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
Frequently Asked Questions
Using the Variety Selection Tool
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.
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
Think you can predict the top‑performing PEANUT varieties in Alabama? Enter the 2026 OVT PEANUT Challenge and choose your top picks for Alabama. Anyone can participate. Prizes and bragging rights are on the line! Prizes: Prizes will be awarded in two categories: ...
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....
Performance of Winter Forages in Alabama, 2025-2026
July 27 - Results are available for: Wiregrass Research & Extension Center Ryegrass forage quality is available (variety selection tool only) July 1 - Results are available for: EV Smith Research Center Forage quality results for all five species of winter forages...
2026 Corn OVT Entry Form
January 15 - Please submit corn entry forms ASAP! January 6 - The 2026 Auburn University Official Corn Variety Trials (OVTs) entry forms are now available. Non-BT (refuge) entries are encouraged and will be evaluated at no charge when accompanied by a paying entry....
Performance of Sesame in Alabama, 2025
December 4 - Plant heights are now available from the WREC trial.November 25 - Preliminary results are available for the three sesame OVTs.
Performance of Cotton Varieties in Alabama, 2025
January 8 Results are available for the following on-farm trials conducted by Extension (variety selection tool only). Autauga County Baldwin County - Sirmon Cherokee County - Lindsey Full Season Short Season Dale County Escambia County Henry County (WREC) Lawrence...