It would be nice for a field to be 100% uniform, but that is not what happens in the real world or research.  In order to account for naturally occurring variation, the variety trials are replicated.

This means that each variety is planted multiple times within a trial.  The average of those plots is the value that gets reported.

Each plot of a variety is randomly distributed within a trial.  The typical experimental design is a randomized complete block.

Least significant difference (LSD) is used to determine whether the observed differences are real or are caused by random variation. 

When using the LSD, two entries may have numerically different values, but the values are not statistically different. 

When two entries are compared, and the observed difference is larger than the LSD, the entries are considered statistically different. 

An alpha level of 0.10 is used, meaning that the differences observed are expected to be real 90% of the time.

For individual trials, varieties are split into two groups. The first group is statistically NOT different from the best value.  This group is given a value of 100% in the top group. The second group is statistically different from the best value and is not in the top group, 0%. 

For multi-year or location data, these values get averaged and show the percentage of time that the variety was in the top group.  This helps show consistency across locations and time.

A positive number is above the trial mean.  A negative number is below the trial mean.

The online variety selection tool uses the z-score to allow users to rank a list of varieties based on multiple data fields.  This is under “Total Scores”.

=value/trial mean

Is a value 90, 100, or 120% of the trial mean?

This is often used on on-farm trials with no statistics.

Skip to Preset Start in Video

Make sure that the appropriate trial year is selected.

Skip to Trial Year Selection in Video

Trial Blocks:  Select the trials that will be included in the analysis.

Select 3rd Party Data:  This gives the option to include data from other states when available.

Skip to Trial Blocks in Video

By including 3rd Party Data (see Trial Blocks), out-of-state data can be dynamically imported and included in the analysis.

Select which data fields will be in the analysis.

Skip to Data Fields in Video

It is recommended to use “Top Yield Group” when available.  See the explanation above.

 This tab allows users to include/exclude any data field(s) based on their choice of criteria.   Examples:

• Only see certain varieties
• Only see varieties with yields greater than or equal to _____
• Only see varieties with greater than or equal to ____ # of tirial years
• Only see dryland or irrigated trials

Skip to Filters in Video

Click at the top of the column to sort the data.

• 1st click = ascending order
• 2nd click = descending order
• 3rd click = default order

Skip to Sorting in Video

Trial Blocks:  one trial block (location) per tab.

Data Fields: one data field per tab

Trial Block Categories:  one category per tab (ex.  North, Central, South)

Skip to Group By in Video

The “Total Scores” column ranks varieties from highest to lowest based on z-scores.

The z-score is calculated for each column.  Then, values are averaged across the columns, giving the average z-score for each variety.

When data fields or locations have been weighted, they can either influence the ranking greater or less based on the selection.

Skip to Total Scores in Video

Influence the ranking of varieties (Total Scores) by customizing how the data is weighted for data fields or locations.

Data Fields:  make certain data field(s) count more or less toward the rankings

Trial Blocks:  make certain trial block(s) count more or less toward the rankings

Click the scale/balance icon to adjust the weights.

Analytics can be exported in two main formats.

• CSV
• Image

To export the analytics page, click the settings (gear) icon, scroll down, and choose the preferred format.

Skip to Export in Video

The analysis is done.  Easily share the end product with anyone.

Click the link icon at the top right side of the screen.  The analytics page and any customizations can be sent to another user and viewed without having to go through all the steps.

Skip to Sharing in Video

Click the checkbox just to the left of the variety name to select the variety(s) of interest.  Then click the compare button on the top right.

The selected varieties will then populate in the compare tool

Make sure to select the appropriate trial year(s).

Skip to Trial Years in Video

By selecting any trial(s) from the column on the left, a spreadsheet will populate with all available data for the selected trial(s).

Results are broken up into multiple categories/tabs (located at the top of the screen).

Research:  Yield, Top Yield Group, Maturity Dates, Statistics, Soil Types, etc.

Quality:  Because forage quality results are so substantial, they are reported on a separate tab.

Ratings:  Disease ratings are broken out on their own tab.

Means:  This tab shows the variety’s yield, the trial mean, and the variety’s % above or below the trial mean.

Loan Values:  For cotton and peanuts, loan values and their values that are used in the calculations are reported on a separate tab.

Skip to Selecting a Trial in Video

Trial Events:  Click the calendar icon next to the trial name to view how the trial was managed chronologically.

Weather Data:  Click the cloud icon next to the trial name to see the season’s weather data collected from on-site weather stations.

• See max, min, average, and total measurements for each data field recorded by the weather station.
• Generate a graph showing 2 weather data fields across the season.
• Overlay the trial management on the weather graph.
• View and/or export the daily weather recordings from the weather station.

Skip to Trial Management/Events in Video

 Skip to Weather Data in Video

Trial Spreadsheet:  Click the link icon next to the trial name and send a link to a friend.

Weather Data:  Share the weather data/graph with another by using the link icon.

Trial/Variety Images:  When viewing images, click the share icon on the top right and share a single image or share the entire gallery.

Skip to Sharing Results in Video

Click the image icon next to the trial name to view any associated images.

• General trial overview images
• Variety specific images

Skip to Trial Images in Video

Trial Spreadsheets:  To export the trials page, click the settings (gear) icon, scroll down, and choose the preferred format (Excel or CSV).

Weather Graph:  Click the image icon at the top of the weather graph to export the graph as an image.  This is great for creating presentations.

Whether varieties were selected and populated using the analytics tool or starting from scratch, varieties can be added or removed using the interface on the left.

Skip to Selecting Varieties in Video

Make sure to select the appropriate trial year(s). 

There are two options:

• Click the value and view each data point that makes up the average for an individual variety.
• Click the data field and view each data point for all displayed varieties.

Skip to Expanding Data Fields in Video

Within the results, the number of variety records will be displayed.  This is the number of trials/data points that are available for each variety.

By clicking the correlated data button under the filters tab, varieties will only be displayed when they exist in the same trials.  This prevents varieties from being weighted differently when one has been tested more than another.

Skip to Correlated Data in Video

There are multiple options to filter the results.

• If data was imported from the analytics page, any filters used will transfer over.
• Under the filters tab, filter data by data field the same as using the Analytics Tool.
• Under the Trial Blocks tab, display only the trial blocks of choice.

There are multiple options to filter the results.

• If data was imported from the analytics page, any filters used will transfer over.
• Under the filters tab, filter data by data field the same as using the Analytics Tool.
• Under the Trial Blocks tab, display only the trial blocks of choice.

Highlight a certain value(s) so that they stand out in the results.

At the top right corner of the table, there is a brush icon with multiple colors available. This tool can be used to aid in making differences stand out.

Skip to Markup in Video

Use the link icon at the top right corner of the screen to share a link with a friend.

Skip to Sharing in Video

Using the icons at the top right corner of the screen, export the results as an image or in Excel format.

Skip to Exporting in Video