HARVEST UPDATE, Yield Results, New Faces, and more

FIRST Newsletter | October 2025

31-October-2025 | Issue 37 | www.firstseedtests.com

In This Issue

Harvest Update
Latest Results
Plot Snapshot Videos
Introducing Karen Dahle
In our next newsletter...

Harvest has been rolling on for FIRST host farmers and plots, and we have been busy publishing yield reports. As of now, FIRST is 84% done with Soybeans and 72% complete with Corn reports. Like other farmers, our managers are working long hours, moving equipment on roads and in fields, to get harvest completed.

Above: FIRST Manager Bill Schelp took this picture while harvesting a corn plot in Novelty, MO.

Latest Results

With harvest over 75% completed for FIRST, we want to be sure you have access to all of the latest results. There are three ways to get the newest harvest reports:

Go to: www.firstseedtests.com for all reports
Sign up for our Email Alerts to get the previous day's reports in your inbox each morning
Follow our Facebook page for daily harvest report posts and additional content

Latest Harvest Reports

Corn Harvest Progress -

Icons in Grey haven't been harvested yet

Icons in Blue have a harvest report available

Soybean Harvest Progress

Icons in Grey have not been harvested yet

Icons in Green have a harvest report available

NEW: Harvest Trends Feature on FIRST Website

A new addition to our website is an interactive tool to see how yields are tracking compared to last year. Click on the photo below to take a look!

Above: FIRST Field Manager Matt Speers poses here with plot host Dakotah Hammerly of Livingston, WI. FIRST Managers work hard, but none of the work they do would be possible without the partnership with our host farmers. Interested in hosting a future plot? Click the link to learn more: FIRST Plot Host Signup

Below: A soybean plot in Moorland, IA.

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

Did you miss the application to get your products entered? Seed companies can contact our Business Manager - Matt Dahle to talk about how to participate in the 2026 trials.

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 Corn Trial Data Points Toward Lower Yields Than USDA Estimates

As the continued government shutdown prevents the release of any updated USDA reports on crop production, other sources of data, including yield trials, help paint a picture of corn and soybean harvest results.

Plot Snapshot Videos

New for 2025, we have been posting a weekly "Plot Snapshot" video where we share how the week has gone for the FIRST team. These videos post on FIRST's Facebook Page mid-day on Mondays and are a great way to get a quick look at how harvest is progressing. Use the button below to find our Facebook page and get caught up on the previous weeks!

Above: Great looking corn at the Watseka, IL plot location. This location averaged over 277bpa with the winner being 310bpa. Take a look here to find all corn yield reports: 2025 Corn Harvest Reports

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Introducing the newest member of the FIRST Team!

We are excited to announce that Karen Dahle has joined FIRST as our Operations Manager. In this role, Karen will use her skills in operations and process management to work alongside Program Manager Jessie Bhalerao to make sure reports get reviewed, data gets published, and every seed sponsor or farmer gets their questions answered. Read more about Karen in our latest Press Release in Seed Today: FIRST Appoints Operations Manager

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...

Look forward to the next issue of the FIRST Newsletter as we will give a last look at our #Harvest25 results (including any trends based on our EarthOptics soil analysis and other deeper data dives) and start looking forward to the 2026 season!

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