With processors on the eve of offering protein and oil premiums, growers know those criteria are gaining importance as they pick their soybean varieties.
But what do the percentages really mean? Do they really tell a grower what the protein or oil content will be with a certain variety when grown on the farm?
It depends on the company - where the protein and oil contents were taken, by what method and how they were determined, says Charles Hurburgh, Iowa State University ag engineer.
"Everybody isn't on the same basis," explains Hurburgh.
"The best way to express protein and oil is not in absolute numbers, but against a benchmark. Compare the average at the location the data was collected at. Then you can say, instead of that the protein is 36% and the oil is 18%, that the protein of this variety should be one percentage point above average and the oil should be about equal," he adds.
The following list of new soybean varieties comes from breeders and agronomists at USDA-ARS, universities and private companies. All protein and oil percentages are compared on a 13% moisture basis rather than a dry matter basis.
In selecting varieties, Hurburgh recommends that growers quiz seed companies about how protein and oil data were determined before banking on premiums. Growers can also compare percentages against the annual state and regional survey provided by the American Soybean Association and United Soybean Board (see printed article).
Keep in mind that only up to four varieties per company are listed here. And that much of the yield data reported is based on company trials. So browse through this wish list and then talk with seed company representatives about what else may be available. The following pureline variety choices are divided into conventional, Roundup Ready and STS varieties and by maturity groups.
Group III - Roundup Ready
Great Lakes Hybrids: GL 3401RR is a medium-tall mid-Group III Roundup Ready (RR) variety with excellent emergence, lodging and shatter resistance. It has good sudden death syndrome (SDS) and iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance, along with the Rps1k gene, which gives excellent phytophthora root rot (PRR) resistance. In company tests at 21 locations, GL 3401RR outyielded A3002 by 1.7 bu/acre and Stine 3514 by 7.6 bu/acre. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Garst Seed Co.: D399RR/N is a late Group III with resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) race 3 and moderate resistance to race 14. It has very good PRR tolerance and emerges quickly compared to D398. This medium-tall, medium-bushy plant tolerates stress well and performs better in wide rows. It may be planted in narrower rows where conditions suppress height. Protein and oil content, at 13% moisture, are 38.3% and 18.7%, respectively.
Golden Harvest: H-3960RR is a late Group III-early Group IV soybean suitable for use as an early bean in Group IV growing areas. The medium-tall, bushy plants have good standability, excellent shatter resistance, good PRR tolerance and resistance to SCN race 3. Its height and bushiness make it well-suited for rolling, stress-prone ground. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Great Lakes Hybrids: GL 3801RR, a late Group III, has a medium-tall plant with excellent emergence and good standability. It's tolerant to SDS, iron chlorosis and PRR and has PRR Rps1k resistance. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Group IV - Roundup Ready
Golden Harvest: H-4110RR is an early Group IV variety suitable for all tillage practices and row spacings. It has good emergence and PRR tolerance, along with solid late-season disease tolerance - especially to SDS. The medium-tall plants have good standability and stress tolerance. The variety yields well across many soil types, making it suitable for fields with variable soils or high fertility. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Dekalb Genetics: CX440cRR is a widely adapted mid-Group IV with excellent emergence and resistance to SDS and SCN race 3. It carries the Rps1k gene for PRR resistance. Adapted to all row widths and tillage practices, it works well in cool or poorly drained soils. Protein, 35.8%; oil, 18.1%.
Garst Seed Co.: D450RR/N is a mid-Group IV with excellent emergence and stress tolerance. It's resistant to SCN race 3 and moderately resistant to race 14. It carries the Rps1k gene for multirace PRR resistance, and is tolerant of SDS, charcoal rot and frogeye leaf spot. It has good shattering resistance. Medium planting populations are recommended for this larger bushy plant in order to maintain standability and harvestability. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Golden Harvest: H-4404RR is a mid-Group IV soybean that performs well on all soil types. It carries the Rps1k gene for PRR resistance, is resistant to SCN race 3 and moderately resistant to race 14 and has excellent SDS tolerance. This medium-tall variety has excellent emergence and season-long standability. It performs well under drought stress and on variable fields, but yields peak in high-fertility fields. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Growmark (FS HiSoy): RT 4495 is a mid-Group IV with multirace PRR resistance, SCN resistance, and good resistance to SDS and frogeye leaf spot. It's a big, branching plant, best adapted to moderate planting rates in various row spacings. In company research, it outyielded AG4501 by 5.9 bu/acre and RT 446 by 8.1 bu/acre. Protein, 35.3%; oil, 19.5%.
