PECK, Mich. — Seed brands from five companies took the top three spots in two corn tests at farms in Michigan’s Thumb region.

The tests were conducted by the seed testing company Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.). One was at the farm of Mark Johnston in Sanilac County, in Peck; the other was at the farm of Dwight Bartle in Lapeer County, in Brown City.

Both tests worked out relatively well given the drought this season, said F.I.R.S.T. Site Manager Rich Schleuning.

“Considering the year, that actual location was pretty good,” Schleuning said. “The Thumb area is an area that looks good compared to a lot of other areas.”

At the Peck location there were only two replications on average. Normally there are at least three. Schleuning said that was because of raccoon and deer damage at the plots.

The top brand was Great Lakes 4879VT3PRO. Yield for that brand was 232.4 bushels an acre. Gross income per acre was $1,625, moisture was at 27.3 percent and stand was 30,200.

Taking second place, G2 Genetics 5X-895 yielded 223.9 bushels an acre. Gross income was $1,549, moisture was 30.3 percent and stand was 32,200. Taking third was G2 Genetics 5Z-198, with a yield of 213.2 bushels an acre. Gross income was $1,474, which ranked sixth in gross income overall.

Schleuning had much the same to say about the Brown City test. “They actually hit a dry spell for a while, which made things pretty tough for a while, but then rains came at just the right time and everything worked out,” he reported.

There were an average of three replications at the Brown City test. Channel 197-67VT3P took first place, with a yield of 202.2 bushels an acre, gross income of $1,440 an acre, moisture of 22.1 percent and a stand of 32,900.

Taking second place was Renk RK568VT3P, with a yield of 196.2 bushels, gross income of $1,399, moisture content of 21.8 percent and stand of 33,500. Taking third place was Rupp xr8264, with a yield of 193 bushels per acre, gross income of $1,393, moisture at 18.4 percent and a stand of 33,500.