RIGA, Mich. — Heavy spring rains and harsh summer heat during 2011 did not prevent a number of corn seed hybrids from performing well during an all-season test of 54 varieties conducted at the Bill Bierman farm in Lenawee County, Mich.

G2 Genetics’ 5X-903 product led the pack with a yield of 177.9 bushels per acre and a gross income of $1,105.80 per acre during the May 12-Nov. 1 trial, which was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) of Chadwick, Ill.

G2’s 5X-903 corn hybrid registered a final moisture level of 17.8 percent and suffered from just 2percent lodging. The hybrid employs HXT (corn rootworm) and RR2 (glyphosate) technology. The brand was one of seven G2 products placing among the top 30 varieties entered in the trial.

Channel’s 193-46VT3 variety took second-place honors with a yield of 177.8 bushels per acre – just 1/10th of a bushel behind the yield of G2’s top entry – and a gross income of $1,098.80 an acre.

Though Great Lakes’ 5245G3VT3 variety outgrossed Channel’s second-place entry with $1,104.60 per acre, its entry ranked third overall in the test with a yield of 176.6 bushels per acre.

Both Channel and Great Lakes’ entries experienced normal moisture and lodging levels.

Stress caused by extreme weather conditions in this region of southern Michigan last year likely affected the performance of some varieties.

“The heavy rains in May after planting caused some soil crusting, creating some heavy stand loss, (with the) final stand (varying) from 23,000 to 30,000 per acre” reported Rich Schleuning, F.I.R.S.T. site manager for the region. “The high heat in July hurt pollination. Where the stand was good, many plants did not make an ear due to higher stress. Yield was variable due to the weather conditions, but better than expected.”

A complete list of brands tested during F.I.R.S.T.’s 2011 research of seed technologies can be accessed through its searchable database available at www.firstseedtests.com