THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS commercial soybean testing program was started in 1969 as a result of requests by seedsmen that their private varieties be tested. There were 57 conventional and 544 roundup resistant varieties from 64 seed companies tested in 2007. This total included 241 varieties entered as ‘Producer Nominated’ varieties, fees for the Producer Nominated varieties were paid by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board.
The purpose of this commercial soybean testing program is to provide unbiased, objective, and accurate testing of all varieties entered. The tests are conducted on as uniform a soil as is available in the testing area. Small plots are used to reduce the chance of soil and climatic variations occurring between one variety plot and another.
The results of these tests should help you judge the merits of varieties in comparison with other private and public varieties. Because your soils and management may differ from those of the test location, you may wish to plant variety strips of the higher-performing varieties on your farm. The results printed in this circular should help you decide which varieties to try.

 

TEST PROGRAM


Selection of entries. Seed companies in Illinois and surrounding states were invited to enter soybean varieties, brands, or blends in the 2007 Illinois soybean performance trials. Entrants were required to enter all nonirrigated, 30-inch-row-width trials on a regional basis. To finance the testing program, a fee of $80 per location was charged for each variety entered by the seed company. Most of these varieties, brands, or blends are commercially available, but some experimental varieties were also entered. A total of 2,896 entries were tested in 2007.

Number and location of tests
. In 2007, tests were conducted at 13 locations in the state (see map). These sites represent the major soils and maturity zones of the state.
Nonirrigated, 30-inch-row-width trials, conventional and roundup resistant, were conducted on a regional basis. The regions are as follows:

  Region 1 Erie, Mt. Morris and DeKalb
Region 2 Monmouth, Goodfield and Dwight
Region 3 Perry, New Berlin and Urbana
Region 4 St. Peter and Belleville
Region 5 Elkville and Harrisburg
  Seven-inch-row-width conventional and roundup resistant trials were conducted at Urbana.

Field plot design. Entries of each test were replicated three times in a randomized complete block or alpha lattice design. The 30-inch-row trial plots consisted of four rows, each 21 feet long. The center two rows of each plot were harvested to measure yield. The 7-inch-row trial plots consisted of eight rows, each 21 feet long. The center six rows were harvested to measure yield.

Fertility and weed control
. All test locations were at a high level of fertility. Herbicides were used at all test locations for weed control. Weed control for the roundup resistant trials consisted of post-emergence applications of Roundup as needed, no pre-emergence herbicide was used. Plots were also weeded by hand if needed.

Method of planting and harvesting
. The 30-inch-row variety trials were planted with a modified bean planter. A custom-built, cone type, narrow-row drill was used to plant the 7-inch trials. Harvesting was done with a small-plot combine. No allowances were made for soybeans that may have been lost as a result of combining or shattering.

Soybean Cyst Nematode
. Soil samples were taken from variety plots at each location in August and evaluated for cyst populations. Threshold numbers of cysts per 100cc of soil are as follows:

  Low 1-5
Medium 6-25
High >25

 

PERFORMANCE DATA

Yield. Soybean yield was measured in bushels (60 pounds) per acre at a moisture content of 13 percent. An electronic moisture monitor was used on the combine for all moisture readings.

Maturity
. Maturity was stated as the date when approximately 95 percent of the pods were ripe.

Lodging
. The amount of lodging was rated at harvest time. The following scale was used:

  1 - Almost all plants erect
2 - All plants leaning slightly or a few plants down
3 - All plants leaning moderately (45o), or 25 to 50 percent of the plants down
4 - All plants leaning considerably, or 50 to 80 percent of the plants down
5 - Almost all plants down

Height. Height was measured shortly before harvest as the average length of plants from the ground to the tip of the main stem.

Shattering
. The percentage of open pods was estimated at harvest time. The following scale was used:

  1 - No shattering
2 - 1 to 10% of pods open
3 - 10 to 25% of pods open
4 - 25 to 50% of pods open
5 - Over 50% 0f pods open

 

Shattering was not significant at any location.


