CHARLOTTE, Mich. — Wet weather delayed planting and harvest of early- and full-season tests by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) on Jim and Dennis Orr’s farm in Eaton County.

According to FIRST Site Manager Rich Schleuning, spring rain delayed planting until May 29 and harvest on Nov. 20 was hindered by rain and snow. “At harvest, stalk quality was weak,” he said. “Snow and lodging from high winds made corn hard to pick up with the combine head.”

Both plots were planted at a rate of 34,000 seeds per acre. The early-season test was harvested at 33,100 plants per acre. Five different brands took the top five slots.

The top finisher was Integra 9482VT3PRIB, with a yield of 187.8 bushels per acre and gross income of $624 per acre. DEKALB’s DKC48-12RIB CK came in second with a per-acre yield of 185.3 bushels and a gross income of $624, while Steyer 9801 took the third slot at 183.7 bushels per acre and a gross income of $623.

Rounding out the top five were Rupp xrJ97-17 and M&W Seeds 45A38, yielding 185.2 and 181.6 bushels per acre and grossing $620 and $616, respectively.

At harvest, the average moisture of the 36 varieties tested was 20.5 percent, with an average yield of 169.1 bushels and an average gross income of $569 per acre.

Renk captured three of the top five slots in the full-season test. This plot was also harvested on Nov. 20, at a rate of 31,200 plants per acre.

Great Lakes variety 5283STXRIB topped the ranking with a yield of 191 bushels per acre and a gross income of $628 per acre. Renk RK752SSTX took second at 186.4 bushels per acre and a gross income of $617 per acre. Third place went to NuTech/G2 Gen 5Z-002, which yielded 181 bushels per acre with a gross income of $612.

Renk RK629VT3P and RK699SSTX were ranked fourth and fifth, with yields of 181.4 and 180.4 bushels per acre and gross incomes of $607 and $602, respectively.

The average moisture of the 36 varieties at harvest was 21.7 percent, with an average yield of 162 bushels per acre and an average gross income of $540.

Schleuning said in addition to difficult weather conditions, the plot weathered a variety of diseases throughout the growing season.

“Disease pressure was observed, including anthracnose, a light amount of pythium stalk rot, leaf blight and some ear mold,” he explained. “This area had more than its share of rain.”

The crop was no-till on non-irrigated, moderately-drained clay loam. Soil conditions included moderate potassium and phosphorus levels. Lumax, glyphosate and Force were used for pest management. The previous crop had been soybeans treated with glyphosate.