By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

TUSCOLA, Ill. — A lack of mid-summer rainfall impacted yield and seed size in a Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) soybean test on John Carmack’s farm in Douglas County, Ill.

F.I.R.S.T. Manager Eric Beyers planted the plot on May 28 at 140,000 seeds per acre and harvested the finished beans at 104,500 plants per acre on Oct. 11. (See results details on this page.) The plot was no-till in moderately drained, non-irrigated Drummer/Flanagan silty clay loam soil, with high potassium and phosphate.

The top-yielding variety in this test was FS Seeds’ HS39A02, at 56.3 bushels per acre and with a gross per-acre income of $627.70. Asgrow AG3731 came in second, with a yield of 55.4 bushels per acre and an income of $618.30 per acre.

The third-place finisher was Channel 3701R2, yielding 54.9 bushels per acre with a gross per-acre income of $612.60. The fourth-highest yielding variety was Kruger K2-3402, producing 54.8 bushels per acre and an income of $611 per acre.

Rounding out the top five was FS Seeds’ HS38R80, with a yield of 54.2 bushels per acre and an income of $604.30 per acre.

According to Beyers, the farm owner reported the soybeans he planted on his own May 7 yielded approximately 66 bushels per acre. The average test plot yield for all varieties was 50.4 bushels per acre. Beyers said the difference in yield was due to the test plot’s later planting date and lack of rain.

“We had a cool June with good rainfall. But after that, the water shut off. Rainfall was hit-or-miss,” he said. “We saw the plants growing a little longer before they were comfortable setting flowers. With the later planting date, the plants didn’t have time to produce the vegetation that would sustain good growth during flowering.

“Under these conditions, yields were still good,” Beyers added.

Moisture and lodging for these five varieties were in line with that of all 54 seed types (which were 5.2 and 0 percent, respectively). Beyers said harvested plant heights in the plot were 42-55 inches. Overall, the site displayed uniform plant emergence and singulation within rows.

“The harvested seed quality was excellent,” he said, but the size was small, averaging 3,800-4,500 per pound – a characteristic Beyers said is directly related to the lack of moisture.

“This was a very uniform stand,” he said. “We didn’t see any disease in this stand or on the farm.”

To learn more details about the top-yielding varieties and particulars of treatment, visit www.firstseedtests.com