OTTERBEIN, Ind. — Two corn tests on a west-central Indiana farm were harvested two months ago with lower moisture content than anticipated, for being as green as the plants still were.

Early- and full-season tests of seed corn varieties were planted on the Otterbein farm of Steve Gick in Benton County, Ind., on April 18, at a rate of 35,500 seeds per acre. These tests were conducted by researchers from Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.).

When both tests were harvested Sept. 25, Site Manager Rich Schleuning noted the plants were still green and intact.

“Moistures were drier than expected, considering the green fodder,” he reported for F.I.R.S.T. However, moisture was high enough that “good cob quality and kernel depth made for easy shelling” despite it.

“Some leaf rust and fusarium ear rot was observed. Short plant height, zipper ears, short ears, tip back and poor pollination were drought impacts noted.”

Of 45 seed varieties tested in the early-season plot (which was harvested at 31,500 plants per acre), the top yielder was AgriGold A6458VT3, which produced 147.9 bushels per acre. Moisture content was at 25.1 percent and its gross income was $1,072 per acre.

Coming in second was LG Seeds variety LG2575VT3Pro, at 146.8 bushels per acre, moisture content of 26.1 percent and gross income of $1,060. Third place went to Stewart variety 7V747, which yielded 141.7 bushels and $1,027 for gross income per acre, with a moisture content of 25.1 percent.

The average yield for all varieties in this test was 127.5 bushels per acre and average gross income per acre was $927.

Average moisture content for all plants in the test was 24 percent.

The full-season test, harvested at 32,200 plants per acre, did better in terms of yield. The top scorer, Ebberts variety 7712VT3P, produced 164.2 bushels per acre, with a moisture content of 29.5 percent and a gross income per acre of $1,172.

Second was Unity variety 5512SS with 158.3 bushels per acre and a gross income of $1,142 and moisture content of 26.4 percent. Great Lakes variety 6354G3VT3 came in third in yield, with 153.8 bushels and a moisture content of 26.8 percent; the gross income per acre was $1,108.

Yield average for the 63 varieties tested was 135.7 bushels per acre, and average moisture was 27.9 percent. Average gross income per acre was $974.