Soybean growers in Ontario have a new interactive tool at their fingertips that allows them to compare soybean varieties from public performance trials.

The tool, an internet-based system called the Variety Information and Performance Profile (ViPP) – was launched by the Ontario Oil and Protein Seed Crop Committee (OOPSCC) in February 2005.

“This service is a compliment to the tables printed in our traditional brochures,” says Tom Welacky Soybean Data Coordinator, OOPSCC and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Scientist, Harrow Research Centre. “It allows growers to search for and display the varieties that are of interest to them, so they don't have to search through the entire publication.”

For example, growers can quickly search for varieties with a specific heat unit rating that are SCN resistant and Roundup ready. From the list of selected varieties, clicking on any variety name shows the description and detailed performance data for all tests it is entered in. Averages are shown for the previous five years where available, compared to only three years in the printed brochure.

“Over the years the test coordinators collected good, reliable data through detailed work and testing, and it’s important to make this information available to growers,” says Welacky.

Welacky created the program out of a need for more comprehensive presentation of variety information. Additional features of the website include:

-‘Head to Head’ comparisons, allowing growers to compare any two to five varieties that have been entered in the same tests.
-Descriptions of each variety followed by a table showing information such as the days to maturity, yield, plant height, hundred seed weight, protein, oil and lodging data for the selected varieties.
-Data provided in real units, rather than as an index, allowing growers to easily see the actual yield in bushels per acre or tones per hectare, and actual oil and protein percentages.

ViPP is located at the OOPSCC Soybean Home Page at http://www.oopscc.org/soyhome.html. 

The Ontario Oil and Protein Seed Crop Committee (OOPSCC) is a subcommittee of the Field Crops Research and Services Committee which reports to the Ontario Agricultural Services Coordinating Committee (OASCC).
OOPSCC consists of the Planning and Assessment Sub-Committee (research) and the Variety Sub-Committee.