Growmark (FS HiSoy): RT 4695 is a mid-Group IV soybean with a medium-tall canopy that adapts to both wide and narrow rows. It's resistant to SCN races 3 and 14, with good PRR tolerance and average SDS resistance. It outyielded RT 446 by 3.4 bu/acre in company research. Protein, 36.5%; oil, 19.8%.
Mycogen: Atlas 5441NRR is a mid-Group IV with resistance to SCN race 3 and moderate resistance to race 14. It's rated excellent for emergence and very good for lodging resistance. With medium height and medium canopy, it adapts to all row widths. 5441NRR has good tolerance to PRR and the Rps1k resistance gene. In company trials, it outyielded Novartis S46-W8RR by 2 bu/acre. Protein, 39.1%; oil, 18.8%.
NC+ Hybrids: 4N49RR, a mid-Group IV, offers Rps1k PRR resistance along with SCN race 3 and 4 (14) resistance. It also tolerates SDS and charcoal rot well and is well-suited for 30" or wider rows as well as no-till. This variety produces a medium-type, tall plant that shows excellent emergence, good standability and outstanding yield potential. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l.: 94B45 is a mid-Group IV that features resistance to PRR (Rps1k), moderate resistance to SCN races 3 and 14 and superior SDS tolerance. The medium-height, medium-canopy plant has good emergence and standability. In company tests, it outyielded AG4401 by 6%. Protein, 37%; oil, 18%.
Sure-Grow Seed: 468RR is a mid-Group IV indeterminate, that is best-suited for heavy clay and tight soils with tough, stressful conditions. It performs well when planted early, particularly in Deep South environments, and shows a yield advantage under dryland conditions. It's resistant to stem canker and tolerant to PRR. An upright-type with medium height, it's well-suited for conservation tillage programs. Protein and oil data unavailable.
AgriPro Seeds: AP4888RR is a mid-late Group IV soybean. It matures and yields similar to AP4880 and has the same high level of SDS tolerance, but slightly better lodging and shattering resistance. This medium-tall, medium-bushy plant is well-adapted across environments, soils and row widths. Protein, 35%; oil, 19.4%.
Deltapine Seed: DP 4690 RR, a mid-late Group IV, features broad adaptability over a range of Southern soil types and conditions. It has shown very good PRR and SDS tolerance. The variety is similar to DP 3478 but is slightly taller and has outyielded it by 6% in company trials. Protein, 35%; oil, 20.4%.
AgriPro Seeds: AP4836RR/N is a late Group IV, indeterminate variety that matures three to four days earlier than AP4980RR. It's a tall, upright-plant type with very good standability. Resistant to SCN race 3, it's moderately resistant to race 14. It has shown good yield potential across varying soil types; in '98 research trials at 14 locations, it averaged 58 bu/acre. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Asgrow Seed Co.: AG4902 is a late Group IV with resistance to SCN race 3. It has excellent SDS tolerance, good charcoal rot tolerance and resistance to PRR through the Rps1k gene. The variety has outyielded AG4901 by 4.3 bu/acre at over 29 locations. The variety is well-adapted to conservation tillage conditions. Protein, 36%; oil, 17.6%.
Dekalb Genetics: CX480cRR is a late Group IV with excellent emergence and resistance to SCN race 3. This tall variety has good stress tolerance and above-average SDS tolerance. It's well-suited to all tillage practices, particularly no-till. Protein, 35.7%; oil, 17.7%.
Garst Seed Co.: D484RR/N is an indeterminate, late Group IV widely adapted to southern growing areas. It's resistant to SCN race 3 and moderately resistant to race 14. The variety has good tolerance to PRR and SDS. Emergence is excellent and it performs under stress in all row widths - with a taller height and medium canopy. It can be used in conventional rotations or doublecropped. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Great Lakes Hybrids: GL 4800RR is a late Group IV, tall, bushy plant type. It has good SDS, PRR and brown stem rot (BSR) tolerance and very good stem canker tolerance. It has good emergence and lodging resistance and excellent shatter resistance. Protein, 34.5%; oil, 19.4%.
