Newly developed cultivars of soybeans are continuously being released by universities, USDA-ARS and commercial companies. In addition to improved yields, the transition of herbicide tolerance traits into and out of the marketplace contributes to variety turnover. In 2020, the Georgia Statewide Variety Testing (SWVT) program evaluated 42 soybean varieties of various maturities for at Camilla. Yield, height, lodging, seed size and quality were assessed. The overall yield averaged 18.1 bu/acre, but the top 9 ranged from 21.2 to 24.6 bu/ac. The third highest yield was from a RR1 public variety. Ultra-late yields are typically higher than experienced in 2020. Plots for the 2021 season are awaiting harvest, but they include many of 2020’s high yielding varieties, a large number of new XtendFlex varieties, and higher seeding rates of last year’s public variety. This project will continue to support this work for 2022. For 2022, this project will intend to conduct tests at Camilla and Tifton. The best performing 5 or 10 available varieties from 2021 will be returned to the test and compared to new OVT entries.

1. Retest high-yielding varieties to confirm their adaptability to the system.
2. Screen many new varieties to identify top performers.
3. Determine if public varieties with lower seed costs can be planted at higher seeding rates to boost their yields.

The project will evaluate 45 soybean varieties in ultra-late tests at Attapulgus and Tifton.

The ultra-late production system offers the ability to generate additional revenue following corn on irrigated land, utilizing irrigation systems to produce a crop during what would otherwise be considered the off-season.