The Kentucky Soybean Variety Performance Tests are conducted to provide an unbiased and objective estimate of the relative yield performance of soybean varieties grown in Kentucky. The trials assess the relative performances of commercial soybean varieties in the maturity groups II, III, IV, and V. Performance of soybean cultivars is affected by many factors including location, weather pattern over the course of the growing season, soil type, time of planting, and agronomic management. A particular variety is usually adapted for a geographical area approximately 100 miles wide from north to south. Therefore, the best varieties in northern Kentucky may not be suitable in southern parts of the state. For these reasons, the tests are conducted at 8 locations in the major soybean producing areas of Kentucky, and environmental data are collected at all test sites. The project supports a technician position. The Technician assists the project leader by providing support with all steps of soybean agronomic production and data collection: planting, stand count, pest and disease control over the course of the growing season, preparation for harvest, and collecting samples for seed composition analysis. In addition, the technician operates and maintains the plot research equipment. The data are released in the form of a bulletin, the “Soybean Variety Performance Tests” report, published by the University of Kentucky in November. The objective of the program is to provide this publication at a time when soybean producers in Kentucky need resources to help them with selecting the best soybean varieties for their production systems. The bulletin can be downloaded from the program website, and is also available as printed copies at the University of Kentucky Extension Offices.