By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

McCOMB, Ohio — High moisture levels plagued the corn hybrid tests on a Northwestern Ohio site this year. The average grain moisture content was at 27.8 percent in the full season test and 24.9 in the early season test.

The average yields were 167.8 bushels per acre in the full season trial, and early season corn hybrids averaged 157 bu. per acre. There were 36 varieties tested at this location.

The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) earlier this harvest season.

Specialty Hybrids took three of the top 10 places in the full season trial. Specialty Hybrids 4970VT3 won the test by more than 10 bu. per acre. The hybrid produced 190.1 bu. per acre with a moisture content of 26.5 percent. This product had an estimated gross income per acre of $639.20. Specialty Hybrids also took eighth and ninth place at this location.

Campbell Seeds earned second and fifth place. Campbell’s 682-76VT3 was second at 179.9 bu. per acre, and hybrid 681-76VT3 was fifth at 177.2 bu. per acre.

Other top finishers were LG Seeds LG2555VT3, third place with 179.1 bu. per acre, and Channel 210-57VT3 was fourth at 178.5 bu. per acre.

The trial was on the Hancock County, Ohio farm of Mark Bryan. The soil was a silty clay loam. The field was moderately well drained and non-irrigated. The previous crop was alfalfa. Lexar was the pest management application.

F.I.R.S.T. Rich Schleuning planted the field on May 25 at 35,000 seeds per acre. He harvested 30,600 plants per acre on Oct. 27. Cold, wet weather challenged this test plot all season, according to F.I.R.S.T.

“We planted due to a wet spring,” Schleuning explained. “Grain moistures were high due to a lack of heat units this year. The early rains helped get this location off to a good start, but droughty conditions during pollination took away the top-end yields.”

Early season test

Stine Seed earned the best score in the early season test, which was 103-108 days. Stine hybrid 9526VT3 generated 181.6 bu. per acre at McComb, Ohio. The product’s moisture content was 23.8 percent, the its estimated gross income per acre was $622.90.
In this trial, Schleuning planted 35,000 seeds per acre on May 25, and he harvested 31,100 plants per acre on Oct. 27.

Other top producers include LG Seeds hybrid LG2510VT3 at 177.7 bu. per acre. Channel 205-94VT3 was third at 174.3 bu. per acre, and Fielders Choice NG6676 finished fourth at 174 bu. acre.
Two Ebberts Seed hybrids were fifth and six in this test. Ebberts 2808VT3 produced 169.6 bu. per acre, and Ebberts X2008VT3 brought in 165.2 bu.

A list of all the hybrids in this test is available at www.firstseedtests.com