🌱 Seed Selection and Variety Trials: The Overlooked Profit Factor on Your Farm

When we talk about yield, input costs, and profitability in farming, most people jump to fertilizers, tractors, or irrigation. But the most important decision happens before you even plant a seed.That decision? Which seed to plant.

Why Seed Selection Matters More Than You Think

The seed you choose determines:

• Your yield potential

• Your resistance to diseases and pests

• Your maturity timing and harvest window

• Your input needs (water, fertilizer, pest control)

• And most importantly… your market price and profit margin

For example:Let’s say one hybrid corn seed yields 180 bushels/acre and another yields 155 bushels/acre.At $5 per bushel, that’s a difference of $125 per acre — or $12,500 on just 100 acres.

You can’t afford to get this decision wrong.

What Is Seed Selection?

Seed selection is not about buying the most expensive bag. It’s about choosing varieties that are:

• Adapted to your local climate and soil

• Resilient to common pests and diseases in your region

• Proven to perform under your farming practices — whether that’s organic, conventional, dryland, or no-till

Check data from:

• Land-grant university extension programs

• USDA variety trial bulletins

• Your own farm history

Always consider:

• Disease resistance packages (e.g., blight, rust, wilt)

• Maturity days

• Seed treatment compatibility

• Market standards (color, size, flavor, shelf life)

What Are Variety Trials?

Variety trials are small, side-by-side test plots where you compare multiple seed types under identical field conditions.You measure:

• Germination rate

• Vigor

• Yield

• Pest or disease resistance

• Marketability (size, sweetness, appearance)

These trials help you avoid wasting a whole season on the wrong seed. You can do:

• Formal trials with universities or NRCS

• On-farm trials on a few rows or plots using strip planting or split fields

Keep records. Compare performance over multiple seasons.

Best Practices for Farmers

• Trial at least 2–3 varieties each season to hedge risk

• Rotate varieties to prevent pest and disease pressure buildup

• Don’t depend on one hybrid for all acres

• For organic or direct-to-consumer farms, trial heirloom or specialty varieties with niche appeal

• Use certified or untreated seed according to your certification requirements

USDA Funding Connection

If you’re applying for a USDA grant (like a SARE, VAPG, or NIFA research project), seed selection and trials are often required to:

• Demonstrate performance data

• Justify the investment

• Support claims of sustainable or value-added production

You can even request funding to conduct your own on-farm trials to test new varieties or climate-resilient crops.

Final Thoughts

Seed is not just a planting material — it’s a business decision.A smart seed choice sets your entire season up for success. A bad one? You’re already behind before the first rain.

👉 Want help designing a variety trial or building data into your grant proposal?Reach out — I can help you plan, document, and justify your seed strategy to boost both performance and funding chances.