COLUMN: Corn variety plot results ready

 The LaRue County Extension Service annually conducts a corn variety test plot in cooperation with a local farmer and participating grain dealers. The cooperator this year was Carlos Tucker. Seed companies supply seed, assist at planting and harvest and sponsor a field day. Farmers use the yield information, along with other plot data and information to help decide which varieties to grow next year.

 The varieties were all Roundup Ready and were planted April 24 no-till in Crider soil where soybeans were last year. They were planted in 30-inch rows at 28,000 seeds per acre. Varieties were planted in the plot by maturity dates.

The harvest date was Oct. 9. The yields were generally poor, reflecting the low yields of many fields this year. Across all varieties, the plot averaged 56.9 bushels per acre, compared to 191.5 last year.

A check (standard) variety was planted at each end and in the middle of the overall plot. Yield rankings were determined by adjusted yields calculated by a formula utilizing yield variation of the two nearest checks from the average yield of the three check plots. The check variety, Pioneer P11319HR (last year’s plot winner) averaged 56.9 bushels per acre.

The top variety, Wyffel’s W7997 had an adjusted yield of 120.4 bushels per acre, next was Garst 83R38 3000GT with an adjusted yield of 117.8 bushels. Other rankings (by adjusted yield) were: Dyna-Gro 54VP81, Channel 217-08 VT3P, Beck’s 6175 AMX, NK 72Q 3111, Channel 214-13 VT2 PRIB, Southern States SS788 GEN VT3PRO, Pioneer P2088YHR, Beck’s 5509A3, DeKalb DKC 67-57, Dyna-Gro D51VC40, Garst 82K01 3111, AgVenture RL 8899HBW, DeKalb DKC 62-09, AgriGold A6486 VT3 PRO, Southern States SS684 GENVT3 PRO, AgriGold 6517 VT3 PRO, Pioneer 0912HR, AgVenture  R7983 AM, Wyffel’s W8681, LG 2602 VT3 PRO, NK 68B 3111, and LG 2555 VT2 RIB.

Complete results are available at the Extension Office.