By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

CHARLOTTE, Mich. — The top-producing hybrids at three Michigan corn seed test sites this fall all generated more than 200 bushels per acre despite cold and wet conditions during planting and the growing season.

At the Eaton County, Mich. farm of Jim and Dennis Orr, Channel hybrid 199-55VT3 won the test with an average of 206.1 bu. per acre. This variety had a moisture content of 17.6 percent, and its estimated gross income per acre was $749.30. This hybrid was five bu. per acre more than the second place finisher and nearly 10 bu. per acre more than any other variety at the Charlotte, Mich. site.
The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) earlier this fall.

F.I.R.S.T. manager Rich Schleuning planted this field on May 13 at a rate of 33,500 seeds per acre. The soil at this site was a Marlette loam. The no-till field was well drained and non-irrigated. The previous crop was soybeans treated with glyphosate.

The average yield for the 72 hybrids tested in Charlotte was 177 bu. per acre. The average moisture content was 20.2 percent.
“Yield, grain moisture and stand was nice despite the tough, cool, wet spring,” Schleuning explained.

He harvested approximately 32,800 plants per acre on Nov. 17.
“This location had a dry period from July through part of August,” Schleuning reported. “There were some hybrids that had light infestations of Diplodia ear rot and Diplodia stalk rot.”

Finishing second at this location was Heritage 4380VT3 at 201.1 bu. per acre.

Peck, Mich. corn trial

At the Sanilac County, Mich. farm of Mark Johnston, only one hybrid exceeded the 200 bu. per acre threshold.

Renk RK570VT3 finished the test with an average of 200.4 bu. per acre. This variety had a moisture content of 26 percent, and its estimated gross income per acre was $646.30.

The soil on the Peck, Mich. farm is a Montcalm-Marlette loamy sand. The field is conventionally tilled; it is well drained and non-irrigated. The field has had corn treated with glyphosate for more than two years.

Schleuning planted the field on May 19 at a rate of 36,500 seeds per acre.

“The wet, cool spring delayed the planting date,” Schleuning reported.

He harvested approximately 35,900 plants per acre on Nov. 2.
“The cool conditions lasted all year, slowing crop development,” Schleuning said. “Harvest was slow as moistures were high and some corn hybrids had not reached black layer.”

The average yield for the 48 hybrids tested at this site was 178.4 bu. per acre. The average moisture content was 30.2 percent.
Finishing second was Stewart 4T985 at 197.1 bu. per acre.

Brown City, Mich. corn test

At the Lapeer County, Mich. farm of Dwight Bartl, the average yield for the 48 tested varieties was 187.6 bu. per acre. Four hybrids exceeded 200 bu. per acre.

The average moisture content at the Brown City, Mich. location was 25.2 percent.

“This site had good planting conditions with great emergence,” Schleuning stated. “We had great yields and grain moisture levels.”
G2 Genetics 5X-802 won the trial with an average of 205 bu. per acre and a moisture content of 23.2 percent. Two Stewart Seeds products, 5T429 and 4T985, finished second and third at 204.4 and 202.7 bu. per acre, respectively. Coming in fourth place was Great Lakes 4555G3VT3 at 202.3 bu. per acre.

Schleuning planted the field on May 19. He harvested approximately 37,400 plants per acre on Nov. 14.

“Anthracnose stalk rot and leaf blight were apparent,” Schleuning reported. “Stalk rot was just beginning to decline in several products.”

The soil on the Bartl farm is a Parkhill-Capac loam. The field was conventionally tilled, well drained and non-irrigated. The previous crop on this site was soybeans treated with glyphosate.
A list of all the hybrids in this test is available at www.firstseedtests.com