By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

MAZON, Ill. — Midwest Seed hybrid 76996VT3 held off DeKalb and Vigoro varieties in yielding 247.4 bushels per acre during a late-season corn hybrid test conducted on the farm of Lynard Tryner.
The test, involving more than 30 varieties, was part of a large study conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) in 2008.

Heavy early-season rain didn’t seem to hamper Midwest Seed’s productivity in outperforming DeKalb’s DKC61-19 (243.1 bu./acre) and Vigoro’s V5083VT3 (242.3 bu./acre).

“This location was extremely wet early in the growing season” though plants were “still good and healthy at the time of harvest,” remarked F.I.R.S.T. plot manager Jason Beyers. The Midwest Seed hybrid registered a moisture content of 18.6 percent, with 1 percent lodging and a stand ratio of 29.2 per 1,000.

“Most varieties appeared to have a very shallow root system,” Beyers noted. “When a pinch test was conducted, some of the hybrids would snap off between ground level and four inches.”

The Midwest Seed variety’s gross income was set at $1,245.10 per acre at harvest, which was conducted on Oct. 29. Overall, 31,600 plants were harvested from 32,400 seeds planted April 30.

DeKalb’s hybrid posted a moisture level of 18.3 percent, 1.0 percent lodging and stand ratio of 35.4 per 1,000. Vigoro’s entry was 18.7 percent moist with 1.0 percent lodging and a 31.9 per 1,000 stand.

The test field was described as Redick silty clay loam with a 1.0 percent slope, moderately drained.

“Overall, a very nice, uniform plot,” summed up Beyers.
A list of all hybrids tested and their results is available at www.firstseedtests.com

AgSource wins corn test

MALTA, Ill. — AgSource 3T-110VT3 hybrid overcame dry conditions in August to outperform close competitors Dyna Grow 57V40 and G2 Genetics 3A-513 varieties in a corn hybrid performance test conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) at the Steve Drendel farm in Malta.

The 238.9 bushels per acre produced AgSource’s hybrid was enough to edge out Dyna-Gro, with 232.6 bu./acre, and G2 Genetics, with 228.6 bu./acre.

Positive growing conditions prevailed until August’s dry spell in DeKalb County, reported Beyers.

“Rainfall was good until August. Most hybrids could have used a little (rain) to help during fill stage,” Beyers said.

The dry conditions in the heart of the growing season could have held yields down a little lower than most had hoped for. “(We) started to notice more evidence of stalk rots and Anthracnose being present at time of harvest,” Beyers said.

Still, Beyers noted, “the corn at this location was extremely tall; most ears were at eye level.”

On May 6, corn was planted at a rate of 35,200 seeds per acre, resulting in a Oct. 16 harvest of 34,200 plants per acre.

AgSource 3T-110VT3 held a moisture level of 27.6 percent at time of harvest. Lodging was reported at 2.0 percent and the hybrid’s stand ratio was 35.4 per 1,000. Dyna-Gro 57V40 possessed a 28.6 moisture level and had 2.0 percent lodging. It’s stand was reported at 31.9 per 1,000. The gross income for AgSource’s hybrid was set at $1,073.9, while Dyna-Gro’s was pegged at $1,031.20.

The crops were grown in a field of Flanagan silty clay loam with a slope of 0.5 percent, well drained.

For complete results of all hybrids tested, go to www.firstseedtests.com

December 31, 2008