Penn State Field and Forage Crops Official Variety Testing Program
Program Overview
Every year, the Penn State Crops Cluster evaluates the performance of varieties and experimental lines for the main field crops and forages cultivated in Pennsylvania. Our mission is to provide unbiased, comprehensive, accurate, and accessible forage and field crop variety testing results to industry and producers. The performance of varieties and experimental lines is evaluated in field trials following strict research protocols and often at several locations around the state. Annual reports are published as soon as data are available. All seed companies and breeders are welcome to submit varieties or experimental lines for a fee. If you would like your varieties evaluated in our trials, please contact:
| Crop | Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| Corn | Dayton Spackman | djs5487@psu.edu |
| Forages | Weiya Xue | wxx10@psu.edu |
| Soybeans and small grains | Kaleb Wolfe | krw156@psu.edu |
Testing Fees and Application
Corn grain:
- 2026 grain application
- Instructions
- Field Trial Agreement Form
Corn silage: please reach out to the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania.
Forages: forages include diverse species. Please refer to the table below for testing fees.
| Forage Species/Group | Fees/Entry/Site | Site | Seed delivery due date | Trial duration (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa | $650 | 2 | 3/31 | 5 |
| Perennial clovers | $550 | 1 | 3/31 | 3 |
| Perennial cool-season grasses | $650 | 1 | 3/31 | 3 |
| Fall-seeded annuals with 2 cuts | $650 | 1 | 8/15 | 2 |
| Fall-seeded annuals with 1 cut | $400 | 1 | 8/15 | 2 |
| Spring-seeded annuals | $400 | 1 | 3/31 | 1 |
| Summer-seeded annuals | $400 | 1 | 5/31 | 1 |
| Novel species | TBD | 1 | 3/31 | TBD |
Soybean: 2026 soybean application and Field Trial Agreement Form
Winter small grains: applications are closed for the 2025-2026 season.
Testing Procedures and Data Collection
Field trials are conducted in small plots laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data collected on 3 or more replications are analyzed by ANOVA and the least significant difference is calculated if the ANOVA results indicate significant differences between varieties. Below is a list of data typically collected by crop. Detailed information on data collection and testing procedures can be found in the annual reports.
Corn grain: early season plant population, lodging, yield, and grain moisture.
Corn silage: early season plant population, yield, silage moisture, and silage quality traits.
Forages: yield, first cut quality of grasses, stand establishment and longevity, and specific pest infestation ratings.
Soybean (full season and double crop): height, lodging, yield, test weight, grain moisture, grain protein, and oil content.
Winter small grains: winter survival (only in Centre County), height, lodging, yield, test weight, and grain protein. Optional grain quality data (pre-harvest sprouting and the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, also known as DON) can be provided for a fee.
Annual Reports
Corn grain and silage: 2025 (grain), 2025 (silage),2024 (grain),2024 (silage),2023 (grain),2023 (silage)
Winter small grains: 2025 (wheat, rye), 2024 (wheat, barley, rye),2023 (wheat, barley, rye, and triticale)
For reports from previous years, please contact:
- Daniela Carrijo (corn grain, soybean, and small grains): dzc5794@psu.edu
- Guojie Wang (forages and corn silage): gkw5177@psu.edu
