By SUSAN BLOWER
Indiana Correspondent

WOODBURN, Ind. — An average of 230.9 bushels of corn per acre was the result of the early-season test by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) on Rex Coomer’s farm in Allen County, Ind.

The top finisher was Ebberts 2909VT3*, using YieldGard VT Triple technology, with 255.5 bushels. Channel 208-72VT3 produced 251.8 bushels, while Beck XL 5269HXR^* yielded 249.6 bushels. Specialty 4939VT3 and LG Seeds LG2529VT3Pro also placed well with 245.8 and 244.8 bushels, respectively.

The average moisture was 18.8 percent on the northern Indiana farm.

“This location made it through heavy rains in May and part of June, then the extreme heat of July and August to still produce a nice yield,” said F.I.R.S.T. Manager Rich Schleuning.

The estimated gross income per acre was an average of $1,035.60.
Ebberts brought in an estimated $1,146.20 per acre. Channel’s gross income was $1,121.30, and Beck was not far behind with $1,113.70.

The crop was standing well with an average of 36.5.

“All products had reached their full maturity as crop was standing well, with good kernel depth. The higher final stand in some varieties was due to small seed size at planting,” Schleuning said.
The previous crop had been soybeans treated with Glyphosate. The soil was described as silty clay, well-drained, conventional with fall till, and non-irrigated. The crop was seeded on April 21 and harvested by Sept. 20.

Full-season test
On the same plot of land, the full-season test revealed an average of about 223 bushels per acre with an estimated $992.60 gross income per acre.

Stine 9731VT3Pro won the contest by a slim margin with 242.2 bushels. Specialty 4958VT3 proved why it is special with 242.1 bushels, and Beck 5442VT3 performed well with 241.6 bushels per acre.

Stine was also ranked first in gross income with $1,084.30 per acre. The aforementioned Beck variety placed ahead of Specialty with $1,083.80.