About the Soybean Performance Tests

This report is a contribution of the Division of Plant Science & Technology, University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The work was supported by fees from companies and organizations submitting varieties for evaluation. Soybeans were first included in the University of Missouri's variety testing program in 1973. The number of entries in the program has increased from 51 in 1973 to over 400 in 2012. The large number of varieties available makes selection of a superior variety difficult. To select intelligently, producers need a reliable, unbiased, up-to-date source of information that will permit valid comparisons among available varieties. The objective of the University of Missouri's performance testing program is to provide this information. The tests are conducted under as uniform conditions as possible. Small plots are used to reduce the chance of soil and climatic variations occurring between the variety plots. Results obtained should aid the individual grower in judging the relative merits of the commercial soybean varieties available in Missouri today.