Soybean Variety Performance Tests
Welcome to the Kentucky Soybean Variety PerformanceTrials
The Kentucky Soybean Variety Performance Trials are conducted to provide an unbiased and objective estimate of the relative performance of soybean varieties in Kentucky. This information may be used by growers and seed producers to aid in selecting varieties that will give the highest total production in a specific situation. Soybean cultivars are entered by soybean growers, commercial companies, and state and federal institutions.
The soybean variety performance tests are conducted in all major regions of soybean production in Kentucky. Conventional and genetically engineered soybean varieties within the relative maturity groups (MG) 2.0 to 5.9 are accepted. Five tests are planted at each site: varieties in the MG II (2.0-2.9), MG III (3.0-3.9), MG IV Early (4.0-4.5), MG IV Late (4.6-4.9), and MG V (5.0-5.9). Detailed information is provided within the nomination form. The fee per variety is $504. Preliminary data are posted on this webpage as the varieties in each maturity group are harvested.
2020 Soybean Performance Trials
The 2020 test data in Excel and PDF formats are now available. All locations for each maturity group have been harvested and analyzed. Click on the links below to download the 2020 report (PR-794) and the results in Excel:
2020 Kentucky Soybean Variety Trials - Progress Report PR-794 (PDF format)
2020 Kentucky Soybean Variety Trials - Results in Excel format
2021 Variety Performance Tests - Nomination Form
The Kentucky Soybean Variety Performance Test Program is now accepting entries for the 2021 trials. If you have soybean varieties for sale in Kentucky and would like to enter them in the state trials, please fill out the nomination form and send it back by February 19th, 2021.
The form can be downloaded as a PDF file from here: 2021 Nomination form (PDF)
Soybean input and yield trials
The program also offer separate trials. Seed breeders, soybean enhancement product developers, and agronomists interested in these trials should contact Claire Venard to discuss feasibility. The price per plot is $30.
Mid-South Soybean Variety Trial Database Survey
Soybean growing regions often cross state lines but variety trials information is typically reported by state. To provide stakeholders with a clearer picture of variety performance, a project is underway to develop a web-based soybean variety testing database that allows end-users to summarize and filter yield, quality, and phenotypic data based on location characteristics that cross multiple states. This project, the development of a Mid-South Soybean Variety Trial Database, is performed as a collaborative effort from the University of Tennessee, University of Kentucky, Virginia Tech, NC State, and University of Arkansas, and is funded by the United Soybean Board. Input from those involved in soybean production (growers, seed industry, applied research, Extension, crop advisors) is extremely important for developing a product that best meets the needs of stakeholders. If you are interested in providing input for this research project, please participate to the survey located at: soybeandatabase.questionpro.com. Participation is voluntary, and responders must be 18 years old or older.
If you have questions, please contact Dr. Virginia Sykes at vsykes@utk.edu.
Annual publication and archived reports:
Soybean Variety Trials - Archived Reports
Contact:
Claire Venard, PhD, CCA - Soybean Research Specialist
Address: University of Kentucky- CAFE, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, N-122 Agriculture Science Center, 1100 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40546-0091
Phone: 859-257-2993 (office) / 859-492-1135 (cell)
Email: claire.venard@uky.edu