SUGGESTIONS FORCOMPARING ENTRIES

It is impossible to obtain an exact measure of performance when conducting any test of plant material. Harvesting efficiency may vary, soils may not be uniform, and many other conditions may produce variability. Results of repeated tests are more reliable than those of a single year or a single-strip test. When one variety consistently out yields another at several test locations and over several years of testing, the chances are good that this difference is real and should be considered in selecting a variety. However, yield is not the only indicator. You should also consider maturity, lodging, plant height and shattering.
As an aid in comparing soybean varieties, brands, and blends within a single trial, certain statistical tests have been devised. One of these tests, the least significant difference (L.S.D.), when used in the manner suggested by Carmer and Swanson1 is quite simple to apply and is more appropriate than most other tests. When two varieties are compared and the difference between them is greater than the tabulated L.S.D. value, the varieties are judged to be "significantly different."
The L.S.D. is a number expressed in bushels per acre and presented following the average yield for each location. An L.S.D. level of 25% is shown. Find the highest yielding soybean variety within the regional table or single location table of interest, subtract the 25% L.S.D. value from the highest yielding variety, every variety with a greater yield than the resulting number is 'statistically the same' as the highest yielding variety. Consider the merits of the varieties in this group when making varietal selections.
In a study of the frequencies of occurrence of three types of statistical errors and their relative seriousness, Carmer2 found strong arguments for an optimal significance level in the range α = 0.20 to 0.40, where α is the Type I statistical error rate for comparisons between means that are really equal. Herein, a value of α = 0.25 is used in computing the L.S.D. 25-percent level shown in the tables.
To make the best use of the information presented in this circular and to avoid any misunderstanding or misrepresentation of it, the reader should consider an additional caution about comparing varieties. Readers who compare varieties in different trials or row spacings should be extremely careful, because no statistical tests are presented for that purpose. Readers should note that the difference between a single varieties performance at one location or row spacing and its performance at another is caused primarily by environmental effects and random variability. Furthermore, the difference between the performance of variety A in one trial or row spacing and the performance of variety B in another trial or row spacing is the result not only of environmental effects and random variability, but of genetic effects as well.
1Carmer, S.G. and M.R. Swanson. "An Evaluation of Ten Pairwise Multiple Comparison Procedures by Monte Carlo Methods." Journal of American Statistical Association 68:66-74. 1973.
2Carmer, S.G. "Optimal Significance Levels for Application of the Least Significant Difference in Crop Performance Trials." Crop Science 16:95-99, 1976.


