MASON, Mich. — Corn harvests of more than 230 bushels per acre were achieved at the Tony Igl farm in the Michigan South region during yield tests conducted in 2011 by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.).

After contending with excess precipitation in May, hybrids planted for the test generally rebounded, thanks to a delayed frost, according to Rich Schleuning, F.I.R.S.T. site manager for the region.

The test was led by a 241.6 bushels-per-acre yield produced by Rupp’s XR8034 product, followed closely by results from AgriGold’s A638VT3Pro variety, which tallied 233.1 bushels, and Great Lakes’ 533GT3 variety, at 230.5 bushels.

Rupp’s variety also led in projected gross income, at $1,435.10 per acre, besting AgriGold’s top entry at $1,386.70 and Great Lakes’ at $1,375.40.

“A small window for fieldwork this spring, with over six inches of rain the month of May,” Schleuning reported in field notes taken during the all-season test. “It’s good the first frost was later than normal.

“Stalk quality was good. Plants were fully intact and some green. Final stand was good for a high-moisture year.”

Product yield variation was higher than F.I.R.S.T. researchers desired, however, according to Schleuning.

The Ingham County farm’s soil was described as loam, well-drained, no-till and non-irrigated. Its condition was defined as containing moderately high P and K.

Pest management products employed included Lumax and Force. The plots were seeded at a rate of 33,000 per acre, resulting in a harvest of 30,800 per acre.

Other top finishers in the F.I.R.S.T. test included NuTech 5N-001 at 224.3 bushels per acre), Channel 193-46VT3 (219.5) and Renk RK565GTCBLLRW (219.2). Four of the top six tested – Rupp, Great Lakes, NuTech and Renk – featured 3000GT trait technology.

Regarding yield and income factors, base moisture for the test tracts’ corn yields averaged 15 percent, with shrinkage reported at 1.3 and drying costs estimated at 3 cents. Prices were considered at $6.30 for the test.

Visit www.firstseedtests.com for a complete listing of varieties tested and details.