2001 MSGA County Strip Trial Results

Since variety selection is so important for the success of the Minnesota soybean producer, utilization of unbiased, statistically sound, local data is critical. Thanks to the hard work and commitment of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, County MSGA boards, local Plot Coordinators, and farmer cooperators, the following data meets that criteria. As an example, well over half of the county strip trials were replicated at one or more locations in 2001. With continued replication (within and among counties), randomization, and standardization of county plots in the future, the increased predictive value of the plots will insure that our growers select the best varieties for their operation.

"Choosing Soybean Varieties" by Seth Naeve

The 2001 County data is presented by County in the following format:

Yield (in bu/A), Protein, and Oil are all adjusted to 13% moisture
Where plots are replicated, the combined analysis is listed first, followed by the individual plots
All summaries are ranked by Yield in descending order
LSD's at the .05 level are included for combined analyses
At least seven counties will be reporting oil and protein percentages.

Although some of this data will be presented in the following tables, a separate link will be set up specifically for those trials reporting oil and protein.

If any growers would like to see specific varietal comparisons or "Head-to-Heads", please contact me and I will supply that data as quickly as possible.

Daryl Hexum, Ph.D.
Soybean Plot Coordinator
(612) 625-0210
hexum002@tc.umn.edu

"Choosing Soybean Varieties"
by Seth Naeve, Extension Soybean Agronomist, University of Minnesota

Variety selection will be the most important agronomic decision made on most farms this year. It is not a decision to be taken lightly, nor should any one person or company have undue influence over it. The most important piece of information used to make variety decisions is product performance data. There are many sources of such information, but these are not equally helpful to producers.

The best means of determining which varieties have the greatest yield potential next year on any farm is to look for varieties that have yielded well in many locations in the past year or years. It is essential that producers use information from replicated field trials to make these choices. Ideally, use information from an unbiased source, such as university variety trials. These tests are replicated, utilize several locations, and offer farmers the best estimation of yield potential next year on your farm.

County strip trial results can also be helpful to farmers as long as these results come from replicated tests or from summaries across many local strip trials. Using information from a limited number of unreplicated trials is dangerous. Often a single variety can yield well in a few strip trials and fail in production fields the following year.

URL: http://www.soybeans.umn.edu/crop/variety/County_Trials/2001/index.htm

Last Modified 9/6/05 by:
Sarah Jameson-Jones
Web Designer/Developer
james039@umn.edu