Evaluation of Soybean Variety Performance in KY

Soybean production is an important component of Kentucky’s agricultural economy. New varieties are continually being developed by breeders/seed companies. In order to maximize the profitability of soybean production, unbiased annual evaluation of varieties is needed to help farmers select varieties with superior agronomic performance. Grain yield is directly related to crop income, but varietal traits, such as plant height, lodging potential, maturity group, seed composition and disease resistance are also important management-related components of profitability and sustainability. The UK Soybean Variety Testing Program annually evaluates the agronomic performance and general adaptability of soybean varieties grown in Kentucky. Support for UK Soybean Variety Testing is essential for the program’s ability to function and release quality data annually to growers in a timely manner.