2020
NC On-Farm Soybean Variety Trial Program
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomics
Lead Principal Investigator:
Rachel Vann, North Carolina State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
19-092
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

Selecting the correct soybean variety based on soil type, production practices and disease resistance ensures growers maximize yield and profit. The NC State Official Variety Testing program evaluates many soybean varieties each year. The goal with project is to provide the structure for wide-reaching, on-farm soybean variety trials across the state to allow for more robust data collection and to ensure these trials compliment the results gleaned from NC State trials. This effort amplifies soybean variety selection resources by supporting variety testing in diverse regions of the state to complement the Official Soybean Variety Testing Program, determines top-yielding soybean varieties for individual regions and delivers timely soybean varietal information.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Final Project Results

Many soybean maturity groups are grown successfully across North Carolina (MGIII-MGVIII). This coupled with rapid turnover of soybean varieties due to ever changing trait packages makes soybean variety selection in North Carolina a challenge. This project sought to help growers with the challenge of variety selection by enhancing the grower/Agent relationship through amplified on-farm testing that ultimately enabled growers with a larger toolset for variety
selection. In 2019 and 2020, replicated, agent-led soybean variety trials were conducted across North Carolina to provide producers with localized variety selection data that complimented the data generated from the Official Variety Testing Program. Data was successfully collected and summarized at some locations. Information was well received by growers and industry professionals. Agents have recognized the value of conducting replicated variety trials through
this initiative and we already have ten County Extension Agents intending on conducting replicated soybean variety trials in 2021.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.