FINDLAY, Ohio — Six different seed companies dotted the top six spots in an all-season soybean test at a farm in Hancock County in Ohio. The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) at the farm of Jasper Franks in northwestern Ohio.

FIRST Site Manager Rich Schleuning planted the plot using 30-inch spacing on May 28, at 140,000 seeds per acre, and harvested the beans at 100,400 plants per acre Nov. 7.

The plot used minimum fall tillage in moderately drained, non-irrigated, sandy clay loam, with a high phosphorous and moderately high potassium content.

The pH was 7.0. The average yield for the 30 varieties was 73.5 bushels per acre, and the moisture content for all varieties ranged between 16.1-16.8 percent. Lodging was nonexistent.

"The soybean plants here looked very good all season," Schleuning added. "Minimal disease incidence and complete weed control was observed. Yield levels were very good in this area."

The previous crop had been corn and the herbicide used was SureStart. The pest management was Touchdown.

FS Hisoy HS 30A42 took first place for this test, with a yield for this variety at 76.8 bushels per acre and an estimated average gross income of $763 per acre. Stine variety 24RE03 was second at 76.6 bushels and an income of $760.

Third was Pioneer P25T51R, which came in at 75.8 bushels per acre and an income of $753 per acre.

"The wet fall of 2013, which slowed harvest, continued into the early spring and delayed planting," Schleuning said. "The weather pattern transitioned into more normal rainfall and moderate temperatures during the growing season."

Rounding out the top six spots for yield were Ebberts 2345RR2 and Steyer 3103R2 (both at 75.1 bushels and $746 per acre), and Dairyland DSR-3040/RR2Y at 75 bushels and $745.

To learn more about the top-yielding varieties and particulars of treatment, visit www.firstseedtests.com