Variety Testing Program

The University of Missouri Variety Testing program provides an unbiased comparison of corn, grain sorghum, and soybean varieties. These varieties are tested at multiple locations in Missouri wherever crops are grown. Data are collected and compared within four regions: north, central, southwest and southeast Missouri. The UM Variety Testing program is completely self-sufficient and is funded by fees charged to companies that enter varieties into the various tests. Yield comparisons are published in the Crop Performance Reports available in your local extension office or can be viewed on the World Wide Web at: agebb.missouri.edu/cropperf/vartest .

The Greenley Memorial Center is one of five north region sites for corn. In 2005, 109 hybrids were entered into the standard corn test. This test is for corn hybrids that produce grain which has been approved for all uses in the USA and export to both Europe and Japan. There are no restrictions on marketing of grain from hybrids entered into this test. An additional corn test is continued for the third year. This New Technology Test compares hybrids that have biotech traits that are not accepted for export to either Europe or Japan. Thirty five hybrids were entered into this test in 2005. Examples of these hybrids include those with the Herculex gene and hybrids that contain the YieldGuard gene for corn rootworm. These hybrids are compared to three standard high-yielding hybrids. Farmers growing these hybrids should be aware that grain must be channeled into approved markets.

For additional information, please call 573-882-2307 or view our web site at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/cropperf/vartest.