Variety selection is one of the most important decisions a soybean producer makes and should be based on results of properly conducted variety trials. Types of variety trials in order of poor to good precision include split-field comparisons, un-replicated strip plots conducted over time and/or space, replicated head-to-head comparisons, and multi-location university-conducted official variety tests (OVT). All are useful and each has its own advantages in selecting high-yielding varieties. Never to use single-location, single-year data in one’s variety selection process; instead, use multi-location multi-year averages. Making selections based on that criteria will normally result choosing high-yielding varieties the following year, regardless of where the variety is grown.
