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.
Performance of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama, 2022-2023
September 14 - Quality results are now available on the variety selection platform for the ryegrass trials at the Clanton Research and Extension Center (CREC) and the EV Smith Research Center (EVSRC). Forage quality at the CREC was reduced for the first harvest of...
Cow Talks Podcast – 2023 Cool Season Forage Recommendations
Recently, Dr. Marcelo Wallau, University of Florida Forage Extension Specialist, spent some time at Auburn reviewing our cool-season variety trial data and discussing the results. Much of his discussion with Dr. Leanne Dillard, Auburn Forage Extension Specialist, and...
2023 Brewton Row Crops Field Day
There one more opportunity to visit an Auburn University Research and Extension Centers, learn from and interact with specialists, and see current research in person. Tuesday, September 19th Brewton Agricultural Research Unit (BARU) Registration 8:00-8:30 AM Tour -...
Hessian Fly Ratings, 2022-2023
BY: Henry G. Jordan Jr., AU Variety Testing Manager Dr. David Buntin, UGA Professor of Entomology Dr. Katelyn Kesheimer, AU Extension Entomologist Spring 2023 saw a serious infestation of Hessian fly in wheat across the southern United States, and variety selection is...
2022-2023 On-Farm Wheat
July 21 Results have been posted to the variety selection platform for the 2022-2023 on-farm wheat variety trials conducted by Assistant Extension Professor Tyler Sandlin. A report in PDF format will be posted as soon as it becomes available. 2023 On-Farm...
2023-2024 Entry Form – Small Grain Variety Trials at Auburn University
July 21 - Entry forms for the Auburn University Variety Testing - Small Grain Variety Trials are now available. View last year's data here. The deadline for seed is October 1st. For wheat and oats, please send 6 lb of seed per variety per region. For triticale and...
2023-2024 Entry Form – Small Grain Forage Variety Trials at Auburn University
July 12 - Entry forms for the Auburn University Variety Testing - 2023-2024 Small Grain Forage Variety Trials are now available. View last season's data here. The deadline for seed is August 27th. Please send 7 lbs of seed per entry. For the 2022-2024 season, small...
2023-2024 Entry Form – Ryegrass Variety Trials at Auburn University
July 12 - Entry forms for the Auburn University Variety Testing - 2023-2024 Ryegrass Variety Trials are now available. View last season's data here. The deadline for seed is August 27th. Please send a minimum of 3 lbs of seed per entry. For the 2023-2024 season,...
2022-2023 Small Grain Summary Tables
July 14 - The summaries below will provide readers with shortcuts to some of the most commonly requested OVT summary tables within the Variety Selection Platform. Each table can be sorted simply by clicking the title at the top of the column of choice. The first set...
2023 Row Crops Field Days – Multiple Opportunities
There are multiple opportunities to visit the Auburn University Research and Extension Centers, learn from and interact with specialists, and see current research in person. The dates and locations are below. Thursday, July 27th Tennessee Valley Research and...
Performance of Small Grain Varieties in Alabama, 2022-2023
July 5 Tennessee Valley Research and Extension (TVREC) in Belle Mina. Yields, test weights, and heights are available for the wheat, triticale, and barley OVTs Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center (SMREC) in Crossville Yields are available for the wheat, oat,...
2023 Baleage Production Workshop
Come join us for the 2023 Baleage Production Workshop on April 20, 2023. The workshop is free and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP at 256-362-6187 by April 18tth to reserve lunch. Agenda 8:30-9:00 AM Registration 9:00-9:15 AM Welcome and Introduction - Henry...