2001 Colorado Soybean Variety Performance Results Growing interest in the production of soybeans in Colorado gave rise to soybean variety testing on a statewide basis in 2001.  Colorado State University began this testing effort to provide unbiased and reliable variety information to Colorado soybean producers to help them make better variety decisions.2001 was the first year of testing soybean varieties at Yuma.  This sprinkler irrigated trial on soils with pH in the range of 7.0 7.4 included only Roundup Resistant varieties.  Yuma has a relatively long growing season (average 2615 corn growing degree days) and appropriate for Group 2 maturity varieties.  Our first attempt at soybean variety testing was marred by a severe hail storm during the first week of September.  Our collaborating grower thinks yields were reduced by 40% due to the storm.Rocky Ford, site of soybean variety trials for several years, has a longer growing season (2837 corn growing degree days) and can produce late Group 3 or early Group 4 maturity soybeans.  The trial was furrow irrigated with a soil pH of 7.8 and both conventional and Roundup Resistant varieties were included where conventional herbicides were used.  Plots in both trials consisted of four rows, each 36 ft long.  Yields are expressed at 13% grain moisture as bu/ac with 60 lbs of soybeans in one bushel. Soybean performance at Rocky Ford1 in 2001.
          Plant  Leaf
 Variety  Yield  Moisture  Height  Drop
    bu/ac  %  in  date2
 DG 3399 RR  72.9  7.2  35  275
 Pioneer brand 93B85  72.1  7.0  33  275
 Garst 355 (RR)  70.8  6.8  36  273
 Pioneer brand 93B72  69.9  6.9  32  274
 Pioneer brand 93B53  69.1  6.9  34  273
 Garst 437 (RR/N)  68.8  7.7  38  277
 DG 3388 RR  68.5  7.2  37  0*
 Asgrow AG3903  67.9  7.4  35  275
 Asgrow AG3902  67.8  7.5  36  0*
 Garst 381 (RR/STS)  67.6  6.9  35  273
 DEKALB DKB40‑51  61.8  7.6  37  277
    Average  68.8  7.2  35  225
    CV%  14.9         
    LSD(0.30)  4.4         
1Trial conducted on the Arkansas Valley Research Center; seeded 6/4 and harvested 10/10.  No shatter.2Julian date.*Frosted before leaf drop.

Soybean performance at Yuma1 in 2001.
          Plant   
 Variety  Yield  Moisture  Height  Shatter
    bu/ac  %  in  rating2
 DG 3270 RR  47.6  13.4  34  2.3
 Syngenta S29‑C9  45.7  11.2  31  2.0
 Prairie Brand PB‑2717 (RR)  42.8  11.8  34  2.0
 Asgrow AG2703  41.2  13.5  33  2.0
 Asgrow AG2402  36.6  12.7  36  3.0
 Syngenta S24‑K2  35.0  14.5  36  2.7
 Garst 198 (RR)  32.6  12.7  30  3.0
 Prairie Brand PB‑2131 (RR)  32.5  12.6  34  3.0
 DG 3263 RR  31.6  12.9  37  2.3
 DEKALB DKB26‑51  30.8  11.5  31  2.3
 Garst 2547 (RR)  29.9  12.4  32  3.3
 DEKALB DKB23‑51  28.5  13.0  33  3.0
 Asgrow AG2302  28.0  11.0  33  3.0
 Garst 2603 (RR)  25.0  13.5  34  3.0
 Garst 2112 (RR/N)  24.9  12.3  29  3.0
    Average  34.2  12.6  33  2.7
    CV%  14.9         
    LSD(0.30)  4.4         
1Trial conducted on the Joe Harper farm; seeded 6/6 and harvested 9/25.2 Rating scale 0‑10.  Shatter was due to hail damage on September 15.