Growmark (FS HiSoy): RT 4895 is a late Group IV RR with a tall, semi-branching canopy. It's adapted to all row spacings, but does best at moderate populations. The variety has excellent emergence, very good PRR tolerance, good SDS resistance and resistance to SCN races 3 and 14. In company trials, it outyielded AG4702 by 1.6 bu/acre and Pioneer 94B81 by 5.5 bu/acre. Protein, 35.2%; oil, 18.8%.
Hartz Seed Co.: H4882RR, a late Group IV variety, resists frogeye leaf spot, and has good stem canker tolerance. It's resistant to SCN race 3, with moderate resistance to race 14. Its tall, thin plants have good standability and should respond well when planted early in narrow rows. It has outyielded AG4501 and AG4901 in company tests. Protein and oil data unavailable.
NC+ Hybrids: 4N79RR is a late Group IV with excellent emergence and stress tolerance, making it a suitable no-till variety. It's resistant to SCN races 3 and 4 (14) and has above-average SDS tolerance. The tall, medium-type plant has good standability and is suited to all row spacings. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Sure-Grow Seed: 498RR is a late Group IV, indeterminate variety bred for heavy clay and tight soils with tough, stressful conditions. It shows a yield advantage under irrigation and does well when planted early - particularly in narrow rows or drilled. The variety is resistant to stem canker and tolerant to PRR and high-chloride soils. It is a semi-bushy type with medium-short height. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Group IV - Conventional
Golden Harvest: H-4115 is an early Group IV variety with good emergence and tall, relatively narrow plants. It has above-average tolerance to SDS and is resistant to SCN race 3 and moderately resistant to race 14. It's well-adapted to high-fertility soils but also performs well in variable soils and under moisture stress. Due to its height, it does well as an early variety in later Group IV growing areas. Protein and oil data unavailable.
NC+ Hybrids: 4N26, an early Group IV, gives race 3 and race 4 (14) SCN resistance and excellent SDS tolerance. This medium-height, bush-type plant has excellent emergence and shatter tolerance and is suitable for all row spacings. It's been the top-yielding variety in NC+ trials two years running. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Novartis Seeds: S42-H1 is an early Group IV variety, maturing about the same as S43-B5. It's a medium-height, intermediate-canopy plant with excellent emergence and good standability. It's resistant to SCN races 3 and 14 and has moderate-to-good tolerance to BSR, PRR and SDS. In three years of company trials, S42-H1 outyielded S43-B5 by nearly 2.5 bu/acre and A4138 by over 4.5 bu/acre. Protein, 37%; oil, 17%.
Garst Seed Co.: D445N, a mid-Group IV, is resistant to SCN race 3 and moderately resistant to race 14. It has high yield potential and dependable standability in a wide range of environments. It carries good PRR and BSR tolerance and excellent tolerance to iron chlorosis in Southwestern states. The plant is a medium-bushy type, suited to 30" or narrower rows. Wider rows are appropriate in highly managed or irrigated areas. Protein, 38.2%; oil, 18.3%.
Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l.: 94B53 is a mid-Group IV soybean with resistance to SCN race 3, moderate resistance to race 14 and very good tolerance to SDS. It's medium in height with very good emergence and standability. In company tests, it outyielded 9452 by 4 bu/acre. Protein, 36%; oil, 18%.
AgriPro Seeds: AP4882, a mid-late Group IV, is widely adapted across environments, soil types and row widths. It matures about a day earlier than AP4880. This medium-tall variety has outstanding SDS tolerance with very good standability and a bushy canopy. Southern test plots showed a 4-bu/acre yield advantage over AP4880. Protein, 33.2%; oil, 20.3%.
Deltapine Seed: DP 4909 is a late Group IV that features excellent resistance to SCN races 3 and 14, stem canker and soybean mosaic virus. It has shown excellent adaptability to a range of Midsouth soils and conditions, outyielding RA 452 by about 9% in 40 company trials. Plants are medium height and produce large seed. The variety is susceptible to frogeye leaf spot and moderately susceptible to SDS. Protein, 38%; oil, 19%.
