LACROSSE, Ind. — Varieties from NK Brand, Steyer and Armor led an all-season soybean seed test for yield last year in northwestern Indiana.

The test by Farmers’ Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) was planted on the La Porte County farm of Myron Schafer, of LaCrosse. Ranking first in yield was NK Brand’s S34-Z1 variety, which produced an average of 79 bushels an acre and an estimated gross income of $774 an acre. It had a moisture content of 12.6 percent.

Second was Steyer variety 3103R2, which had an average yield of 77.9 bushels, an estimated gross income of $763 and a moisture content of 12.4 percent. Armor’s 32-R72 was third with an average yield of 77.7 bushels. The variety had an estimated gross income of $761 per acre and a moisture content of 12.5 percent.

The test of 54 varieties produced an average yield of 69.7 bushels. The average estimated gross income was $683 an acre and the average moisture content was 12.6 percent.

Overall plant health was good, with light disease and insect damage, said Rich Schleuning, FIRST site manager. "One of the odd things here versus other locations I’ve harvested, there were no empty pods here," he reported.

"Plants ranged from 28 to 34 inches in height, node spacing from 1.5 to 2 inches, pod clusters with up to five pods per node."

The seeds were planted May 31 at a rate of 195,000 per acre and harvested Oct. 29 at a stand of 176,900 plants per acre. Conventional tillage in the fall was used. The farm has sandy loam, well-drained soil and is not irrigated. The previous crop was corn treated with Bicep II Magnum and Roundup.

Finishing fourth in the test was Partners Brand PB 3415R2, which had an average yield of 77.1 bushels, an average estimated gross income of $756 and a moisture content of 12.4 percent. Fifth was Seed Consultants SCS 9314RR with a yield of 75.4 bushels, estimated gross income of $739 and moisture content of 12.5 percent.

Sixth in this trial was FS Hisoy variety HS 34A42, which also had an average yield of 75.4 bushels, an estimated gross income of $739 and a moisture content of 12.5 percent.

For a complete list of brands tested and test details, visit www.firstseedtests.com