GREENSBURG, Ind. — Six different seed companies marked the top six spots in a soybean test at a farm in Decatur County. The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) at the farm of Gordon and Jeff Smiley in Greensburg.

FIRST Site Manager Rich Schleuning planted the plot on May 28 at 190,000 seeds per acre using 15-inch spacing, and harvested the beans at 192,800 plants per acre on Oct. 26. The plot, located in southeastern Indiana, used no-till in well-drained, non-irrigated clay loam soil, with a high concentration of phosphorous and potassium. The pH was 6.4.

The moisture content for the top 30 varieties was between 12-13.7 percent. The average yield for the 63 varieties was 77.7 bushels per acre.

Specialty variety 3200CR2 took first place for this test with a top yield of 89.6 bushels per acre and an estimated average gross income of $851 per acre. Second was Seed Consultants’ SCS 9385RR with an average yield of 87.2 bushels and an income of $828.

Third was Dairyland DSR-3595/R2Y, with an average yield of 86.6 bushels and an income of $823 per acre. Finishing fourth was Armor 32-R72 at 85.4 bushels and a gross income of $811.

Tied for fifth and sixth in this test were Asgrow AG3832 and Ebberts 2324RR2. These two varieties had identical results, with 83.8 bushels per acre and an income of $796.

"This crop was up to 48 inches tall and no barren pods were visible," Schleuning said.

"This area was blessed by missing some of the heavy rains this fall. Early-season weather conditions were good and not as rough as other areas."

While the average lodging for all soybean test varieties was at 8 percent, lodging for Armor variety 32-R72 was highest at 25.

"When it comes to soybeans, a lodging of 5.7 percent isn’t really that bad," Schleuning explained. "When you reach a lodging of 20, that makes harvesting more difficult. High winds caused some severe lodging and some plots were flat on the ground."

The test plot used Roundup. The previous crop had been corn treated with Halex GT.

"A light infestation of frogeye leaf spot was the only disease noted," Schleuning added.

Rounding out the top 10 in this field test were varieties Seed Consultants SCS 9345RR, Specialty 3364CR2, Seed Consultants SCS 9328RR and Dyna-Gro S35RY83.

To learn more about the top-yielding varieties and particulars of treatment, visit www.firstseedtests.com