FIRST Program Testing Procedures

The FIRST yield performance trials have been operating since 1997. The testing program compares corn and soybean seed product yield and agronomic performance in grower fields across 16 states. Testing regions have been established to provide similarity by geography and crop maturity. Seed products within a predefined maturity range, e.g. 106 to 116 RM corn or 0.7 to 1.5 maturity group soybeans, are pooled into a single, all-season test or split into early- and full-season tests dependeing on entry volume. Products are planted at 5 or 6 corn test locations and 4 soybean locations within a region.