WINDFALL, Ind. — Despite spring ponding and record summer heat and drought, corn yields were high in the 2011 Better Hybrids field test in central Indiana.

Channel 212-75VT3P led the high-achieving pack with 245.2 bushels per acre, while LG Seeds LG2620VT3 nipped its heels with 241 bushels in the full-season test.

Gross income for the top two reached $1,505.80 and $1,482.20 per acre, respectively, in the test conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.).

Ranking third in gross income but sixth in yield was Specialty 4644GENVT3P. Specialty garnered $1,383.30 and 223.3 bushels per acre. (Third in yield was LG Seeds variety LG2636VT3, with 225.4 bushels per acre.)

“Over five inches of rain in May and over six inches in June caused water ponding and drown-out of numerous strips, resulting in the loss of a rep in the full-season test,” wrote Rich Schleuning, F.I.R.S.T. site manager, in his report.

The previous crop was corn treated with Balance and Keystone, on Steve Pierce’s Tipton County farm. Pierce employed conventional tillage with fall till on the silty clay loam field.

On May 23, Pierce seeded 34,000 kernels per acre, which resulted in 32,500 stands on Oct. 28.

In the early season test, yields continued to be high. AgriGold A6436VT3Pro ranked highest in yield and gross income out of 42 hybrids tested. AgriGold produced 246.1 bushels per acre and $1,525.30 per acre in income.

Its closest competitor was Heritage 4602VT3, bringing in 241.7 bushels and $1,499.50 in gross income per acre. Ebberts 7501VT3P closed with 240.4 bushels and $1,490.70 in gross income per acre.

While lodging was at or nearly zero for the top six hybrids, LG Seeds LG2555VT3 lodged at 6.7 percent. Its rank was seventh in gross income, with $1,380.30, and in yield, with 222.7 bushels per acre.