By MEGGIE I. FOSTER.
Assistant Editor

CELINA, Ohio —Although excessive rains stunted the growth of soybeans on a Macoupin County, Ill. test plot, overall the harvest produced a quality grain product from a recent Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) trial.
“Roger stated that the excessive rains stunted the growth of his soybeans, thus reducing yields around 40 bushels per acre on some fields,” said F.I.R.S.T. Manager Rich Schleuning.

However, the average yield in the test was 56.1 bushels per acre, and the average moisture content was 10.7 percent. In total, 54 soybean seed varieties were tested on the Macoupin County farm of Roger Ladage that was planted using conventional tillage methods. The soil is considered to be moderately-drained and contains Virden silt loam, moderately high Phosphorous, moderately high Potassium with a pH score of 6.9. Pest management included the use of Boundary and Buccaneer. The test plot was seeded at a rate of 150,000 seeds per acre on May 19 and harvested on Oct. 21, at 139,400 seeds per acre.

The top yield soybean variety was Lewis Seeds 400R2 with a yield of 62.3 bushels per acre, moisture content of 10.6 percent for a total gross income of $623 per acre. Second in the trial was NK Brand S37-PS with a yield of 61.6 bushels per acre, moisture content of 10.6 percent and a total gross income of $616 per acre.
“In the location of the plot, it’s plant growth was vigorous with some varieties reaching 50-inches in height,” commented Schleuning. “Harvested seed varied in size, but had very good grain quality.”
A full list of soybean seed varieties tested at the Virden site is available at www.firstseedtests.com