By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) conducted a study of competing soybean seed varieties on the John Barttelbort farm in St. Clair County, Ill. this summer to determine the highest-yielding product.

The trial determined that Kruger’s K-43RR/SCN won with a yield of 49.6 bushels per acre. However, the test was affected by unseasonable weather that affected yields, said F.I.R.S.T. plot manager Eric. W. Beyers.

“Hurricane Ike winds caused much of the plot to lay down,” Beyers summarized for Farm World. “There was very robust growth in the plants, and the hurricane took the foliage and stems and just beat ’em over.”

As with F.I.R.S.T. corn hybrid tests on the Barttelbort farm conducted this year, weather conditions perhaps tamped down results, Beyers said.

Kruger barely bested Becks 445NRR, which placed second with 49.5 bu./acre. Placing third was Campbell’s 393NRR with 47.4 bu./acre.
Soil conditions were reported as Alford Silt Loam with a 1.5 percent slope, moderately drained. The previously planted crop was corn/Bicep II Magnum. The crop was planted no-till in standing corn stubble.

Kruger’s variety showed 13 percent moisture and 4.7 percent lodging. The crop’s income was estimated at $619.40. Reported yield factors included: base moisture at 13.3 percent with 1 percent shrink, and price at $12.50/bu.

“Harvested seed size widely ranged from very small to large,” Beyers reported in his field notes.

A list of all soybean varieties tested are online at www.firstseedtests.com