2022 Soybean Variety Trial Results Now Available for Most States

PRINCETON, KENTUCKY

   Variety selection is one of the most critical management decisions soybean growers will make. Yield potential is usually considered of primary importance, but other factors, such as maturity, and herbicide & technology traits are also essential components of making variety selection decisions.

   In this period of prolonged inflation, production input costs continue to increase. Assuming comparable seed costs, variety selection is the most cost-effective way to maximize production profitability.  

   Results from the 2022 University of Kentucky Soybean Variety Trials are available at https://pss.ca.uky.edu/extension/soybean-variety-trials. Many state variety testing programs also post results online as the data becomes available during the harvest period, allowing growers to make informed decisions in a timelier manner.

   A thorough evaluation of varietal agronomic characteristics allows growers to identify top yielding varieties, as well as secondary traits important to their production system, such as maturity, herbicide and other technology traits, cyst nematode and disease resistance, and possibly seed protein or oil content in making variety selection decisions.

   Because weather, soil, and other environmental factors may alter varietal performance from one location to another, tests are annually conducted at multiple locations throughout each state. It is best to have multi-year data at multiple locations from which to draw conclusions. Single year data from one test location should not be used for variety selection. Varieties that perform well across multiple locations and years are more likely to perform well under future growing conditions. Regional trial data may, however, be beneficial to use in conjunction with multi-location results.  This allows growers to factor in varietal response to local growing conditions, while still utilizing the overall state summary data.

   Most states have variety testing programs to offer growers free, unbiased, reliable information to assist in making variety selection decisions. Taking advantage of this opportunity to increase production potential with no additional inputs is easy and just a few clicks away.

   Bill Bruening, Research Specialist, University of Kentucky