HOWE, Ind. — A variety from Unity topped a recent all-season soybean seed test for yield in northern Indiana.

The test was on the farm of John Larimer, of Howe in LaGrange County, and was conducted by Farmers’ Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST). Unity variety 3031RR2 ranked first, with an average yield of 92.7 bushels an acre and an estimated gross income of $902 per acre. The variety had a moisture content of 16.6 percent.

Second was Ebberts 2324RR2, with an average yield of 89.2 bushels, a moisture content of 15.1 percent and an estimated gross income of $870. Another Ebberts variety, 2305RR2, was third, with a yield of 87.9 bushels. It had an estimated gross income of $854 and a moisture content of 17.1 percent.

Overall, the test of 54 varieties produced an average yield of 79.1 bushels an acre. The average estimated gross income per acre was $771 and the average moisture content was 15.8 percent.

The crop faced challenges, including high winds that lodged some plots to only 20 inches in height and limited yields, according to Rich Schleuning, FIRST site manager.

“(The test) lost one rep that a groundhog called home, destroyed (the) crop and allowed grass to take over,” he noted. “White mold and sudden death syndrome were present.”

The seeds were planted May 26 at a rate of 185,000 per acre, and were harvested Oct. 30 at a stand of 173,600 plants per acre. Conventional tillage in the fall was used. The farm has sandy loam soil, is irrigated and moderately drained. The previous crop was corn treated with Lumax and Roundup. The beans were treated with Touchdown.

Coming in fourth was Ebberts 2345RR2, with an average yield of 87.5 bushels and an estimated gross income of $851. Ranking fifth was FS Hisoy’s HS30A42, with an average yield of 87 bushels and an estimated gross income of $849.

Sixth was Dairyland’s DSR-3040/R2Y, which also had an average yield of 87 bushels and an estimated gross income of $849.

For a complete list of brands tested and test details, visit www.firstseedtests.com