By ANN HINCH
Assistant Editor

ROANOKE, Ind. — A northern Indiana test plot is notable for only late-season results in the 2008 round of Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.).

A report prepared by Rich Schleuning, F.I.R.S.T. test site manager, explained the plot on the Rick Stetzel property in Huntington County was seeded with early-season corn at the end of April 2008. The field notes reflect while the crop started out well despite a wet, cold spring, and largely survived hail damage in June, the plot was oversprayed with glyphosate-killing non-Roundup Ready hybrid “which enhanced yields of adjacent plots.”

As a result, the results were rejected. Late-season corn planted at the same time and harvested in mid-October, however, was not compromised and the highest-yielding variety, Heritage 4616RR2Y/GPL, produced 194.5 bushels per acre.

DeKalb DKC61-69 was the second highest-yielding variety, producing 190.7 bushels per acre, while third place went to LG Seeds LG2552VT3, with 188.6 bushels.

Gross income ranking followed yield for the three varieties, reflecting $474.10 per acre for the Heritage, $470 for the DeKalb and $467 for LG Seeds.