Group IV - STS
Novartis Seeds: S40-C1 is an early Group IV sulfonylurea-tolerant soybean (STS) variety. A medium-tall, intermediate-canopy type, it matures slightly earlier than A4138. It has very good standability and shatter resistance plus good BSR tolerance and average tolerance to SDS. It has outyielded S46-W8 by about 2 bu/acre in two years of company trials. Protein, 36%; oil, 18%.
LG Seeds: LG 6457CSTS, a mid-Group IV release, combines the STS trait with SCN resistance. It has excellent SDS resistance and good PRR tolerance and is well-suited to no-till environments. In company tests, yields have been 9-10% higher than most competitive cyst and RR lines. Protein and oil data unavailable.
NC+ Hybrids: 4N45STS is a mid-Group IV resistant to frogeye leaf spot and SCN races 3 and 4 (14). It's also SDS-tolerant and carries Rps1k PRR resistance. This medium-tall, bushy-type plant has excellent emergence and standability and is suited for all row spacings. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Group V - Roundup Ready
Asgrow Seed Co.: AG5001 is an early Group V indeterminate variety with the RR gene. It has the Rps1a gene for PRR resistance and good SDS tolerance. The new entry is several days earlier than, and has outyielded, AG5401. It should be suitable for early planting in the South. Protein, 36.1%; oil, 17.7%.
Dekalb Genetics: CX520cRR is an early Group V soybean with excellent emergence and moderate resistance to SCN race 3. This determinate variety has very good standability and above-average PRR tolerance. It's well-suited to all tillage practices, including no-till. Protein, 36.5%; oil, 17.4%.
Hartz Seed Co.: H5010RR, an early Group V, is resistant to frogeye leaf spot and tolerant to PRR. It's a short variety with excellent lodging resistance that does well on silt loam to sandy soils. It outyielded H5545RR in company tests. Protein, 35%; oil, 18.9%.
AgriPro Seeds: AP569RR/N is a mid-Group V that matures three days earlier than AP588RR and two days later than AP543RR. It's resistant to SCN race 3, moderately resistant to race 14 and stem canker, and carries the Rps1c gene for PRR resistance. In '98 yield data from 19 Southern locations, it showed a 2.9 bu/acre yield advantage over Hutcheson. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Delta King Seed Co.: 5661RR is a new-generation mid-Group V variety with Delta King 5995 in its parent line. It has resistance to SCN races 3 and 14 and better-than-average tolerance to stem canker, frogeye leaf spot and charcoal rot. The variety has good emergence, excellent standability and is adapted to a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions. It has a quick-closing canopy in various row widths. Protein, 37.4; oil, 17.1%.
Delta King Seed Co.: 5762RR is a mid-Group V with excellent standability, good emergence and a 38" average plant height. It's resistant to SCN races 3 and 14 and has better-than-average tolerance to stem canker, frogeye leaf spot and charcoal rot. It has a quick-closing canopy in various row spacings and performs across a wide range of soils and environmental conditions. Protein, 37.5%; oil, 16.7%.
Great Lakes Hybrids: GL 5409RR is a mid-Group V with resistance to SDS, frogeye leaf spot, BSR, stem canker, SCN races 3 and 4 (14) and good PRR tolerance. This medium-canopy, medium-height plant has excellent emergence, lodgin g and shatter resistance. In 1998 company trials in Tennessee, this new entry outyielded A5602 by 9 bu/acre and AP 543RR by 1 bu/acre. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Hartz Seed Co.: H5667RR, a mid-Group V variety, has resistance to PRR and good resistance to stem canker and frogeye leaf spot. This tall variety has good standability and has outyielded H4994RR and H5545RR in company tests. Protein, 33.7%; oil, 20%.
Asgrow Seed Co.: AG5701 is a late Group V RR variety with determinate growth habit. It's resistant to SCN race 3 and frogeye leaf spot and moderately resistant to stem canker and charcoal rot. It also has moderate tolerance to SDS. The variety has outyielded both AG5802 and AG5901 in the Midsouth, but is not recommended for the East Coast. Protein, 35.8%; oil, 17.8%.
