By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

HUNTINGBURG, Ind. — With an average yield of 175.3 bushels per acre, Stewart had the highest performing hybrid at a test plot in Southern Indiana earlier this month.

Stewart hybrid 8N354 had an estimated gross income of $784 and its moisture level was at 25.6 percent. Rounding out the top three hybrids were Becks 6733HXTRR, 174.2 bushels per acre, $786.10 gross income at 24.8 percent moisture; and LG Seeds LG2620VT3, 169.3 bushels per acre, $785 gross income and 25 percent moisture.

These scores were earned on the 113-116 day, late-season test.
The test was conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies on a plot owned by Dennis Whitsitt near the Dubois County town of Huntingburg. The soil was a silty clay loam with a .5 percent slope, and it was moderately well drained.

FIRST manager Rich Schleuning, who planted and harvested this test plot, said heavy spring rainfall followed by a dry August challenged the hybrids at this location. And, like many places around the Midwest, it had to withstand strong wind and rain related to Hurricane Ike.

“Above-average May rainfall thinned the final stand,” he explained. “The heavy soil type was a benefit as it held water to help make this crop during a dry August. There was light stalk rot and rust present at harvest.

“It was a nice plot to harvest as all of the corn stood perfectly. I’m glad that Hurricane Ike did not lodge this plot.”

The plot was planted at a rate of 29,000 seeds per acre on May 6. At harvest on Oct. 3, there were 24,400 plants per acre.

Rounding out the top performers at this test were: Crows 4895VT3, 168.8 bushels per acre; LG Seeds LG2642VT3, 167.9; Stewart 8T468, 163.0; Dyna-Gro 57V05, 162.8; Brown Enterprises 729, 162.6; Stine 9725VT3, 161.9; and Wyffels W8681, 161.1.

To see a listing of all of the FIRST test plots that have been harvested, so far, go online to www.firstseedtests.com