WOODBURN, Ind. — Varieties from AgriGold, Great Lakes and Seed Consultants led a recent early-season corn seed test in Allen County, in northern Indiana.

The test, conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.), was on the farm of Rex Coomer of Woodburn. AgriGold A6408VT3Pro ranked first in yield, with an average of 135.7 bushels an acre and an estimated gross income of $1,004 an acre. It had a moisture content of 19.2 percent.

Great Lakes variety 5785VT3PRO ranked second with an average yield of 135.4 bushels, a moisture content of 19.2 percent and an estimated gross income of $1,001. Coming in third was Seed Consultants SCS 10HR62, which had an average yield of 125.3 bushels. It had an estimated gross income of $927 an acre and a moisture content of 19.2 percent.

Overall, the test of 36 varieties had an average of 99.1 bushels an acre. The average estimated gross income per acre was $731 and the average moisture content was 20.2 percent.

While the crop got off to a great start with solid emergence, it was eventually hampered by weather, according to Rich Schleuning, F.I.R.S.T. site manager.

“The lack of rain and extreme heat took away full yield potential,” he reported. “The crop was short, 5 feet, 9 inches maximum height. Some ears were only knee-high off ground.”

The seeds were planted April 18 at a rate of 35,000 an acre, and harvested Oct. 24 at 32,400 plants an acre. Minimum tillage in the fall was used. The farm has silty clay, well-drained soil, and wasn’t irrigated.

The previous crop was soybeans treated with glyphosate. The corn was treated with Keystone, Durango and Force.

In a full-season corn test on the same plot, LG Seeds variety LG2549VT3 ranked first, with an average yield of 141.8 bushels an acre and an estimated gross income of $1,039 an acre. The moisture content was 21.9 percent.

AgriGold A6458VT3 was second, with an average of 138.3 bushels. The moisture content was 21.6 percent, and the estimated gross income was $1,014. Third was Channel 212-09STX, which had an average of 132.2 bushels, an estimated gross income of $964 and moisture content of 23.3 percent.

The full season seeds were planted April 18 at 35,000 an acre, and harvested Oct. 24 at a rate of 33,000 plants an acre. The full-season test of 48 varieties had an average of 95.4 bushels an acre, an average estimated gross income of $699 and average moisture content of 22.1 percent.

For more results, visit www.first seedtests.com