Variety Tests
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
OVT Terms and Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
Using the Variety Selection Tool
Auburn OVT on Facebook
Contact
Henry Jordan
Variety Testing Manager, Research Associate IV
Department of Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences
305 W Samford Ave, Room 2204 (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 Grain Sorghum in Alabama, 2026
September 23 - The following grain sorghum OVT results are now available. EV Smith Research Center (EVSRC) in Shorter Early Planted Grain sorghum data for this trial has been updated following the correction of a data error and reanalysis of the trial. The current...
PERFORMANCE OF SOYBEANS IN ALABAMA, 2026
September 24 - Yield, plant height, & maturity date results are now available for the EVSRC RKN Screening Maturity Group 4 trial. Yield and galling were moderately-to-strongly correlated (r = -0.53). Varieties with lower gall ratings — indicating better nematode...
PERFORMANCE OF FIELD CORN HYBRIDS IN ALABAMA, 2026
September 23 – Results are now available for the following trials. Quality (Starch, Moisture, Fiber, Ash, Protein, Fat) results, when available are posted to the variety selection tool only. Sand Mountain Research & Extension Center (SMREC) - Quality Brewton...
Performance of Peanuts in Alabama, 2026
August 25- Variety-specific images of the WREC Irrigated OVT are available from last week's field day.August 7- Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) Ratings for Peanut OVTs Now Available TSWV ratings for this season’s peanut Official Variety Trials (OVTs) are now...
2026-2027 OVT Winter Entry Forms – Forages and Grain
July 27 - Entry forms for the 2026-2027 season are available. Expand the tab(s) of interest below for details and options for forage and/or grain. Seed treatments are permitted but must be labeled and accompanied by MSDS sheets. Once the entry form has been...
2026 OVT Peanut Contest – Pick Alabama’s Top Peanut
September 16 - Harvest begins the first week of October, so this is the final call to get your predictions in for the 2026 OVT Peanut Contest. If you tried and the survey was locked, it has been opened through the end of the month. Pick Alabama's top-performing...
Performance of Small Grain Varieties in Alabama, 2025-2026
July 7 - The following results are now available. Tennessee Valley Research & Extension Center Wheat & Triticale - quality results (variety selection tool only for quality) Grain Quality Summaries have been updated July 1 - Yield results are complete. The...
Contest: 2026 Auburn OVT Wheat Picks
Winning Contestant - Blake Shepard with Mixon Seed Let's take a moment to congratulate Blake as this season's winner of the wheat picks contest. Lucky for Blake, he won the contest using the varieties he sells. His winning predictions are listed below. North Region...
2026 Soybean OVT Entry Form
January 15 - The 2026 Auburn University Official Soybean Variety Trials (OVTs) entry forms are now available. Entry Forms Due by February 28th. Entries can be submitted in 4 categories (North, Central, South, RKN Screening, Early MG4) Seed Please send seed as...
2026 Peanut OVT Entry Form
January 15 - For the 2026 season, peanuts will be tested in 4 locations for a total of 5 trials. Trials will be planted in 4-row plots and will require 15,000 kernels of seed. Due to space, the number of entries is limited. Entry Forms Please submit as soon...
2026 Grain Sorghum OVT Entry Form
January 15 - The 2025 Auburn University Official Grain Sorghum Variety Trials (OVTs) entry forms are now available. Entry Forms Due by February 28th. Statewide, there are a total of 3 Grain Sorghum OVTs, non-irrigated, planted at 55K seed per acre. Seed Seed...
2026 Cotton OVT Entry Forms
January 15 - The 2025 Auburn University Official Cotton Variety Trials (OVTs) entry forms are now available. Entry Forms Due by March 3rd. Entries can be submitted by category (Full Season, Short Season, Conventional) Statewide, there are a total of 23 OVTs....