these data several lines have demonstrated better grain yield performance than popular early maturing popular commercial hybrids. This is the first research devoted to germplasm enhancement with tropical material in the northern Corn Belt. Our program is one of the few public programs that can still offer a strong emphasis on germplasm improvement, inbred line development, and training of applied plant breeders.