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“One of the most important production decisions facing producers each year is which soybean variety or corn hybrid to grow on their farm,” said Emerson Nafziger, UoI extension agronomist.

“The variety testing program in the Department of Crop Sciences at the U of I provides accurate and unbiased performance data on a large number of soybean varieties and corn hybrids so that growers can make the best choice possible on what to plant.”

He points out that the program is one of the largest in the country and has served as a “neutral testing ground” for more than 60 years for corn, and for some 30 years for soybeans.

The entries in this year’s trials were tested at 13 different sites throughout Illinois.

“There were 57 conventional varieties and 544 Roundup resistant varieties from 64 companies in the 2007 soybean trials, while the corn trials included 311 corn hybrids from 46 different seed companies,” Nafziger said. “The total number of soybean varieties included 241 that were nominated by Illinois farmers. Fees for the nominated varieties were paid by the Illinois Soybean Assoc.”

Nafziger notes that the quickest way to find results from these trials is on the website for the Department of Crop Sciences. Paper copies can also be obtained from most extension offices after early December.

“Corn yields were very good across the state,” Nafziger said. “Regional averages in the northern, west-central and east-central trials were over 220 bushels per acre, and the southern trial averaged 185 bushels per acre. Individual location averages were as high as 246 bushels per acre at New Berlin.”

He reported soybean yields were also quite good in most regions of the state. Regional yields were consistently in the range from the mid-50 bushels per acre to 60 in northern and east-central locations.

“The highest yielding location was Mt. Morris in northern Illinois, where two trials averaged nearly 70 bushels per acre,” Nafziger said. “Belleville and Harrisburg attained yield levels in the mid-50 bushels per acre range. The Perry, St. Peter and Elkville locations suffered from dry conditions through July and August, which was reflected in the low yield levels at those sites.”

Nafziger points out while company data and recommendations are essential in deciding what seed to buy this fall for planting in 2008, the UoI variety trial results represent the only place to find so many hybrids and varieties compared to each other in the same trials. “Companies know their products better than anyone else, but they may not always have much information to share on how their varieties perform, compared to those from other companies,” Nafziger said. “Many producers also like to double-check to see how the seed they ordered stacks up against the competition. If the seed company participates in the university trials, such data represent a valuable source of such information.”