By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

FORSYTH, Ill. — With many hybrids averaging more than 70 bushels per acre, a soybean seed trial in south-central Illinois was deemed a success.

Stone hybrid 2R3800 earned top honors with an average of 74.8 bu. per acre. This variety had a moisture content of 11.4 percent, and its estimated gross income was $748.40 per acre. This hybrid’s was more than two bushels per acre higher than second place.

Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) conducted the test. The trial was on the Macon County, Ill. farm of Jim Cullison.

The soil was a Dana silty clay loam. The field was non-irrigated at moderately well drained. The previous crop on this site was corn treated with Lexar and Harness Xtra. This year’s pest management included Valor XLT and Roundup PowerMax.

F.I.R.S.T. manager Eric Beyers planted the field on May 22 at a rate of 140,000 seeds per acre. He harvested approximately 104,500 seeds per acre on Oct. 19.

“This site’s yields were fantastic,” Beyers reported. “The harvested seed size was large with excellent grain quality. The plant heights were moderately tall – approximately 50 inches.”

Three other hybrids generated more than 71 bu. per acre. FS Seeds A09-381 was second with 72.5 bu. per acre; NK Brand S35-T9 produced 71.7 bu. per acre; and Asgrow AG4005 finished fourth at 71.2 bu. per acre. There were 54 hybrids tested at the Forsyth trial.

Malta, Ill. soybean test

Wet weather severely complicated the soybean seed test in Malta, Ill. this year.

F.I.R.S.T. manager Jason Beyers was unable to plant the field until June 5.

“This location was planted in early June due to extreme wet conditions this spring; then even after planting, it continued to rain and keep this plot wet for weeks,” Beyers said.

The average yield at Malta was 44.3 bu. per acre, and the average moisture content was 16.2 percent. Dairyland Seed hybrid DSR-2560RR won the trial at 54.9 bu. per acre. Diener hybrid 2621CR2 finished second by producing 52.7 bu. per acre.

Beyers harvested approximately 139,000 plants per acre on Nov. 3.
“Emergence on most of the varieties was reduced due to this moisture,” he explained. “All varieties were extremely short and podded close to the ground, making harvest difficult.”

The test was on the DeKalb County, Ill. farm of Steve Drendel. The soil was a Drummer silty clay loam. The field was non-irrigated and moderately well drained. There were 54 hybrids tested at the Malta trial.

A list of all the hybrids in this test is available at www.firstseedtests.com