Dekalb Genetics: CX580cRR is a late Group V with good emergence. It's resistant to SCN race 3, SDS and frogeye leaf spot. This medium-height determinate variety is adapted to all row widths and management practices. Protein, 35.8%; oil, 18%.
Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l.: 95B95, a late Group V RR variety, features resistance to southern root-knot nematode. It's moderately tall and has very good emergence and standability. In company tests, it outyielded 95B71 by over 4 bu/acre. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Stine Seed Co.: 5102-4 is a late Group V RR variety with moderate resistance to SCN races 3 and 14 as well as very good PRR tolerance. This tall plant provides very good emergence and standability. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Stine Seed Co.: 5802-4, a late Group V RR variety, provides resistance to SCN race 3 and moderate resistance to race 14. This medium-height plant has good emergence and standability along with good PRR and frogeye leaf spot tolerance. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Sure-Grow Seed: 597RR, a late Group V determinate, handles heavy clays, tough conditions and dryland exceptionally well. This tall, semi-bushy plant has stress tolerance that's well above average, maintaining uniform height and size across uneven terrain and conditions. It's resistant to SCN race 3, stem canker, aerial web blight and frogeye leaf spot as well as tolerant to PRR. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Group V - Conventional
Mycogen Seeds: 5520N, an early Group V determinate soybean, is a medium-height and medium-canopy type that is resistant to SCN race 3. It also has excellent BSR tolerance and very high tolerance to PRR. It has excellent emergence and lodging resistance, making it well-suited for no-till and solid seeding. In two years of company trials, it yielded similar to the company's 470. Protein, 38.3%; oil, 21%.
Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l.: 95B33 is an early Group V variety with resistance to SCN race 3, moderate resistance to SCN race 14 and very good tolerance to frogeye leaf spot. It has medium height and canopy with very good emergence and standability. In company tests, it outyielded 9552 by 4 bu/acre. Protein and oil data unavailable.
Stine Seed Co.: 5400-0 is a mid-Group V soybean with very good emergence and standability. It features outstanding yield potential in a taller-type plant. Protein, 35.9%; oil, 18.7%.
Stine Seed Co.: 5401-0, another mid-Group V variety, is similar to Stine 5400-0, with very good emergence and excellent standability. It also features good BSR tolerance. Protein, 35.4%; oil, 18.3%.
Deltapine Seed: DP 5989, a late Group V, features resistance to stem canker, frogeye leaf spot, soybean mosaic virus and aerial web blight. It's also resistant to SCN races 3 and 14. Plants are tall with good standability and excellent adaptability to a broad range of planting dates and soil types. It outyielded DP 3588 by 8% in four years of company tests. Protein, 34.6%; oil, 19.2%.
Group VI - Roundup Ready
Asgrow Seed Co.: AG6201 is an early Group VI RR variety with SCN race 3 resistance. It's moderately resistant to charcoal rot and SDS. In company tests, it outyielded AG6101. Protein, 35.8%; oil, 17.7%.
Group VII - Conventional
Deltapine Seed: DP 7731, a mid-Group VII, features resistance to SCN race 3, stem canker, frogeye leaf spot and soybean mosaic virus. It has moderate resistance to common root knot nematode, aerial web blight and iron chlorosis. Plants are medium height with good standability and good adaptability to the Southeast - especially Georgia and South Carolina. This variety has outyielded Cook by an average of 6% in company tests. Protein, 38%; oil, 19.3%.
Group VIII - Conventional
University of Georgia (Southern Elite Genetics Association, Inc.): Prichard, a mid-Group VIII, features resistance to SCN races 3, 9 and 14. It's also resistant to southern root-knot nematode, stem canker and the G1 strain of soybean mosaic virus. It's tolerant to lance nematode. The variety is adapted for full-season and doublecrop planting. Plant height is similar to Cook and Maxcy with an intermediate plant shape. In 43 university and regional tests, Prichard outyielded Cook and Maxcy by an average of 2.5 bu/acre. It has good to excellent standability and seed quality. Protein, 37.8%; oil, 17.7%.