By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

NEW PARIS, Ind. — Three varieties from Channel placed in the six top spots during a recent soybean seed test in Elkhart County. The test, on the farm of Justin Miller of New Paris, was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.).

Channel 3502R2, with an average yield per acre of 71.9 bushels per acre, placed first. The variety had an estimated gross income of $767 and a moisture content of 9.6 percent.

Placing second was Stewart 3300R2, which had an average yield per acre of 71.8 bushels and an estimated gross income of $759.80. Its moisture content was 13.9 percent. Third was Diener 3012CR2, which had an estimated gross income of $728.50 and an average yield per acre of 68.6 bushels. The moisture content was 12 percent.

The test was harvested early to allow for manure application in the field, reported Rich Schleuning, F.I.R.S.T. manager.

“All varieties were standing nicely with nodes close together,” he reported. “(There was) good rainfall all season until August, when it stopped. Plant height varied from 22 to 42 inches tall.”

The seeds were planted May 29 at a rate of 185,000 an acre. Harvest was Sept. 26, at a rate of 153,200 plants per acre. The test’s average yield was 63 bushels an acre, with an average estimated gross income of $668 and an average moisture content of 13.2 percent. A total of 42 varieties were tested.
Corn was previously planted in the field, which has Crosier loam, is non-irrigated and moderately well-drained. Minimum tillage without fall till was used. The plot had been treated with Balance Pro, Atrazine, Roundup and Canopy. The soil had a high content of potassium and phosphorus.

Coming in fourth in the test was Channel 3000R2, with an average yield per acre of 67.7 bushels and an estimated gross income of $719.80. Ranking fifth was Ebberts 2300RR2, with an average yield per acre of 67.5 bushels, and an estimated gross income of $718.70.

Sixth was Channel 2903R2, with an average yield per acre of 67.3 bushels and an estimated gross income of $715.30.

For a complete list of brands tested and test details, go online to www.first seedtests.com