By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

MACOMB, Ill. — Conditions allowed for good plant growth and strong yields at a western Illinois corn hybrid trial site earlier this season.

Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) conducted the corn seed trial on the McDonough County, Ill. farm of Jerry Lewis. F.I.R.S.T. manager Eric Beyers planted the field on May 29 at a rate of 36,600 seeds per acre. He harvested approximately 34,900 plants per acre on Nov. 12.

“This site had very robust plant growth,” Beyers said. “The harvested plant heights were often 12-feet tall and taller.”
The soil type was a Tama silty clay loam. The field was moderately well drained. The previous crop was soybeans treated with Roundup.

Golden Harvest hybrid H-9014-3000GT won the early-season test with an average yield of 251.3 bushels per acre. Dyna-Gro 57V40 finished second at 248.3 bu. per acre.

In the full-season trial, Great Lakes variety 6354G3VT3 won with an average yield of 239 bu. per acre. Coming in second place was Heritage 4642VT3 at 236.2 bu. per acre.

For a complete list of the 81 varieties tested at this location, visit online at www.firstseedtests.com