READING, Mich. — Located between Lake Erie and Lake Michigan, “lake effect” took on a whole new meaning on Tom Schroeder’s Reading farm.

The wind pattern creates a funnel effect and brings a whole different set of challenges to the area, according to Rich Schleuning, site manager for the Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) corn variety tests conducted on Schroeder’s farm this year.

Abnormal weather conditions this year led to moisture and yield variance across the field, Schleuning said. First, a very spring delayed planting, and once the seed was in the ground, the hot, dry weather stressed the plants, affecting pollination.

Adding to the situation was an invasion of Western bean cutworm (WBC), which resulted in severe damage to the ears, affecting the quality as well as the quantity.

“This is not a typical Michigan pest,” Schleuning said. “Schroeder has been dealing with Western bean cutworms for the past year and this is the worst it has ever been.”

Schleuning said WBC invades and weakens the shank of the corn, and the ears drop off the stalks.

Topping the list in yield for the 2011 F.I.R.S.T. Better Varieties report for the plot was Great Lakes variety 5157G3VT3. It averaged 177.1 bushels per acre and a gross profit of $1,084.70 per acre, just ahead of Channel variety 202-32STX, averaging 175.3 bushels per acre and a gross income of $1070. Moisture levels were 22.5 and 23.2 percent, respectively.

Coming in third was G2 Genetics variety 5X-0001, which averaged 174.5 bushels per acre and a gross profit of $1,067.8. Rounding out the top 10 varieties in the test were G2 Genetics 5X-903, DeKalb DKC53-45 GC, Rupp XR 8034, Great Lakes 5529RR, G2 Genetics 5H-700, Great Lakes 4689G3VT3 and NuTech 5N-001.

Yields ranged from 158.6 bushels per acre to 167.2 bushels per acre, with moisture levels ranging from 22.6 to 30.3 percent.

Gross income per acre ranged from $970.90-$1,009.60.

Schroeder’s farm is sandy loam that is well-drained and non-irrigated. The plots were seeded in 30-inch rows at 33,000 seeds per acre on May 12, with conventional tillage, harvested Oct. 18. All the varieties planted were Roundup Ready and corn borer and rootworm resistant.

The test plots had been in soybeans the previous year and had been treated with Extreme, Roundup and Citron. The pest management consisted of Degree Xtra, TripleFlex and Force. The soil is high in potassium and phosphorous, with 6.3 pH and organic matter at about 2.1 percent.

For a complete list of brands tested, visit www.firstseedtests.com