LACROSSE, Ind. — Great Lakes and Channel topped the results on an Indiana farm in early- and full-season corn tests conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST).

In the early-season test – planted May 8 at a rate of 34,500 seeds per acre and harvested on Oct. 11 at 30,700 plants per acre on Myron Schafer’s LaPorte County farm – Great Lakes variety 5566STX took the top-yielding spot at 224.8 bushels per acre. It also grossed the highest per-acre income of the 54 varieties tested, at $749.

Partners Brand came in second in yield with its PB 7962VT2P variety, producing 221.5 bushels and grossing $737. NuTech/G2 Gen 5F-008AM took a close third place at 221 bushels and a per-acre gross of $734.

Rounding out the top five places were Ebberts 7109VT3PRIB, yielding 217.9 bushels per acre and grossing $726 per acre; and Specialty brand 38A573, yielding 217.6 bushels and grossing $725.

The early-season test average came in at 201.7 bushels per acre with an average per-acre gross income of $673 for all varieties.

In the full-season test planted on May 8, the top yielder was Channel 209-53STXRIB, at 251.4 bushels per acre and a gross per-acre income of $832. LG Seeds variety LG5618STXRIB came in second with 243.3 bushels, and Steyer 11004GENSS RIB was third, yielding 229.8 bushels. Their per-acre gross incomes were $790 and $768, respectively.

NuTech/G2 Gen 5F-709 ranked fourth overall for income with $745 gross income per acre and a yield of 224.2 bushels, while Channel 210-95STXRIB earned fifth in income with $742 and a 221.4-bushel yield.

The full-season test average of the 54 varieties was 209.5 bushels per acre with an average gross per-acre income of $694.

Planting for the full-season test followed the same schedule as the early-season test, planted at a rate of 34,500 seeds per acre and harvested on Oct. 11 at 30,200 plants per acre. According to FIRST Site Manager Rich Schleuning, crop emergence was uniform with a slight stand loss.

"A June 26 site visit showed a crop with a nice, deep lush green color," he said, adding "some light disease was present," including northern corn leaf blight and gray leaf spot. He reported favorable weather for much of the growing season.

"Area weather conditions were good, with frequent rain and no extreme heat up to late July," he said. "A 21-day (give-or-take) dry spell led to stalk rot development in areas of stress" because of compaction and ponding.

The non-irrigated fields had previously been planted to soybeans and were conditioned with moderate to high levels of potassium and phosphorus. The sandy loam soil was well-drained and the corn was planted using conventional fall tillage method. The corn was treated with Bicep II Magnum, glyphosate and Force for pest management.

For a complete list of all the brands tested and a searchable database of information, visit www.firstseedtests .com