SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Becks corn hybrid EX0842VT3 scored the highest per bushel average in a test plot in Clark County of West Central Ohio recently.

The Becks product produced 129.7 bushels per acre and earned an estimated gross income of $632.90. The hybrid’s moisture level was at 17.4 percent.

The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) on the farm of Larry Timmons of rural Springfield. The soil for the test was a sandy clay loam with a 1.5 percent slope. The field was moderately well drained.
FIRST manager Rich Schleuning said growing conditions in this region were ideal for most of the planting and early-growing seasons.

“Early in the season, that particular location had perfect weather conditions,” he added.

However, only 6/10th of an inch of rain fell in this area in July, and there was no rain in August. Schleuning said the corn severely cannibalized itself, leading to stalk rot issues.

Strong winds from Hurricane Ike – a local airport marked a 75 mph straight wind gust - in August also damaged the crop.
“When I got to that particular location, I was anticipating a lot worse in lodged corn, and the corn there was not lodged as severely as other areas,” Schleuning explained.

He said there was some stalk rot at this plot in Springfield, but plant health was in good condition overall.

“I don’t feel I had any severe loss, like I did in Dale, (Ind.),” Schleuning reported. “I probably had maybe a little harvest loss; to put a number on that is difficult. I’d say 5-10 bushels (per acre).”
Timmons, who is the landowner, had some damage to some of his non-test land, where he lost 20 bushels per acre of corn.

Schleuning said the field harvested well in only 4.5 hours - lodged corn wasn’t as severe. He added that the lodging versus yield numbers on the final harvest report isn’t what would be expected.
The highest yield had higher lodging than some lower-yield varieties.

Rounding out the top five performers at this site were: Midwest Seed hybrid 76996VT3 at 121.2 bushels per acre; AgriGold hybrid A6459VT3 at 120.6; iCORN.com hybrid 109.5VT3 at 118.9; and Fielders Choice hybrid EXP776S at 118.9.

Grand Ridge, Ill. test plot

GRAND RIDGE, Ill. — Pfister hybrid 2570VT3 earned the highest marks during the seed test in Northern Illinois’ LaSalle County location earlier this month.

The Pfister hybrid produced 263.3 bushels per acre – earning an estimated $1,230.60 in gross income.

AgriGold had two hybrids, A6399VT3 and A6394VT3, finished second and third with 250.3 and 248 bushels per acre, respectively.
Illinois FIRST manager Jason Beyers said the test plot was on the Walter Brothers farm near Grand Ridge. The soil condition was a drummer silty clay loam with a 1 percent slope. The field was moderately well drained.

“This soil has a tremendous water-holding capacity, but the lack of rainfall in August really limited the yield potential of this field,” Beyers explained.

He said some hybrids were starting to become weak at the base due to a small amount of Anthracnose. Anthracnose is a disease that starts on the leaf, cannibalizes the bottom part of the stalk and works up the plant. It causes lodging as the symptoms increase.

“Dry weather could add to the (presence of disease), but most of the time we see that when you get cool, wet conditions,” Beyers said.

He said there was no wind damage from Hurricane Ike, but further north there was damage from an earlier storm that went through Chicago and Gary, Ind. There was no evidence of any insect pressure.

“It was actually a pretty nice, healthy plot,” Beyers added.
He said the average yield of corn was down 20 bushels per acre this year due to the lack of moisture in August. This test plot has had corn on it for four years in a row.

“We’ve got some guys up here in Illinois who don’t plant a soybean at all,” Beyers reported.

“I haven’t for five to seven years. When you get up here, the beans just don’t produce as well as central or southern Illinois area.”

Other top hybrids were from Heritage, 243.7; Kruger, 242.4; LG Seeds, 241.9; Trisler, 241.7; and Trelay, 241.2.
By Ann Hinch and Dave Blower Jr.