By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

WINNEBAGO, Ill. – Yields averaged more than 200 bushels per acre despite severe wet weather during a corn hybrid test in Northern Illinois recently.

The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) on the Ogle County, Ill. farm of Eric Swanson.

The early-season test was won by Kruger hybrid K-6107VT3 with an average of 223.7 bu. per acre. Kruger K-6205VT3 finished third at 210.2 bu. per acre. The second place finisher was DeKalb DKC55-07 at 218.2 bu. per acre.

F.I.R.S.T. manager Jason Beyers planted the field at a rate of 32,400 seeds per acre on May 12. Then, he said, the trouble started.

“This location struggled from the start,” Beyers claimed. “About 15 minutes after planting it rained about 4 inches, which required that the plot be rotary hoed twice.”

He harvested approximately 25,900 plants per acre while harvesting on Nov. 16.

“Stands were sparse in some spots,” Beyers reported. “Almost all of the hybrids at time of harvest had Diplodia present on the ear. All had excellent stalk quality.”

Swanson’s farm has Tama silt loam soil. The conventionally tilled field was non-irrigated and moderately well drained. He used Fultime, Laudis, Status and Force for pest management.

The previous crop on this field was corn treated with Fultime and Roundup.

There were 90 hybrids tested at this location.
A list of all the hybrids in this test is available at www.firstseedtests.com