WALNUT, Ill. — Golden Harvest, Steyer and Renk topped the results on an Illinois farm in ultra-early, early and full season corn tests conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.).

In the ultra-early-season test – planted May 3 at a rate of 37,500 seeds per acre and harvested on Oct. 17 at 37,200 plants per acre on Alan Dale’s Bureau County farm in Walnut – Golden Harvest variety H-7891GT/CB/LL GC took the top yield spot, at 230.4 bushels per acre. It also grossed the highest per-acre income of the 63 varieties tested, at $1,358.20.

Trelay came in a close second with its 6ST576 variety, yielding 230.2 bushels per acre and grossing $1,355. G2 Genetics 5H-502 took third place at 229.1 bushels and $1,347.80.

Rounding out the top five were Kruger K4-9205, yielding 226.7 bushels per acre and grossing $1,333, and Jung 7V570 and NK Brand N49J-3000GT tied at 226.1 bushels per acre but grossed $1,333.50 and $1,332.90, respectively.

The ultra-early season test average came in at 197.6 bushels per acre with a per-acre gross income of $1,165.10.

In the early-season test, planted May 3 at a rate of 37,500 seeds per acre and harvested on Oct. 17 at 36,800 plants per acre, the top yielder was Steyer 10603, at 242.7 bushels per acre and a gross income of $1,424.90 per acre.

Pioneer 35K04 came in second with 241.8 bushels and Croplan 6125VT3 took third place, yielding 239.6. Their per-acre gross incomes were $1,419.60 and $1,408.10, respectively.

Rounding out the top five were AgriGold A6458VT3, which yielded 238.9 bushels and had a gross income of $1,400.40, and G2 Genetics 5H-0701 and Stine 9531VT3Pro, each yielding 238.2 bushels per acre and grossing $1,403.50 and $1,397, respectively (see chart at right).

The early-season test average was 218.6 bushels per acre, with a per-acre gross income of $1,284.90.

In the full-season test, the top yielder was Renk RK858VT3P, at 245 bushels per acre and a gross per-acre income of $1,434. Kruger K-7211 took second place, yielding 244 bushels and grossing $1,429.60. Rounding out the top five were AgriGold A6553VT3, at 243.9 bushels and $1,418.80 per acre; LG Seeds LG2620VT3 at 243.3 bushels and $1,417.50; and Golden Harvest H-8969 3111, with 243.2 bushels and $1,422.70.

Of the 72 varieties included in the full-season test, the average yield was 223.2 bushels per acre, with a gross per-acre income of $1,307.10.

Planting for the full-season test followed the same schedule as for the ultra-early and early season tests, at a seed rate of 37,500 seeds per acre and 37,100 plants per acre at harvest.

In his report, F.I.R.S.T. Site Manager Jason Beyers stated this was one of the first plots harvested in the area that was standing well, and there was little evidence of disease pressure.

“Yields were surprisingly good for the short amount of rainfall that this location received,” he wrote. “Ear retention on some hybrids was weak, but still able to keep the ears in the head.”

Pioneer variety P0916XR CK was the “check brand” used in the early and full season tests. It was the known performer against which the other varieties were compared, but it was not part of the test itself. In terms of yield, the variety would have been ranked No. 19 in the early-season test and No. 32 in the full-season test.

The non-irrigated fields had previously been planted to corn and were conditioned with high potassium and phosphorus.