2026 FIRST Trials, Looking back at Harvest, and more

FIRST Newsletter | February 2026

18-February-2026 | Issue 38 | www.firstseedtests.com

In This Issue

2026 FIRST Trials!
Final 2025 Yields & Reports
What's Next for FIRST Managers
Become a Plot Host!
2026 EarthOptics Soil Analysis
In our next newsletter...

2026 is underway! FIRST is currently in the middle of application season, where our seed company sponsors make the decisions of which products to enter in the 2026 FIRST Trials. This is always an exciting time of the year and we enjoy seeing applications come in from the innovative seed companies who support the FIRST Trials.

Above: FIRST Managers gathered in Dubuque, IA for a Winter Meeting.

2026 FIRST Trials

Snow is melting across the midwest and spring is well on its way! With that, FIRST is currently accepting applications for the 2026 FIRST Trials. Have a brand that you want to see in the trials? Here are three ways you can help encourage them to participate:

Reach out to them directly! The best way to get your favorite companies in the FIRST Trials is to let them know you value independent performance data.
Do you use FIRST data when making a seed decision? Let your Dealer or DSM know that when you buy.
Send us a message with companies who you would like to see represented in our trials.

2025 Yield Results

As you are making your final seed selections for the 2026 season, don't forget to take a look at all of the Yield Results from our 2025 Trials. The map below shows all of the corn locations for 2025.

2025 Harvest Reports

What's Next for FIRST Managers

Preparations for spring are well underway for our FIRST Managers. Plot seed will be arriving this month from our seed sponsor companies, which will then get organized into specific packets for each trial. Planting is right around the corner!

To learn more how our trials are run each year, revisit the fall 2025 Progressive Farmer article about FIRST.

Above: FIRST Operations Manager Karen Dahle and Research Manager Matt Turner attended the 2026 Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA) meeting in Indianapolis. Great conversations were had with FIRST Sponsors.

Below: FIRST Business Manager Matt Dahle attended the 2025 American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Field Crop Convention in Orlando in December.

Know a farmer who may be interested in FIRST yield data? Be sure to forward our newsletter to them. Not subscribed to our newsletters or harvest reports? Click here to get signed up!

How can companies enter into the FIRST Trials? Seed companies can contact our Business Manager Matt Dahle to talk about how to participate in the 2026 trials or visit: https://www.firstseedtests.com/business/sponsorship/ to read more and access the online application.

FIRST website video guide - learn to search and find 2025 products, locations, and performance, available now!

Questions about how the FIRST Trials work? See if we have an answer in our Frequently Asked Questions feature.

FIRST Yields vs NASS Yields

The graphs below show the correlation between the yield averages of the FIRST Trials against the USDA's NASS numbers. Each year the FIRST yield is higher, but it is consistently higher to a similar magnitude across our history. 2025 showed that NASS has the national corn yield a bit higher than where the FIRST yields would point.

ABOUT FIRST - 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. From Kansas to Ohio and North Dakota to Missouri, FIRST Managers operate test plots in cooperation with local farmers. Farmers and others interested in FIRST seed performance information should visit: www.firstseedtests.com.

Plot Hosts Needed!

FIRST could not do what we do without the support of our wonderful plot host farmers. Almost every year, due to retirements or changes to their farm, we have to find replacements for plot hosts. Being a plot host is a great way to get a deeper look into how a FIRST Plot works and reap the benefits of participating in the nation's preeminent public trialing program.

Above: FIRST Manager Mark Querna takes a picture in front of his combine with the Nerstrand, MN plot hosts, Schrader Grain.

Plot Host Interest Form

FIRST Renews Partnership with EarthOptics on Trials Soil Analysis

After a successful 2025 partnership, FIRST and EarthOptics are glad to announce that EarthOptics will be the provider of soil analysis again in 2026! Farmers and Seed Sponsors alike had fantastic feedback on the deeper analysis available through EarthOptics. To learn more, visit their website here: https://earthoptics.com/

FIRST and Earthoptics collaborate on 2025 soil analysis

Like us on Facebook

For reports from previous seasons, please visit FIRST's Archive. You'll find harvest reports, region summaries, and other special reports published since 2008.

Visit the FIRST Archive

In our Next Newsletter...

Be on the lookout for our next newsletter, currently scheduled for April. We will have full details on which regions and tests will be running and a deeper look at how to interpret a harvest report.

Have a topic you want to learn more about from FIRST? Send us a reply!

Unbiased, Accurate Yield Testing. Every Time.

We welcome your feedback or questions about the FIRST program!

Please contact us at info@firstseedtests.com

www.firstseedtests.com