At Stine, we have several different methods of testing our lines to ensure we are providing growers the best possible seed for their soil type. One of those tests includes our Elite Yield Trials for soybeans. You may have seen us reference these trials in our 2015 product catalog, and we’re happy to explain just what goes into these trials to achieve measurable results.
Stine’s Elite Yield Trials help determine which soybean varieties will be commercialized for the market. When products enter this phase, they are grouped by relative maturity and tested for two years in up to 15 to 20 different locations. The maturities typically range +/- 0.5, in sets of about 50, and are tested two to four times at each location to be sure we’re able to determine which lines outperform others. Once the results have been measured, we use that data to determine an average trendline for the sets. As an example, when a variety performs 102 percent of trial average, it actually yielded two percent better than the average trendline, or the overall average for all products in the set.
While the Elite Yield Trials can be used to compare products of a similar maturity, it’s important to remember the data cannot be used to measure other products that were not included in the set. Contact your Stine RSA or DSM with any questions you may have on Stine’s Elite Yield Trials.