By Darren Hefty

For many farmers, 2011 was wet, so we learned much about the defensive traits of soybeans, including some great observations on Iron Deficiency Chlorosis tolerance and Phytophthora genes and field tolerance.  In 2012, we saw the drought tolerance come through.  Some varieties fell victim to mid to late season diseases.  Some shortened up and just never yielded.  Others came through 2011 AND 2012 very successfully.  So what will 2013 bring?

The reason I went through those things is because I wanted you to understand that the soybeans being released in 2013 and those that will be coming out in 2014 will be, for the most part, very solid and consistent performers.  They’ve seen both ends of the weather extremes and performed well.  We hope you will see significant improvements in the soybeans you plant on your farm over the next couple years, and genetics are tremendously important.

On our farm, we plant new varieties every year and spread our risk by planting multiple varieties.  Last year, for example, we had 8 major varieties over 1200 acres of soybeans (in addition to all the varieties we looked at in plots and strip trials).   We also hired a full-time research professional at Ag PhD to evaluate new varieties, new products, and new farming techniques through small, replicated plots as well as full field-scale trials.

Due to the poor weather in many areas this summer, plot data has been tough to come by.  Here are some of our Hefty Brand Soybean results from the F.I.R.S.T. Independent Seed Trials (www.firstseedtests.com).  Watch for our varieties in trials in your area, as well.

Regional summaries from the F.I.R.S.T. trials (typically the average of 4 locations per region and around 60 entries per site):

  • IOWA:  North – 2 Top 10 Entries; North Central – 2 Top 10 Entries; Northwest – 1 Top 5 Entry
  • NORTH DAKOTA:  Southeast – 1 Top 5 Entry; East Central – 3 Top 20 Entries
  • SOUTH DAKOTA:  Southeast – 2 Top 10 Entries; Northeast – 3 Top 10 Entries; East Central – The #1 Highest Yielding Entry in the Region
  • MINNESOTA:  Central – 3 Top 15 Entries; South Central – 2 Top 15 Entries; South – 1 Top 10 Entry