• By Trent Irby •
Many consider variety selection as one of the most important management decisions of the season. With lots of excellent soybean varieties to choose from, this decision can sometimes be time consuming.
Remember, factors such as soil texture, planting date, row spacing and harvest capacity, among others, all can influence the decision of selecting the top varieties.
The following link is for the 2021 variety suggestions list. This list is intended to serve as an additional information source for varieties that have demonstrated the ability to perform across a range of production systems and environments. These suggestions are composed of varieties that were selected based upon overall consistency and performance in variety trials.
Consult other sources such as specific variety trial or demonstration program results and disease rating publications for more detailed information regarding variety performance.
While yield potential is a top priority in variety selection, it is important to spread out risks associated with soybean production by selecting multiple varieties. No variety is perfect on every acre and risks can be minimized by selecting several varieties that have a good fit for your needs.
Keep in mind that your own past experience is a great tool in evaluating how a given variety will perform on your farm. Also, when selecting new varieties or some that you haven’t planted on a wide scale in the past, consider placing these on a smaller scale to ensure they have the right fit for your operation.
Trent Irby is Mississippi State University Extension soybean specialist. He may be reached at trent.irby@msstate.edu