By SUSAN BLOWER
Indiana Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ind. — DeKalb’s DKC61-19 claimed first place in the early season corn hybrid test conducted by Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) on the farm of Alan Eilen in Bartholomew County, Ind., in 2008.

DeKalb 61-19 yielded 247.3 bushels per acre and $1,243.90 in gross income. Coming in second was another hybrid from DeKalb, DKC63-42, producing 241 bushels per acre and $1,203.60 in gross income. Wyffels W5281 had a third-place showing at this Southern Indiana test site with 237.2 bushels per acre and $1,202.80 in gross income.

“The crop got off to a good start with excellent emergence. Then the heavy rains in May and June set in. There was some water damage in the late season test and better than expected yield for the dry July and August. There was blight and stalk rot present,” said F.I.R.S.T. plot manager Rich Schleuning.

The soil conditions were described as sandy loam with a 0.5 percent slope, well drained and minimum till. The previous crop was soybeans with Roundup herbicide.

An estimated 32,000 seeds were planted on April 25, and 31,400 plants were harvested on Oct. 21.

Late-season trial

A late season trial was also conducted on the same plot. Trisler T-9J38RRCB was the overall winning corn hybrid with 236.3 bushels per acre and $1,153.60 in gross income.

Brown Enterprises 729 achieved a second-place ranking, yielding 231.9 bushels per acre and $1,129.20 in gross income.

Brown was closely followed by Stine 9725VT3, which generated 228.4 bushels per acre and $1,104.40 in gross income.

About 32,000 seeds were dropped on April 25, resulting in 32,200 plants on Oct. 21. Thirty-six hybrids were tested.

For a complete listing of results from Indiana and other test sites across the Midwestern United States, visit www.firstseedtests.com