Variety Testing
Auburn University Official Variety Testing ProgramResearch /
Variety evaluation is also critical to plant breeders, both from universities and industry. Prior to releasing a new variety, these breeders typically evaluate their lines in independent variety trials. This ensures that they have unbiased data from multiple years and locations to support the release of their new variety.
OVT Mission
The mission of the Auburn University Official Variety Testing Program (OVT) is to provide research-based, unbiased results on the performance of various crop hybrids, cultivars, and varieties to the agricultural community in Alabama. We are intent on conducting these trials in a manner that will result in maximum biological yield through methods common to the top-producing farms in Alabama.
We are committed to providing this information in a timely manner for its use during the decision-making process. The success of the program rests on our ability to help Alabama producers provide a safe, dependable source of food and fiber for all families as well as an economic sustainability for theirs.
Variety Categories
Corn
Cotton
Soybean
Peanut
Small Grains
Small Grain Forages
Ryegrass
Grain Sorghum
Sesame
Variety Testing Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Using the Variety Selection Tool
Contact
Henry Jordan
Variety Testing Manager, Research Associate IV
Department of Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences
201 Funchess Hall (USPS)
1031 South Donahue Dr (FedEx & UPS)
Auburn Univ, AL 36849
Subscribe to AU Variety Testing Updates
Annually, the Auburn University Variety Testing Program conducts trials on corn, cotton, soybeans, peanuts, grain sorghum, wheat, barley, oats, triticale, small grain forages, and ryegrass.
Trials are conducted on Auburn University owned and operated agricultural research stations across the major geographical regions of the state. The research conducted at each of these locations can provide stakeholders with data that can be more representative of their growing conditions.
Performance of Small Grain Forages in Alabama, 2023-2024
October 10 - Forage quality results are available for the BBREC forages - wheat, oat, rye, and triticale. September 18 - Forage quality results are available for the SRMEC oats. September 11 - Forage quality results are available from the CREC. July 19 – Forage...
2024 Cool Season Forages Baleage Field Day
Come join us for the 2024 Baleage Production Workshop on April 11, 2024. The workshop is free and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by April 9th to reserve lunch - Register Online Agenda 8:30 – 9:00 Registration9:00 – 9:15 Welcome & Introductions (Rickey...
Multi-State Data – New Feature Released
In 2021, the Auburn University Official Variety Testing (OVT) Program contracted with Medius Ag, a third-party agricultural data management company, to store, manage, and maintain Auburn OVT data in an online database/tool available to all stakeholders. The goal was...
2024 TVREC Barley Field Day
Researchers from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and Auburn University are hosting a free barley field day for growers who are interested in barley production in Alabama. This field day will include variety plot...
2024 Beef & Forage Field Days
Multiple opportunities are available to visit the Auburn University Research and Extension Centers, learn from and interact with forage specialists, and see current forage/beef cattle research in person. The dates and locations are below. Details When: March 15,...
2024 Cotton OVT Entry Form
January 12 - Entry forms for the 2024 Auburn University Official Cotton Variety Trials are now available. Entry forms are due by March 15th. Please send Please send seed as soon as possible, preferably no later than March 31st. Seed required: 10 lb Full Season, 10...
2024 Soybean OVT Entry Form
January 12, 2024 - Entry forms for the 2023 Auburn University Official Soybean Variety Trials (OVTs) are now available. Entry forms are due by February 29th. Please send seed as soon as possible, preferably no later than March 31st. Seed Required: 5 lb North, 5 lb...
2024 Sorghum OVT Entry Form
January 16 - Entry forms for the 2024 Auburn University Official Grain Sorghum Variety Trials are now available. Entry forms are due by March 15th. Please send seed as soon as possible, preferably no later than April 30th. Grain sorghum will be late-planted, behind...
Performance of Cotton Varieties in Alabama, 2023
January 29 2023 OVT cotton data updates are concluded. Quality results are available for the WREC Short Season Non-Irrigated OVT. Quality results for the WREC Full Season Non-Irrigated are excluded due to an incomplete dataset. January 3 Quality results (micronaire,...
Performance of Peanut Varieties in Alabama, 2023
February 12, 2024 2023 Peanut OVT results are complete. Seed per pound at harvest is available for all five OVTs. January 8, 2024 - Quality results are available for the OVTs conducted at the GCREC, BARU, & EVSRC. November 18 - Quality results are available for...
2023 On-Farm Cotton
January 3 2023 On-farm cotton results, compliments of Tyler Sandlin - On-Farm Cotton Coordinator, are now available. The on-farm cotton trials are split into two categories, North & South. Summary tables are provided for each. However, they have been filtered...
2024 Corn OVT Entry Forms
December 14 - Entry forms for the 2024 Auburn University Official Corn Variety Trials (OVTs) are now available. Entry forms are due by February 2nd. Please send seed as soon as possible, preferably no later than February 19th. Entries can be submitted by region...