CHARLOTTE, Mich. — Two corn seed test sites in the lower midsection of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula showed once again the state escaped the worst of last summer’s severe and extreme drought that plagued much of the country’s heartland.

The tests were conducted by the Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.), which is based in Illinois. One test was done at the farm of Jim and Dennis Orr in Eaton County, in Charlotte, located approximately 20 miles southwest of Lansing.

The other was done at the farm of Tony Igl of Ingham County, in Mason, which is about 20 miles southeast of Lansing.

F.I.R.S.T. Site Manager Rich Schleuning said drought and abnormally dry conditions at the test site at Charlotte hurt the corn crop some, but “we were anticipating something worse.”

The top-yielding brand at the Charlotte site was NuTech variety 5N-001 with a yield of 152.8 bushels an acre, gross income per acre of $1,086, moisture of 26.7 percent and a plant stand of 26,800.

Taking second place was Channel 197-67VT3P, with a yield of 150.1 bushels, income of $1,065, moisture of 27.2 percent and a stand of 27,500. Coming in third was AgriGold A6252VT3Pro, with a yield of 146.5 bushels, gross income of $1,040, moisture of 27 percent and a stand of 28,800.

In his report Schleuning also noted a timely shower in July followed by more rain in August rejuvenated the grain and resulted in good quality at harvest.

At the Mason site, Schleuning said a late planting date caused by excessive early rains and moisture turned out to be fortunate, given the later abnormally dry conditions. He noted the corn pollination window ended up missing the worst of the summer heat.

At Mason, the top spot was taken by G2 Genetics 5X-0004, with a yield of 165.1 bushels an acre, gross income of $1,179 an acre, moisture of 25.4 percent and a stand of 30,200. Taking second place was Steyer 10604-3000GT, with yield of 163.2 bushels, income of $1,152, moisture of 28.6 percent and a stand of 32,200.

In third place, Great Lakes variety 4727STXRIB yielded 156.6 bushels and a gross income of $1,132 an acre, with moisture of 21.8 percent and a stand of 30,200.

More test results are available online at www.firstseedtests.com