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FIRST Newsletter | February 2025

10-Feb-2025 | Issue 34 | www.firstseedtests.com

In This Issue

  • 2025 Trials Introduction
  • Collaboration with EarthOptics
  • New faces with FIRST
  • Top Corn and Soybean Performances in 2024

2024 Wrap up and 2025 Trials

Harvest went blazing fast, almost finishing before November if not for a literal road block to finishing plots (see report here).


Program yields were at all time highs for both crops, with the corn average of 231.0 bu/ac beating the previous record by more than 6 bu/ac (see interactive graph ↗️). The soybean yield average of 62.3 bu/ac edged out the old record of 61.9 set in the 2021 season (see soybeans interactive graph ↗️).


There were new regions tested in 2024 that are back for 2025, as well as a return of soybeans testing in the northern Red River Valley central (RRCE) area, operated by Mark Querna. See the maps below for details on FIRST trials regions and maturity ranges for 2025. Regions are arranged with 5 or 6 locations for each corn region and 4 locations for each soybean region, where the same hybrids and varieties are tested at all locations in the region.

FIRST and Earthoptics collaborate on 2025 soil analysis

Above. FIRST and EarthOptics announce a collaboration in which Earthoptics will be the sole provider of Soil Sample Analysis for the 2025 FIRST Trials. Read in Seed Today...


FIRST is gearing up for the 2025 program, and applications to participate are available now. Seed companies can contact a FIRST Manager about how to participate or reach out to your seed company representative about products you would like to see in 2025 FIRST trials.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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2025 Testing Regions and Maturity Ranges

2025 FIRST Corn Regions

2025 FIRST Corn Grain Testing Regions

2025 FIRST Soybean regions

2025 FIRST Soybean Testing Regions

FIRST and Earthoptics collaborate on 2025 soil analysis

FIRST & EarthOptics collaborate on 2025 Soil Analysis


EarthOptics will serve as the exclusive Soil Analysis partner for the 2025 FIRST Trials. By working with EarthOptics, FIRST will be able to offer an even deeper understanding of our plot's soil conditions, including fertility and pest and disease pressure levels, and how those impact yield. Read the Press Release...

FIRST is here to give farmers independent information; EarthOptics will help us provide even better information.” - Matt Dahle, FIRST Business Manager

New Faces with FIRST

Meet Matt Dahle - FIRST Business Manager

Joining FIRST is Matt Dahle, of Northern Ag Research, LLC out of Waseca, MN. Dahle will be working on trials research in North Central Iowa and Minnesota alongside his father, Ed Dahle. He has a great deal of experience in agricultural industry, and FIRST tapped him to lead business development efforts for the team. Dahle said, "The FIRST Trials have long been a tool in the toolbox for farmers when making seed decisions as well as a partner of the seed industry. I look forward to helping grow the trials for the future to get even more quality and unbiased information in the hands of farmers." Read more in Seed Today.

Matt Dahle FIRST Business Manager

Matt Dahle, Business Manager

Meet Matt Speers operating Wisconsin and North Central Tri-State Trials

Matt Speers trained with longtime manager Jason Beyers during 2023 & 2024 and will be operating the Wisconsin and North Central Tri-State regions in 2025. Speers joins FIRST with a strong background in leadership, having served on both the Grievance and Negotiating Committee, as well as being the treasurer for Local 745 Union for 6 years. He lives in Shannon, IL, where he has a small farm that raises animals and runs a woodworking business. Speers stated, “Operating my own business has always been a dream of mine. Being part of the FIRST program is an excellent way to unite many small businesses through hard work and honest results for the agricultural community.”

Matt Speers, Field Research Innovations, Inc.

Website Guided Tour Available Now


FIRST has created a guided tour vdeo of www.firstseedtests.com to help you use all the tools available for researching corn and soybean variety performance. See how to filter reports and find products tested in conditions like your farm.


Website Guide YouTube Video

FIRST Website Guided Tour

Top Performances in 2024 FIRST Trials

We invite you to view the 2024 Top Performers on the FIRST Products Reports for corn and soybeans.


Try the search results BELOW to view 2024 TOP PERFORMERS. Keep in mind that some maturity products may not be tested in your area -- if no results are displayed, change the maturity range or the location to see more.

FIRST Corn Products Results

Corn Grain 100 - 104 RM hybrids with at least 25 trials

FIRST Soybean Products Results

Soybeans 2.0 - 2.4 MG varieties tested in Iowa and Minnesota

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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

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