By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

CELINA, Ohio — Stewart topped the results on a western Ohio farm in early- and full-season corn tests conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.).

In the early-season test – planted May 7, 2010, at a rate of 33,000 seeds per acre and harvested Sept. 29 at 31,100 plants per acre on Keith Houtz’s Mercer County Farm – Stewart’s 7T630 variety took the top yield spot at 207 bushels per acre. It also grossed the highest per-acre income of the 30 varieties tested, at $906.50.

Steyer came in second with its 10902GT variety, yielding 206.2 bushels per acre and grossing $906 per acre. LG Seeds’ LG2555VT3 took third place, at 203.5 bushels per acre and a per-acre gross income of $887.50.

Rounding out the top five places were Channel’s 209-77VT3 and 210-61VT3, both yielding 199 bushels per acre and grossing $870.20 per acre.

The early-season test average came in at 189.6 bushels per acre, with a per-acre gross income of $829.60.

In the full-season test, the top yielder was Stewart’s 7V828, at 217.4 bushels per acre and a gross income of $940.30 per acre. Channel’s 213-32VT3 came in second with 212.8 bushels per acre and Steyer’s 11201VT3P took third place, yielding 212.6 bushels. Their per-acre gross incomes were $916.50 and $913.80, respectively.

The fourth-place slot went to Ebberts 7501RR, which yielded 204.1 bushels per acre and had a gross income of $882.70. Steyer 11301-3000GT took fifth, yielding 204.9 bushels per acre and a per-acre gross income of $877.60.
Of the 36 varieties included in the full-season test, the average yield was recorded at 191.8 bushels per acre, with an average gross income of $825 per acre.

Planting for the full-season test followed the same schedule as for the early-season test, at a seed rate of 33,000 seeds per acre and 31,300 plants per acre at harvest.

In his report, F.I.R.S.T. Manager Rich Schleuning stated that the crop experienced “good weather from planting to grain fill with some nice rainfalls. Stalk quality was good with light stalk rot present at harvest.” Overall, the crop had “good kernel set and fill.”

DeKalb variety DKC61-69CK was the “check brand” used in both of the tests. It was the known performer against which the other varieties were compared, but it was not part of the test itself. In terms of yield, the variety would have been ranked No. 9 in the early-season test and No. 26 in the full-season test.
The non-irrigated field had previously been planted to soybeans and was conditioned with moderate to high potassium and phosphorus.