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Unbiased, Accurate Yield Testing. Every Time.
Providing timely unbiased comparisons of innovative seed genetics to improve yield and profitability for American farmers.

Our Mission:

Farmers Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) provides timely unbiased comparisons of innovative seed genetics to improve yield and profitability for American corn and soybean farmers.

The mission began in 1997 when 64 corn grain hybrids from 14 seed company sponsors were tested at 12 sites in Illinois. The program now tests corn grain, corn silage and soybean seed products in 15 states (South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland). We utilize 12 field managers and their independent businesses to identify, plant and harvest over 500 tests at 300 locations (in 2023).

Farmer members assist in test site selection, conduct all production operations and provide all inputs except seed, it's planting and crop harvest. Companies willing to sponsor our research decide which products to test, where to test them, and provide seed. Only a select group of products are tested.

Our unbiased hybrid and variety yield and agronomic results are reported for each individual test site and as a regional average over all sites in the region. On average, test results are reported on our website within 2 days of harvest.

FIRST has grown into an association of farmers and businesses organized to measure and report the yield and agronomic performance of corn and soybean seed products. We encourage the use of this information by farmers, consultants, agronomists and seed industry representatives for improving yield and profitability of American farm operations.

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Careers with FIRST

Meet the Managers

Jason Beyers
Jason Beyers
Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin
Tri-State Area
FIRST NCB, Inc.
Lanark, IL
  Email
Ed Dahle
Ed Dahle
Central Minnesota
NewVenture LLC
Ellendale, MN
  Email
Matt Eich
Matt Eich
South Dakota Northeast
Centrol Crop Consulting
Volga, SD
  Email
Nick Hoffman
Nick Hoffman
Nebraska Northeast & Iowa Northwest
Apex Custom Research
Enterprises (ACRE) LLC

Clearwater, NE
  Email
Randy Meinsma
Randy Meinsma
Southern Iowa
FIRST CCB, Inc.
Elizabeth, IL
  Email
Melissa Nelson
Melissa Nelson
Kansas Northwest & Central
Performance Crop Research LLC
Great Bend, KS
  Email
Mark Querna
Mark Querna
Minnesota & Red River Valley
IMQ, LLC
New Richland, MN
  Email
Nathan Roux
Nathan Roux
Illinois
F.I.R.S.T. AMC Inc.
Mount Carroll, IL
  Email
Corey Rozenboom
Corey Rozenboom
Iowa North Central
North Iowa FIRST Inc.
Sanborn, IA
  Email
William (Bill) Schelp
William (Bill) Schelp
Missouri
F.I.R.S.T. MSR, Inc.
Columbia, MO
  Email
Adam Stuteville
Adam Stuteville
Kansas & Nebraska East
Agri Seed Research, LLC
Louisburg, KS
  Email
Payden Peterson
Payden Peterson
South Dakota Southeast
Peterson Seed Testing, LLC
New Richland, MN
  Email
Klint Tucker
Klint Tucker
Southern Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky
Bottomline Seed Solutions, LLC
Effingham, IL
  Email
Matt Turner
Matt Turner
Indiana, Ohio, & Michigan
M & D Seed Research, LLC
Van Buren, IN
  Email
Jessie Prenger Bhalerao
Jessie Prenger Bhalerao
Program Manager
AgSci LLC
Champaign, IL
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