Soybean variety trial at Brewton 2020

Auburn University

Variety Testing Program

Variety selection is the most important decision a farmer can make.  If farmers want to be successful, they must ensure that they plant varieties that are well adapted.  If a farmer selects the wrong variety, the results can be catastrophic.  Typically, farmers do not have the resources to conduct variety trials in addition to their normal growing season activities.

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.

The mission of the Auburn University Variety Testing Program 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.

Henry Jordan

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 University, AL 36849

AU VARIETY SELECTION PLATFORM

Auburn University has partnered with Medius Ag to create a variety selection tool.  This tool will allow users to look at small plot variety trial data and large plot on-farm data in one location.

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.

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...

Performance of Soybeans in Alabama, 2023

December 5 Yield results are available for the three soybean trials conducted at the Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center (SMREC) in Crossville.   November 30  Yield results are available for the 8 soybean trials conducted at the Black Belt Research and...

2023 Soybean Summary Tables

December 5  All yields for the 2023 season are in and summary tables are complete. December 1 Summary tables are provided through the variety selection platform only. North Region & Early Planted MG 4 tables will be updated as additional data becomes available....

2023 Soybean Iron Chlorosis Ratings – Black Belt REC

November 30 - Yields have been uploaded for the Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) trials conducted at the Black Belt Research and Extension Center. MG4 - Shatter ratings were highly correlated to yield. MG5 - IDC ratings were highly correlated to yield. MG6 - Neither...

2023 Peanut On-Farm Trials

November 27 - Yield and quality results are available on the variety selection platform for the 7 on-farm trials conducted by Peanut Extension Specialist, Kris Balkcom. Statistical differences by variety (Top Yield Group) were noted in two trials, Lee & Baldwin...

2023 Cotton OVT Summaries

November 20 Summary tables are provided through the variety selection platform only.  As additional data (yield or quality) becomes available, tables will update. The Conventional OVT summary is complete. The North AL Full Season summary is complete. For any summary...

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