CALEDONIA, Ohio — The results for the 2011 F.I.R.S.T. (Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies) Better Varieties test for Gerold Scekel’s Marion County farm showed two plots had corn yields of more than 200 bushels per acre, despite adverse weather conditions during the growing season. 

The downside of the report showed moisture levels were elevated because of late planting, compounded by poor drying conditions at harvest in the fall.

“These were nice plots to harvest, with no signs of any plant disease,” said Rich Schleuning, F.I.R.S.T. site manager. “The ears were good-sized; 48 kernels long and 16 to 20 kernels around.”

Ebberts variety 2909VT3P topped the list for the early-season varieties with a yield of 216.5 bushels per acre and a gross income per acre of $1,280.80, to edge out Mycogen 2P616 GC, with 213.7 bushels per acre and income of $1,264.90. Moisture levels were 27.8 and 27.7 percent, respectively.

Coming in third was Steyer 11002, which averaged 212.2 bushels per acre with a moisture level of 28.9 percent and a gross profit of $1,248.40. Rounding out the top nine varieties in the test were FS Seeds 56TV4, Fielders Choice NG6731, NK Brand N68B-3111, Stine 9731VT3Pro, Great Lakes 5939G3VT3 and Specialty 8610GENSS.

Yields ranged from 206.1-209.2 bushels per acre, with moisture levels ranging from 26.7-29.5 percent. Gross income per acre ranged from $1,220.50-$1,242.70.

Great Lakes 6232G3VT3 topped the results of the full-season test with a yield of 206.1 bushels per acre, at 28.2 percent moisture and a gross income of $1,216.60 per acre.

Rounding out the top three in this trial were DeKalb DKC62-97 GC in second place with a yield of 202 bushels per acre, 27.3 percent moisture and a gross income of $1,198.10; and FS Seeds FS 62MVA 4 in third place, with a yield of 198.3 bushels, 27.4 percent moisture and a gross income of $1,175.5.

Adding to the top 10 varieties in the trial, in order, were Ebberts 2711QUAD, Stine 9806VT3Pro, Stewart TV906, Stine 9732VT3Pro, FS Seeds FS 63MV4, Channel 213-32VT3 and Channel 212-08VT3P. Moisture levels ranged from 27.4-29 percent and gross income per acre ranged from $1,142.30-$1,161.90.

Scekel’s farm is sandy clay loam, well-drained and non-irrigated. The plots were seeded at 34,000 seeds per acre in 30-inch rows on June 1, using no-till, and harvested on Nov. 11. All the varieties planted were Roundup Ready and corn borer and rootworm resistant.

The test plots had been in soybeans the previous year and had been treated with Confidence Xtra and Aztec. The soil is moderately high in potassium and phosphorous, with a 6.5 pH and organic matter at about 3 percent. Scekel applied nitrogen in both the spring and at planting.

For a complete list of the brands tested, visit www.firstseedtests.com