By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

READING, Mich. — A southern Michigan corn hybrid test plot enjoyed healthy returns without regard to the weather in the region during the growing season.

The average yield for the 72 hybrids tested at this location was 170.9 bushels per acre. The average moisture content was 23.5 percent, and the estimated gross income came in at $579.20 per acre.

The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) earlier this harvest season. F.I.R.S.T. manager Rich Schleuning planted the field at a rate of 31,500 seeds per acre on May 11. He harvested the field on Nov. 12.
“Despite the conditions, yields were very good,” Schleuning reported.

Brownseed hybrid 5B-804B won the test with an average yield of 201.6 bu. per acre. It’s moisture content was 22.2 percent, and it had an estimated gross income of $689.50 per acre.

Channel hybrid 199-55VT3 was the only other variety to hit 200 bu. per acre. The other top-producing hybrids include: Renk RK619VT3, 193.5 bu. per acre; Channel 200-22VT3, 192.3 bu. per acre; and Trelay 5T123, 191 bu. per acre.

The test was on the Hillsdale County, Mich. farm of Tom Schroeder. The soil type was a Riddles-Locke sandy loam. The non-irrigated field was well drained, and it was conventionally tilled.

The pest management plan included Keystone, Python and Force.
“One extreme to another; first wet and then too dry,” said Schleuning. “The dry conditions in July and August shortened plant height. Stalk quality was poor on some hybrids as the plant put its energy into grain, not the stalk.”

A list of all the hybrids in this test is available at www.firstseedtests.com