VANDALIA, Ill. — LG Seeds soybeans narrowly edged out Pfister Seeds for the top spot in the 2011 Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) Better Varieties test for the Ronnie Sloan farm in Fayette County, Ill.

LG Seeds variety C4411R2 averaged 57.4 bushels per acre and a gross profit of $688.80 per acre, just ahead of Pfister variety 43R29, averaging 57 bushels per acre and a gross income of $684. Both varieties had moisture levels of 11.6 percent.

Coming in third was Stone variety 2R4302, which averaged 56.1 bushels per acre and a gross profit of $673.20. Rounding out the top 10 varieties in the test were Steyer 4203R2, Dyna-Gro 39RY43, FS Hisoy HS 47A02, HS 40A12, HS 45A12, Stone 2R4201 and FS Hisoy HS 42A12.

Yields for the rest of the top 10 ranged from 55.9 bushels per acre down to 54.3, with moisture levels ranging from 11.5-12.4 percent. Gross income ranged from $651.60-$670.80.

“This site had no problems with lodging, but the plants were between 48 and 60 inches tall, which made harvesting a challenge,” said Eric Beyers, site manager.

Beyers said typically, soybean plants reach 30-36 inches. “These were monsters; they came up to my chest, and I am 6(foot)5,” he said.

“There was a lot of plant growth, it was a challenge to get across the field to harvest them. They were so growthy, they didn’t want to cooperate.”

The excessive vegetation had an impact on seed development. Most of the plants had at least three pods, but the seeds were smaller than normal and were oddly shaped.

“Normally there are about 3,300 seeds per pound,” Beyers said. “These were closer to 4,500 seeds per pound.”

Beyers said rainfall measured 19 inches during the month of June, and then the hot, dry weather in July resulted in the plants shutting down. “The yields weren’t bad compared to other farms in the area,” he said.

Sloan’s farm is Cowden silty clay loam, that is moderately drained and non-irrigated. The plots were seeded in 30-inch rows on June 2 with conventional tillage, and harvested Oct. 25. All the varieties planted were Roundup Ready. The test plots followed corn treated with Princep, Lexar, Resolve Q, Impact and atrazine.

For a complete list of the brands tested, visit www.firstseedtests.com