By DOUG SCHMITZ
Iowa Correspondent

WINNEBAGO, Ill. — Kruger hybrid K-1211RR yielded the highest bushels per acre in a northern Illinois seed test plot about three weeks ago.

The Kruger product produced 255.7 bushels per acre, worth an estimated $898 of gross income, with a moisture level of 27.2 percent.

Conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) at Eric Swanson’s farm in Ogle County, the test plot’s soil was Ogle/Myrtle silt loam that was moderately well-drained, conventional without fall tillage and non-irrigated.
The plot was also rated at moderate P and moderate K, with a 6.5 pH and a 3.8 percent OM. “Excellent location all year,” said FIRST Manager Jason Beyers.

“Emergence for this plot was as even as anyone could ask for. Rainfall was consistent all year,” he added.

“All hybrids maintained excellent plant health up to the time of harvest. There was some small evidence of Anthracnose and gray leaf spot present in the plant area.”

The full-season test plot was planted at 37,500 seeds per acre on April 22, and harvested on Sept. 23 at 35,600 plants per acre.
In addition, Kruger placed 18th best hybrid (K-6213VT3) in this test, producing 236.5 bushels per acre, earning a gross income estimate of $808.8; and 23rd best (K-6010VT3), producing 235.6 bushels per acre, earning a gross income estimate of 828.4.
In the same plot, NuTech 3T-110 was the second-highest yielder in the early season test, at 254 bushels per acre, with a gross income estimate of $912.4 per acre and a moisture level of 25.2 percent. Another NuTech product (3T-810) also rated 13th out of the 30, with 239.8 bushels per acre, with a gross income estimate of $847 per acre and a moisture level of 26.7 percent.

The third highest-yielding product in the ultra-early test was Jung, which produced 242.8 bushels per acre, worth an estimated $906.1 of gross income, with a moisture level of 21.7 percent. Jung also had a second product (7610VT3) rated fourth at 236.9 bushels per acre, with a gross income estimate at $863.3 and a moisture level of 23.9 percent.

Jung was also rated 11th (7520VT3) highest-yielding at 230.6 per acre, with a gross income estimate of $868.9 bushels per acre and a moisture level of 20.8 percent.

The top 30 performers in the early test at this test plot are published in the accompanying chart.