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.
2025 Black Belt Beef & Forage Field Day
Join us for the 2025 Beef & Forage Field Day, a premier event for livestock and forage producers across Alabama! Hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, this free, hands-on field day will showcase the latest in forage management, cutting-edge research,...
Performance of Grain Sorghum in Alabama, 2025
September 18 - Results for the Late Planted OVT at the Wiregrass Research & Extension Center (WREC) in Headland are available.September 12 - Results for the Early Planted OVT at the EV Smith Research Center (EVSRC) in Shorter are available. August 22 - The first...
Performance of Corn Hybrids in Alabama, 2025
November 25 – Results are now available for the Cullman County on-farm corn trial.November 13 – Quality results are available for the SMREC OVT. October 28 - Yield results are available for the following trials. SMREC Non-Irrigated OVT Houston County On-Farm October...
Performance of Peanut Varieties in Alabama, 2025
December 4 - The following results are now available. OVT Seed Per Pound at Harvest GCREC WREC Irrigated WREC Non-Irrigated On-Farm Yield Baldwin County Frisco City Henry County Lee County Selma November 21 - The following results are now available. EVSRC Seed per...
Performance of Soybeans in Alabama, 2025
November 25 – Results are now available for the Marshall County on-farm soybean trial.November 21 – The following yield results are available. BARU MG4 MG5 MG6 MG7/8 GCREC MG4 MG5 MG6 MG7/8 November 13 – The following yield results are available. EV Smith Research...
Performance of Small Grain Varieties in Alabama, 2024-2025
August 11 - Grain quality results are available for the following trials. TVREC Wheat TVREC Triticale BARU Wheat August 5 - Wheat grain quality results are available for the following locations on the variety selection tool. Under the trial page, look at the quality...
2025 Grain Sorghum OVT Entry Form
January 15 - The 2025 Auburn University Official Grain Sorghum Variety Trials (OVTs) entry forms are now available. 3 New Trials for 2025: EVSRC Location (2 trials) WREC Early Planted Entry Forms Due by February 28th. Statewide, there are a total of 4 Grain...
2025 Soybean OVT Entry Form
January 15 - The 2025 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...
2025 Cotton OVT Entry Form
January 15 - The 2025 Auburn University Official Cotton Variety Trials (OVTs) entry forms are now available. New for 2025: Root Knot Nematode Evaluation Entry Forms Due by March 3rd. Entries can be submitted by category (Full Season, Short Season,...
2025 Peanut OVT Entry Form
January 15 - For the 2025 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...
Performance of Winter Forages in Alabama, 2024-2025
September 9 - Forage quality results are available (variety selection tool only) for all five SMREC forage OVTs.August 13 - Forage quality results are available (variety selection tool only) for the CREC oat and triticale OVTs. July 31 - Forage quality results are...
2025 Corn OVT Entry Form
December 19 - The 2025 Auburn University Official Corn Variety Trials (OVTs) entry forms are now available. Entry Forms Due by February 2nd. Entries can be submitted by region (North, Central, South) Statewide, there are a total of 11 OVTs available. Seed...