Another year of BrettYoung Comparison Trials (BCTs) has come and gone, which means it’s time to take a closer look at the results from our canola plots.
BCTs were established to allow Regional Account Managers (RAMs) and growers to assess new and existing hybrids against one another while also evaluating performance relative to industry checks. With trial locations across Western Canada, BCTs provide valuable insight into how BrettYoung products perform across diverse environments.
Trial Review
This year, BCTs were set up to assess TruFlex® / Optimum GLY hybrids together. In addition, LibertyLink® and Clearfield® trials were conducted, with each system assessing a combined total of 10 new canola hybrids from BrettYoung, including the brand new BY 7204LL.
Results from 32 BCTs have been received:
- 14 in the TruFlex® / Optimum GLY system
- 14 in the LibertyLink® system
- 4 in the Clearfield® system
Justine Cornelsen, Agronomic & Regulatory Services Manager for BrettYoung, noted that this represented the largest canola trial network BrettYoung has run to date, incorporating four distinct herbicide tolerance platforms.
While BCTs have historically used a consistent hybrid layout, differences in maturity prompted this year’s trials to be structured with hybrids appropriate for each growing zone. Trials also included a mix of swathed and straight-cut harvest systems, with harvest decisions left to individual growers.
BrettYoung hybrids were also evaluated through retailer trials, U.S. state hybrid evaluations, DL Seeds Max Plots, and BrettYoung canola hybrid evaluation trials.
The Results
Outlined below are preliminary trial results based on data received prior to October 20, 2023. The number of BCT locations each hybrid appeared in was influenced by seed availability, maturity, and harvest method
In some cases, hybrids with significantly different maturities were evaluated side by side, which contributed to wider yield ranges in the data.
LibertyLink
| Hybrid | Average % of Trial Mean | Max Yield (bu/ac) | # of BCT Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| BY 7204LL** | 106% | 67.3 | 14 |
| BY 7102LL | 98% | 58.2 | 5 |
| BY23-7054LL EXP | 104% | 72.7 | 12 |
| BY23-0827LL EXP | 100% | 58.2 | 5 |
| BY23-0828LL EXP | 93% | 66.4 | 12 |
TruFlex/Optimum GLY
| Hybrid | Average % of Trial Mean | Max Yield (bu/ac) | # of BCT Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| BY 6217TF | 96% | 57.7 | 13 |
| BY 6216TF | 107% | 64.6 | 9 |
| BY 6214TF | 109% | 68.9 | 8 |
| BY 6211TF | 100% | 59.2 | 10 |
| BY 6207TF | 102% | 60.1 | 3 |
| BY23-0125TF EXP | 102% | 41.8 | 2 |
| BY23-1751TF EXP | 100% | 60.1 | 14 |
| BY23-0040TF EXP | 99% | 55.6 | 14 |
| BY23-5673OG EXP | 97% | 48.7 | 8 |
| BY23-0189TF EXP | 95% | 53.3 | 13 |
Clearfield
| Hybrid | Average % of Trial Mean | Max Yield (bu/ac) | # of BCT Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| BY 5125CL | 101% | 57.4 | 4 |
| BY23-0865CL EXP | 103% | 62.9 | 4 |
| BY23-0246CL EXP | 96% | 61.4 | 4 |
Data from the trials help us determine products to license in future years and increase our experience with current hybrids in our portfolio. Grower and agronomist feedback also helps us provide recommendations on how to best manage each hybrid.
“We appreciate all the growers and retailers who help put trials in for us,” said Cornelsen. “They’re the largest part in making BCTs successful.”
Data Variability and Evaluation
With a robust dataset comes variability in product performance. “Good products don’t win every trial they’re in, but over locations and years, they should remain stable,” said Cornelsen. Yield performance is influenced by genetics (G), environment (E), and management (M). The interaction of these factors ultimately defines a hybrid’s potential.
This is why BCTs are conducted across Western Canada in varied geographies. Doing so allows hybrid performance to be evaluated under different environmental and management conditions, including fertility rates, fungicide use, harvest methods, and combine settings. The environment, however, always remains the wildcard.
FAQ
What are BrettYoung Comparison Trials (BCTs) and why are they important?
BrettYoung Comparison Trials are set up to allow RAMs and growers to assess new and existing canola hybrids compared to each other and against industry checks. They help evaluate product performance across different environments in Western Canada.
How were the 2023 BCTs structured?
The 2023 BCTs were designed to assess TruFlex and Optimum GLY hybrids together, as well as LibertyLink and Clearfield hybrids. Trials considered factors like growing zone, seed availability, maturity and harvest method with a total of 32 BCTs conducted.
How is hybrid performance determined in the BCTs?
Hybrid performance is determined by genetics, the environment and management practices. The trials are run in different geographies to assess hybrids under varying conditions, allowing for robust evaluation.
What role do growers and retailers play in the BCTs?
Growers and retailers help by hosting and putting in trials, contributing significantly to the success of the BCT program.
Why is there data variability in the BCT results?
Variability arises because products are grown in different environments, with varying management practices and a range of genetic backgrounds. Differences in maturity and harvest methods also contribute to the variation in yield data.