2007 TEST FIELDS

Erie
Location: Slaymaker Farm, Whiteside county,
west of Rock Falls, northwestern Illinois.
Soil Type: Beaucoup silty clay loam.
Cooperator: Robert Slaymaker.
Planting Date: May 7.
Harvest Date: October 4.
Herbicide: Pre-Boundary, FirstRate.
Post- FirstRate, Select.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup, Select.
Insecticide: Mustang Max.(aerial)
Tillage: fall chisel, spring field cultivate.
S.C.N.: medium.
Mt. Morris
Location: Nelson Farm, Ogle county,
North of Mt. Morris, north central Illinois.
Cooperator: Rick Nelson.
Soil type: Muscatine silt loam.
Planting Date: May 7.
Harvest Date: October 5.
Herbicide: Pre-Boundary, FirstRate.
Post-FirstRate, Select.
Roundup Trial: Post- Roundup.
Insecticide: Lorsban, Mustang Max.(aerial)
Tillage: fall chisel, spring field cultivate.
S.C.N.: low.
DeKalb
Location: University of Illinois, Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center,
DeKalb County, southwest of DeKalb.
Soil type: Flanagan silt loam.
Cooperators: Lyle Paul, research director; Dave Lindgren, farm foreman.
Planting date: May 7.
Harvest dates: October 6 & 10.
Herbicide: Pre-Boundary, FirstRate.
Post-Accent, FirstRate.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup.
Tillage: fall plow, spring mulch finisher.
S.C.N.: low.
Monmouth
Location: University of Illinois, Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research
and Demonstration Center, Warren County, northwest of Monmouth.
Soil type: Sable silty clay loam.
Cooperators: Eric Adee, agronomist; Martin Johnson, farm foreman.
Planting date: May 9.
Harvest dates: September 20 & 28.
Herbicide: Pre-Boundary, FirstRate.
Post- First Rate, Fusion.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup, Fusion, Array.
Tillage: fall chisel, spring soil finisher.
S.C.N.: high.
Goodfield
Location: Wurmnest Farm, Woodford county, north of Goodfield, central Illinois.
Cooperator: Mike Wurmnest.
Soil Type: Ipava silt loam.
Planting date: May 8.
Harvest dates: September 19 & 26.
Herbicide: Pre-Boundary, FirstRate.
Post-FirstRate, Select.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup.
Insecticide/Fungicide: Headline, Waylay. (aerial)
Tillage: fall chisel, spring soil finisher.
S.C.N. medium.
Dwight
Location: Grundy County, Hoffman Farm.
Soil type: Reddick silty clay loam.
Cooperator: Allen Hoffman.
Planting date: May 8.
Harvest dates: September 21 & 29.
Herbicide: Pre- Boundary, FirstRate.
Post- FirstRate, Select.
Roundup trial : Post- Roundup.
Tillage: fall deep rip, spring field cultivate.
S.C.N.: medium.
Perry
Location: Pike County, Fencik Farm, west central Illinois.
Soil type: Herrick silt loam
Cooperator: Mike Vose, farm foreman.
Planting date: May 9.
Harvest dates: September 17 & October 1,2&5.
Herbicide: Pre- Boundary, FrstRate.
Post-FirstRate, AssureII.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup.
Tillage: fall disk, spring Dyna drive, field cultivate.
S.C.N.: low.
New Berlin
Location: Bennett Farm, Sangamon county,
north of New Berlin, Central Illinois.
Cooperator: Leahy Bennett .
Soil type: Sable silty clay loam.
Planting date: May 10.
Harvest: Sept. 17 & 27.
Herbicide: Pre-Boundary, FirstRate.
Post-FirstRate, Select.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup.
Tillage: fall V ripper, spring field cultivate.
S.C.N. medium.
Urbana
Location: University of Illinois, Crop Sciences Research & Education Center,
Champaign County, east central Illinois.
Soil type: Flanagan silt loam.
Cooperators: Robert Dunker, farm manager; Mike Kleiss, farm foreman.
Planting dates: May 3 (7"), May 6 (30")
Harvest dates: September 13, 24,27,29.
Herbicide: Pre-Boundary. Post-Basagran, Select.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup.
Tillage: fall chisel, spring soil finisher.
S.C.N.: medium
St. Peter
Location: Magnus Farm, Fayette County, west of St. Peter, south central Illinois.
Soil type: Hoyleton silt loam.
Cooperator: Torrey Magnus.
Planting date: May 10.
Harvest: Sept. 22 & 24.
Herbicide: Pre- Boundary, FirstRate. Post-Select.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup.
Tillage: spring disk, soil crumbler.
S.C.N.: medium.
Belleville
Location: Southern Illinois University Research Center,
east of Belleville, St. Clair County.
Soil type: Ebbert silt loam.
Cooperators: Dr. Ed Varsa, research director; Ron Krausz, field manager.
Planting date: May 23.
Harvest dates: Sept. 28, Oct. 6.
Herbicide: PPI- Treflan, Scepter, Spartan. Post- Flexstar, Select.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup.
Tillage: spring disk, field cultivate, cultimulch.
S.C.N.: medium.
Elkville
Location: Funk farm, North of Carbondale, Jackson County, extreme southern Illinois.
Soil type: Okaw silt loam.
Cooperator: Trent Funk.
Planting date: May 14.
Harvest dates: September 23 & October 2, 13.
Herbicide: Pre- Boundary, FirstRate. Post-FirstRate, Select.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup.
Tillage: fall chisel, spring field cultivate.
S.C.N.: medium.
Harrisburg
Location: Wintizer farm, Saline County, extreme southern Illinois.
Soil type: Harco silt loam/Patton silty clay loam.
Cooperator: Kevin Wintizer.
Planting date: May 11.
Harvest dates: September 23 & October 1,13.
Herbicide: Pre- Boundary, FirstRate. Post-FirstRate, Select.
Roundup trial: Post- Roundup.
Tillage: spring disk, field cultivate.
S.C.N.: low.
 

 

GROWING SEASON RAINFALL

Location
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Total
Erie
1.20
6.90
6.25
6.30
0.85
21.5
Mt. Morris
0.95
4.45
9.00
9.30
1.60
25.3
DeKalb
2.01
3.91
8.29
14.1
0.58
28.9
Monmouth
2.94
4.25
4.61
6.40
0.88
19.1
Goodfiled
2.90
0.90
3.80
5.70
1.30
14.6
Dwight
1.78
2.27
6.53
12.1
0.80
23.5
Perry
2.54
2.65
1.12
1.54
0.79
8.84
New Berlin
1.90
4.20
1.70
1.70
2.10
11.6
Urbana
1.58
5.77
5.72
1.48
2.00
16.5
St. Peter
1.36
4.24
3.86
0.08
3.35
12.9
Belleville
5.30
3.23
2.64
1.09
2.11
14.4
Elkville
1.40
2.30
7.00
0.50
0.60
11.8
Harrisburg
1.45
4.20
1.00
2.00
3.00
11.7

