HOWE, Ind. — Stewart brand took the top spot in a soybean seed test in Indiana recently.

The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) on the La Grange County farm of John Larimer, in Howe. Stewart 3300R topped a list of 36 seed varieties tested. It had an average yield of 78.9 bushels per acre. The moisture content was 16.7 percent, and the estimated gross income per acre was $938.

Coming in second place was Seed Consultants variety SCS 9282RR, with a moisture content of 16.4 percent, and an average yield of 75.1 bushels per acre. It had an estimated gross income per acre of $893.50. Third-place was taken by FS Hisoy HS 28A02. It had an average yield of 74.7 bushels per acre. The moisture content was 16.3 percent, and its estimated gross income per acre was $889.

Burtch Seed Co. took fourth place, Steyer fifth and Specialty came in sixth place.

Burtch 311R2 had a yield of 74.7 bushels per acre, with a moisture content of 17.3 percent and an estimated gross income per acre of $886.80. Steyer 3102R2 had a yield of 74.7 bushels, with a moisture content of 17.3 percent and an estimated gross income of $886.80.

Specialty 2812CR2 had a yield of 73.5 bushels per acre, with a moisture content of 16.5 percent and an estimated gross income of $874.30.

The test average was 69.2 bushels per acre, 16.6 percent moisture and an estimated gross income per acre of $823.20. Stewart and Seed Consultants appeared five times each in the top 30 varieties.

Larimer’s farm has sandy loam soil. The field was well drained and irrigated. Conventional tillage in the fall was used, and Roundup was applied to the field. F.I.R.S.T. Manager Rich Schleuning planted the field at a rate of 180,000 seeds per acre on June 4, and harvested 163,600 plants per acre Oct. 29.

“Conditions were damp at harvest, with more rain on the way, (which) is why grain moistures are high. The crop was standing very nice at harvest, with light lodging. Overall plant health was good, with no evidence of insect pressure,” reported Schleuning. “Plants were 30 to 36 inches tall, with long internodes between pod clusters.”

A complete list of brands tested and a searchable database are located at www.firstseedtests.com