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
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.
Cotton Variety Selection – Wiregrass Virtual Cotton Expo 2021
The Wiregrass Cooperative Extension Team conducted a virtual cotton expo on February 15, 2021. In this featured video, Dr. Steve Brown, Cotton Extension Agronomist, discusses variety selection and how to use the data provided by the Auburn University Variety Testing...
2021 Beef Forage Field Day
The Wiregrass Research & Extension Center is hosting a Beef – Forage Field Day Friday, March 26, 2021 on site. Please plan to join us and learn first-hand about the current beef and forage research projects and demonstrations on the research farm. The field day...
Application Materials – 2021 Cotton Variety Trials
March 22 - The Auburn University Variety Testing Program has closed the portal for 2021 corn applications. If you would like to enter and missed the deadline or need to make changes to your applicaiton please email varietytesting@auburn.edu. Late applications will...
2021 Application Materials – Soybean Variety Trials
March 22 - The Auburn University Variety Testing Program has closed the portal for 2021 soybean applications. If you would like to enter and missed the deadline or need to make changes to your applicaiton please email varietytesting@auburn.edu. Late applications...
Performance of Soybean Cultivars in Alabama, 2020
January 13 - The final report is available. Seed per pound and seed quality data is available for the soybean trials at the Brewton Agricultural Research Unit. Soybeans at the Black Belt Research and Extension Center displayed uneven maturity within a plot as well as...
Performance of Cotton Varieties in Alabama, 2020
January 11 - The final report is available. Classing data is available for the short season trials at the EV Smith and Wiregrass Research and Extension Centers. December 10 - Classing data (micronaire, length, strength, and uniformity) is available for both full...
2021 Application Materials – Grain Sorghum Variety Trial
For 2021, Auburn University Variety Testing will offer a grain sorghum variety trial at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center, Headland, AL. This trial will be a 4 row trial planted on 36 inch rows. The trial will be planted following small grain harvest. In...
2021 Application Materials – Auburn University Corn Variety Trials
January 22, 2021 - The Auburn University Variety Testing Program has closed the portal for 2021 corn applications. If you would like to enter and missed the deadline or need to make changes to your applicaiton please email varietytesting@auburn.edu. Late...
Ryegrass Variety Trial 2020-2021 Planting Dates
Planting Dates for Ryegrass The Auburn University Variety Testing Program's Ryegrass Variety Trials for the 2020-2021 season have all been planted. The locations and dates are as follows: Sand Mountain Reserach and Extension Center - November 5 E.V. Smith Research...
Performance of Peanut Varieties in Alabama, 2020
November 13 - Final data is available. Seed per pound has been added to the yield/quality tables for the peanut trials at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center. November 11 - Grade data is avaialable for the peanut trials at the Wiregrass Research and...
Performance of Field Corn Hybrids in Alabama, 2020
October 9 - The 2020 corn season has come to an end and the completed report is now available. Yield data for the Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center is now available. The non-irrigated summary tables are now complete. September 22 - Yield data is available...
Performance of Small Grain Forages in Alabama, 2019-2020
During the 2019-2020 season, small grain forage variety trials were conducted at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center, Headland, AL and at the Chilton Research and Extension Center, Clanton, AL. Wheat, triticale, rye, and oat forages were evaluated in addition...