 

SOURCES OF SEED

Atlas, Mycogen Seeds, 9330 Zionsville Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46268 (800-692-6436)
AgAlumni, Ag Alumni Seed, 702 State Rd. 28 E, Romney IN 47981 (800-822-7134)
AgSource, AgSource Seeds Inc., 1800 L Ave, Nevada, IA 50201 (515-382-8880)
AgVenture, AgVenture Seeds, PO Box 102, Kentland, IN 47951 (219-474-3339)
Asgrow, Monsanto, 800 N Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63167 (800-335-2676)
Asoyia, Aysoyia, LLC, 102 South Locust, Winfield IA 52659 (319-257-3400)
Baker, Baker Seed Co., 610 W. Seminary St. West Salem, IL 62476 (618-456-8851)
Beck's, Beck's Superior Hybrids, 6767 E 276th St. Atlanta, IN 46031 (317-984-3508)
Bio Gene, Bio Gene Seeds, 5477 Tri-County Hwy. Sardinia, OH 45171 (888-862-3276)
Campbell, Campbell Seed Inc., 1375 N 800 W. Tipton, IN 46072 (800-788-5950)
Clarkson, Clarkson Grain Co., 320 East South St. Cerro Gordo, IL 61818 (800-252-1638)
Crow`s, Crow's Hybrid Corn Co., 612 E Dunlap St. Kentland, IN 47951 (800-331-7201)
Dairyland, Dairyland Seed Co. Inc., PO Box 958, 3520 Hwy H, West Bend, WI 53095 (800-236-0163)
DeKalb, Monsanto, 800 N Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63167 (800-335-2676)
Delta & Pine Land, Delta & Pine Land Company, 100 Main Street, Scott, MS 38772 (361-582-4003)
Delta Grow, Delta Grow Seed, PO Box 219/220 NW 2nd, England, AR 72046 (501-842-2572)
DeRaedt, DeRaedt Seed Corp., 10 N 971 Tower Rd. Hampshire, IL 60140 (847-464-5553)
Dyna-Gro, UAP Distribution, Inc., 1267 W Washington, Pittsfield, IL 62363 (217-285-4461)
Excel, Agrinetics Inc., 1764 Windward Ave., Naperville, IL 60563 (630-417-4265)
Excel, Excel Brand, 116 E State, PO box 320, Camp Point, IL 62320 (800-969-6717)
Excel, Butzow Seed Farms, 1213 Country Rd. 2125 E, St. Joseph, IL 61873 (217-688-3020)
Excel, Coldwater Seed Farm, 26845 S. Coldwater Rd., Elwood, IL (815-423-5357)
Excel, Haas Seed House, 305 N. Broadway, Albers, IL 62215 (217-248-5165)
Excel, Hartke Seed Farms, 22679 Sunset Rd. Litchfield, IL 62056 (217-324-2680)
Excel, Miller Bros Farm & Fertilizer,2001 Niemansville Trail, Walshville, IL 62091 (217-456-9311)
Farm Advantage, Farm Advantage, 1275 Hwy 69, Belmond IA 50421 (641-444-3344)
Fontanelle, Fontanelle Hybrids, 10981 8th St. Fontanelle, NE 68044-2505 (402-721-1410)
FS Hisoy, Growmark Inc., 1701 Towanda Ave, Bloomington, IL 61701 (888-222-4405)
Great Heart, Great Heart Seed, 220 W Washington, Paris, IL 61944 (217-465-4132)
Helena, Helena Chemical Co., 11711 N Pennsylvania St. Carmel, IN 46032 (317-815-6370)
Hoblit, Hoblit Seed Co., PO Box 487, Atlanta, IL 61723 (217-648-2392)
Hoffman, Hoffman Seed House, 200 E 4th Street, Hoffman, IL 62801 (618-495-2617)
Horizon, Horizon Genetics, PO Box 31, Mason City, IL 62664 (800-533-2879)
Hubner, Hubner Seed, 10280 West SR 28, West Lebanon, IN 47991 (765-893-4428)
Hughes, Hughes Seed Farms Inc., 206 N Hughes Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098 (815-338-1141)
Illinois Pride, Illinois Foundation Seeds Inc., 1083 County Rd. 900 N Tolono IL 61880 (217-485-6260)
Kaltenberg, Kaltenberg Seed Farms, 5506 State Rd. 19 PO Box 278, Waunakee, WI 53597-0278 (608-849-5021)
