By ANN HINCH
Assistant Editor

DAVISON, Mich. — The three top-yielding varieties of corn from a Genesee County, Mich., test plot all reached well over 200 bushels per acre.

The Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) test plantings on Hunt Farms in Davison, in the state’s Thumb region, were seeded in mid-May at a rate of 36,000 per acre – and harvested at the same rate on Nov. 14, 2009.
The top variety was G2 Genetics’ 5H-999, with 227.2 bushels per acre and 24.6 percent moisture. Coming in second, at 224.7 bushels and with 23 percent moisture, was Renk’s RK501VT3 variety. (Refer to page 12 for a detailed report.)

Rounding out the top three varieties was Great Lakes’ 4689G3VT3 corn, with 221.2 bushels per acre and 22.6 percent moisture.
Moisture percentages didn’t vary much among the top 30 yielding brands tested, and lodging was minimal, ranging from 0.3 to 1 percent. Such moisture was a surprise, according to Rich Schleuning, F.I.R.S.T. test manager for the North East Corn Belt, because planting was so late and the “lack of heat units.”

Not only was standability at a premium and harvest percentages nearly perfect, he noted all the plants’ leaves were intact for the test plot. He did notice signs of Anthracnose stalk rot and a light pressure of Diplodia ear rot – which he also saw across his region – and said some hybrids were difficult to shell because of a soft cob.
“Weather’s been really spotty and was wet early,” Schleuning explained of the 2009 season in his area of coverage (Indiana, Ohio and southern Michigan). “Overall, I’d say crops are looking average to above average.”

This particular test was conducted in soil previously planted to soybeans, with glyphosate usage. The ground was well-drained, non-irrigated Celina-Conover loam, with a high quantity of phosphate and potash. Pest management consisted of application of Lexar and Force.