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.
2022 Beef – Forage Field Day
The Wiregrass Research & Extension Center is hosting a Beef – Forage Field Day Thursday, March 17, 2022 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...
2022 Grain Sorghum Variety Trial Entry Form
January 21, 2022 - Entry forms for the 2022 Auburn University Garin Sorghum Variety Trials are now available. Grain sorghum will be late planted, behind small grains, at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland.
2022 Peanut Variety Trial Entry Form
January 21, 2021 - Entry forms for the 2022 Auburn University Peanut Variety Trials are now available. Peanuts will be tested in 4 trials. EV Smith Research Center Plant Breeding Unit - Tallassee - Non-Irrigated Wiregrass Research and Extension Center - Headland -...
2022 Cotton Variety Trial Entry Form
January 21, 2022 - Entry forms for the 2022 Auburn University Cotton Variety Trials are now available. Applications for the Auburn University Variety Testing – Cotton Variety Trials are now available. Entries can be submitted in in two planting environments, short...
2022 Soybean Variety Trial Entry Form
January 20, 2022 - Entry forms for the 2022 Auburn University Soybean Variety Trials are now available. Entry forms are due by February 18th. Seed is due by March 18th. Entries can be submitted by the following categories/regions: Early Planted Maturity Group...
Performance of Peanut Varieties in Alabama, 2021
January 20 - Grade data is available for the WREC non-irrigated peanut OVT. Please note that grade data was not available for all for replications of each variety. For transparency, the number of replications for each variety's grade data is included. January 10 -...
Performance of Cotton Varieties in Alabama, 2021
January 11 - Classing data is now available for the on-farm variety trials. This data can be found on the variety selection platform. Yields and turnout rates have been updated for the Lee County, Alabama on-farm variety trial. January 4 - Yield data is now available...
2022 Corn Variety Trial Entry Form
December 13, 2022 - Entry forms for the 2023 Auburn University Corn Variety Trials are now available. Entry forms are due by February 17th. Seed is due by March 1st. Entries can be submitted by region (North, Central, South). Each region has 3 trials for a total of...
Performance of Soybean Cultivars in Alabama, 2021
December 10 - Quality and seed per pound is available for all three OVTS at the Brewton Agricultural Research Unit. December 3 - Yield data is available for the Early Maturity Group 4, Regular Maturity Group 4, and Regular Maturity Group 5 sobyean OVTs at the Sand...
Performance of Field Corn Hybrids in Alabama, 2021
Novemvber 22 - Yields have been added for the Chilton, Cullman, and Marshall County, Alabama on-farm trials as well as the Giles County, TN trial. This data is avaialble on the variety selection platform only. October 28 - Yield data is available for the...
Performance of Grain Sorghum in Alabama, 2021
September 27 - Yield data and updated trial images are available for the grain sorghum OVT at the WREC. Additionally, Katelyn Kesheimer, Extension Entomologist, took anthracnose and sugar cane aphid ratings on the trial. Her ratings are available on the variety...
Southeast Alabama Winter Grazing Workshops – 2 Opportunities
There are two upcoming opportunities to attend the Winter Grazing Workshop organized by Southeast Regional Extension Agent, Rickey Hudson of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. Tuesday, August 31, 2021 6:00PM-8:00PM Covington County Extension Office 23952 AL...