By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

SUBLETTE, Ill. — Beck, Stine and LG Seeds finished first, second and third, respectively, in a full-season corn test last year at a farm in Lee County. The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) at the farm of Randy Faber in Sublette.

Beck brand 5442VT3 took first place in  this test. The yield for this variety was an average of 258.6 bushels per acre, while the estimated average gross income was $935.10 per acre. Moisture content was 24.6 percent.

Stine’s 9731VT3Pro and LG Seeds’ LG2620VT3 were second and third in this test. Stine’s had an average of 257.8 bushels to the acre and an estimated average gross income of $919.80. Moisture content for this variety was at 25.8 percent.

LG Seeds’ LG2620VT3 had an average of 254.3 bushels to the acre and an estimated average gross income of $901.20 per acre. Its moisture content was 26.4 percent.

F.I.R.S.T. Manager Jason Beyers planted 37,500 seeds per acre on April 19, 2010, and harvested 35,000 seeds per acre on Sept. 17. Beyers was pleased with the test results.

“We tested 72 varieties overall in the early-season test and all hybrids had good, healthy stalks, though there was root lodging across the board,” he said. “Almost all of the plants had excellent ear retention. Most hybrids pollinated the entire ear to the tip, and had good kernel depth. There was some scattered cases of Goss’ wilt present, though.”

Faber’s soil is Muscatine/St. Charles silty clay loam, non-irrigated and well-drained. Conventional tillage methods were utilized. The soil rated high in potassium and phosphorous, a 6.4 pH and just 2.5 percent organic matter. The previous crop was corn and was treated with Lumax. Pest management included Lumax, Headline and Force.

In early-season testing (shown at right), 81 varieties were examined and Croplan’s 6125VT3 was tops, producing 241.3 bushels to the acre and the highest average gross income at $896.70 per acre. The moisture content for this variety was 22.1 percent.

Second in this field test was Dyna-Gro’s 57V40, which produced 241.1 acres to the bushel and had a moisture content of 24 percent. This variety had a gross income average of $877.60.

Third among the 81 varieties was Beck’s XL 5377HR, which had a yield of 237.6 bushels per acre and an estimated average gross income of $895.30. Moisture content for this variety was at 20.8 percent.

In ultra-early-season testing, Jung’s 7S555 was the leader among 54 varieties, yielding 239.9 bushels to the acre, with a top gross income of $910.70 per acre. Second in this group was LG Seeds’ LG2527VT3, with a yield of 235.3 bushels per acre and the second-best gross income, at $892.30 per acre.
Third was Trelay’s 6ST576 at 234.4 bushels and an average gross income of $878.50. The moisture content for the top three varieties was 20.1, 20.2 and 21.3 percent, respectively. Jung’s 7610VT3 finished fourth in the 54-variety test.
To view  all available test results, go to www.firstseedtests.com