By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

MARSHALL, Mich. – Better than expected yields came from the Calhoun County, Mich. corn hybrid test site conducted by Farmers’ Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) this year.
G2 Genetics hybrid 1H-005 generated the highest yield per acre with an average of 190.1 bushels. The hybrid scored an estimated gross income of $885.20 per acre, and it had a moisture level of 21.9 percent.

The test was conducted at Double Eagle Farms in rural Marshall in Southern Michigan. The soil was a sandy, clay loam with a 1.5 percent slope. The field was moderately well drained. The previous crop was soybeans, and the field had been treated with Buccaneer herbicide.

F.I.R.S.T. manager Rich Schleuning was generally pleased with the test’s results.

“The crop got off to a good start with excellent emergence for the conditions after planting,” he reported. “The yields were better than expected despite a dry July and August.”

Schleuning planted at a rate of 31,000 seeds per acre on May 8, and he harvested approximately 28,000 plants per acre on Oct. 29.
Finishing second and third at this test site were two hybrids from Brownseed. Brownseed 3A-804GT earned 177.0 bu./acre, and it had an estimated gross income per acre of $832.70. The hybrid’s moisture level was 20.9 percent. Brownseed 5X-008RR/HXT scored 175.9 bu./acre, and its estimated gross income was $779.30. This hybrid’s moisture level was 26.4 percent.

Other top finishers at this test site include: Trelay 6T226, 169.1 bu./acre with a moisture level of 20.3 percent; Stewart Seeds 6T546, 169.1 bu./acre with a moisture level of 25.0 percent; and AgriGold A6323CL, 166.7 bu./acre with moisture level of 22.6 percent.

There were 63 hybrids tested at this location.

For a list of all of the hybrids tested at this site, go to www.firstseedtests.com