The yield potential in soybean has increased 0.3 to 0.4 bushels per acre per year. If you are planting the same variety you planted five years ago, you are probably losing yield potential.

There are several things to consider when selecting a soybean variety. First, select a maturity group that is adapted to your region. Next, select a high-yielding variety that has the nematode and disease resistance packages that are present in your field. Gather data from several respectable sources that conduct replicated studies and that are planted over many geographic regions. Use a maturity group adapted to the region and cropping system that you employ. For example, maturity group VI soybeans are suitable to the mid-south, but growers have moved to an early planting system with an earlier maturity group.

Seed from non- GMO varieties can be saved, however this is not recommended.

Buying the cheapest soybean seeds is not always the best option. Purchase the varieties that best fit your needs based on field history and past problems. There are several sources for variety information. The first place to start is your state variety trial. These are unbiased replicated tests conducted over several locations and environments. Other sources include individual seed companies as well as private company trials. Multiyear, multisite data tests the affect of several environments on crop yield; local data only tests the affect of last year’s environment on yield. Multiyear, multisite data should be consulted first. Compare variety performance from the multiyear, multisite data to variety performance data from your neighbor's strip plot. Varieties that perform well in all tests have a better chance of performing well on your farm.

Selecting varieties for no-till and flower color is not important. Soybean is a self-pollinated plant and does not require pollinators such as bees.

Generally producers should grow several varieties with a range of adapted maturities. The number of varieties is dependent upon grower size, equipment needs, and risk aversion.

All soybean varieties have the ability to compensate for reduced population. There is no evidence to suggest that canopy architecture will affect yield.

For more information on this or other topics related to soybean production, contact your state extension specialist or your local extension educator/agent.

The following is the link to the soybean extension specialists: state extension soybean specialist.