Planting clean, high quality seed is the foundation of any successful soybean production system. But how do you select the best varieties for your fields?

Here are some suggestions that will keep you on the top side of yield and profits.

1. First, consider what special problems might limit your yield in any given field. (Example: High pH soils could produce chlorosis; low or poorly drained heavy soils might harbor diseases like phytophthora root rot.)
2. Review and compare test plot results — especially plots in your farming area with similar soils, weather patterns and growing degree data.
3. Select your best variety or varieties on more than just yield. Compare emergence, maturity, disease resistance, standability, and then yield.
4. Emergence scores are often listed on a 1-to-10 rating scale, with 10 representing the best emergence. Strong emergence becomes an important factor when working with soils that easily crust. Emergence ratings, however, cannot relate to droughty conditions when seed lays too dry to initiate germination.
5. The variety selected should mature before the average first frost date for the farmer's location. Generally, the longest season variety adapted to your region has the highest yield potential, but it also runs the risk of early frost damage.
6. If you have a large soybean operation, spreading maturity dates by selecting three different varieties might be a good weather hedge. This is especially true if shattering becomes a problem due to excessively fast drydown and beans are left standing in the field too long.
7. When studying trial results, two or three year's data gives a more reliable picture of a variety's capabilities than results from just one year. By the same token, don't wait too long to cash in on the extra profits of a "hot new" variety.
8. If you're into narrow row width or solid seeding, be sure to consider varieties that thrive under this type of production.
9. Buy locally — if you have problems with your seed, need more seed for replant purposes, and/or want more service; whatever the need, dealing with your local Ziller dealer is considerably more convenient.