Kitchen, Kitchen Seed Company Inc., PO Box 286, Arthur, IL 61911 (217-543-3476)
Kruger, Kruger Seeds Inc., PO Box A Dike, IA 50624 (800-772-2721)
Lewis, Lewis Hybrids Inc., PO Box 38 / 530 West Maple Ave. Ursa, IL 62376 (800-252-7851)
LG Seeds, LG Seeds, 22827 Shissler Rd. Elmwood, IL 61529 (800-752-6847)
M&D Seed, M&D Seed, 8982 Ford Rd. Kinmundy, IL 62854 (618-292-7498)
Martin, Martin Seeds, Inc., 10045 W 2nd St. Williamsport, IN 47993 (765-986-2030)
Mavrick, Bo-Jac Seed Co., 245 1500th Avenue. Mt. Pulaski, IL 62548 (217-792-5001)
Merschman, Merschman Seeds Inc., PO Box 67, 103 Ave D, West Point, IA 52656 (800-848-7333)
Midland, Brown Seed Enterprises, Inc., 289 Co Rd 550 N. Neoga, IL 62447 (217-895-2335)
Midwest Seed Genetics, Midwest Seed Genetics, PO Box 518, Carroll, IA 51401 (800-369-8218)
Munson, Munson Hybrids Inc, 1262 Knox Road 100 E. Galesburg, IL 61401 (309-343-8410)
MWS, MWS Seeds LLC, 2737 N 700 East Rd. Ashkum, IL, 60911 (815-698-2204)
Mycogen, Mycogen Seeds, 9330 Zionsville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46268 (800-692-6436)
NC+, NC+ Hybrids, 3820 N 56th St. Lincoln, NE 68504 (800-369-8218)
NK Brand, Garst Seed Company, 2369 330 th Street, Slater IA 50244 (888-464-2778)
NuTech, NuTech Seed, LLC, 40321 130th Ave. Leland, IA 50453 (641-567-3350)
Pioneer, Pioneer Hi-Bred Int’l, 14171 Carole Dr, Bloomington, IL 61704 (309-821-9940)
Prairie, Prairie Hybrids, 27445 Hurd Rd., Deer Grove, IL 61243 (815-438-7815)
Public Varieties, Illinois Foundation Seeds Inc., 1083 County Rd 900 N. Tolono, IL 61880 (217-485-6260)
Quality Plus, Quality Plus Seed, 562 State Hwy 164, Monmouth, IL 61462 (866-734-5764)
Renk, Renk Seed, 6809 Wilburn Rd. Sun Prairie, WI 53590 (608-837-7351)
Roeschley, Roeschley Hybrids, 8222 E 1500 N Rd. Graymont, IL 61743 (815-743-5938)
Schillinger, Schillinger Seeds Inc., 4200 Corporate Drive, Suite 106, West Des Moines, IA 50266 (515-225-1166)
Shepherd, Shepherd Seeds/Farms, 2636 E Stateline Rd. Beloit, WI 53511 (608-363-6552)
Sieben, Sieben Hybrids, 1441 Gorman Drive, Geneseo, IL 61254 (309-944-5131)
Southern Cross, Miles Farm Supply, LLC PO Box 22879, Owensboro, KY 42304 (270-926-2420)
Southern States, Southern States Co-op, PO Box 26234, Richmond, VA 23260 (804-281-1203)
Stauffer, Stauffer Seeds, PO Box 128, Carroll, IA 51401 (712-792-2525)
Steyer, Steyer Seeds, 6154 N Co Rd 33, Tiffin, OH 44883 (800-231-4274)
Stine, Stine Seed Co., 22555 Laredo Trail, Adel, IA 50003 (515-677-2605)
Stone, Stone Seed Co., 5965 W State Rt 97, Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 (217-546-8006)
Sun Prairie, Champaign County Seed Co., 1676 County Rd. 2200 E. St. Joseph, IL 61873 (217-469-2351)
Trelay, Trelay Seed Co., 11623 Hwy 80, Livingston, WI 53554 (608-943-6363)
Trisler, Trisler Seeds Inc., 3274 E 800 North Rd. Fairmount, IL 61841 (217-288-9301)
US Soy, US Soy, 2808 Thomason Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938 (217-235-1020)
Wilken, Wilken Seed Grains Inc., PO Box 770, Pontiac, IL 61764 (815-844-3458)
Willcross, Willcross Hybrids LLC., PO Box 560, Garden City, MO 64747 (877-862-6326)