Evaluation of Soybean Varieties in the Northern Uniform Soybean Test–Uniform Test III

The Northern Uniform/Preliminary (UT-PT) Soybean Test is used to evaluate soybean varieties produced by public breeding programs in the Northern portion of the United States and Canada. In 2014, 10 public breeding programs participated in the Northern UT-PT III Tests (Uniform Test III and Preliminary Test IIIA and IIIB). Public breeders were allowed to enter varieties into the UT-PT Test in exchange for growing locations for the test. Material entered into the UT-PT Test is generally in advanced stages of a breeding program. Lines are evaluated one year in Preliminary Testing before being entered in Uniform Tests. Lines usually are evaluated in Uniform trials for two or three years prior to release as new varieties. The UT-PT Soybean Test is an efficient method for soybean breeders to get a wider geographic range of field evaluations on advance lines and to evaluate advance lines from other public programs, which could be used as parents in future crossing. Once a variety is released, these results also are used in cultivar releases, publications, and publicity