This year is a big one — for the first time, BrettYoung has more than 30 sites to trial LibertyLink® canola hybrids. The trials feature new hybrids, in-market hybrids, and experimental ones going head-to-head, testing which ones perform best over a variety of conditions.
BCTs #
BrettYoung Comparison Trials (BCTs) were first established years ago as a way for BrettYoung Regional Account Managers (RAMs) and growers to assess hybrids, new and existing, against each other while assessing performance against industry checks. Trial locations are across Western Canada, giving us a well-rounded view of how each hybrid performs in the many conditions of the region.
“This is the largest trialing network BrettYoung has had for LibertyLink canola,” said Justine Cornelsen, Agronomic & Regulatory Services Manager for BrettYoung. “We’re excited to look at new products not only in LibertyLink canola but also in TruFlex™ canola, soybeans, and silage corn.”
This year, BCTs have been set up to assess over 16 experimental products across the different crop types.
“The trials provide us not only with the opportunity to check out future varieties for our portfolio but also with the chance to generate more data with newly launched hybrids like BY 7204LL,” said Cornelsen.
Product lineups at each BCT location vary with product maturity and type of clubroot resistance genetics. Cornelsen said a typical BCT layout consists of replicated field-length strips of each product. They’re replicated to help capture the variation in field trials, allowing for a more equal product comparison. The second reps are randomized to allow us to compare different products side-by-side and to take a better assessment of maturity and plant architecture differences.
All data collected from BCTs is utilized to help us make informed decisions in the fall of which varieties to add to our portfolio. It’s the first time some of these products have been grown in commercial scale productions and getting that grower feedback on performance and harvestability is an important part of the process.
Canola #
As our portfolio is already stacked with DefendR®-rated TruFlex hybrids, we’re trialling more products within the LibertyLink system to complement BY 7204LL. Eight new LibertyLink hybrids and three new TruFlex hybrids will be available to view through BCT locations.
“Our main canola genetics supplier, DL Seeds, has offered us a phenomenal hybrid lineup to test this season with exceptional disease resistance traits and strong pod shatter tolerance,” said Cornelsen.
The DefendR designation signals reliable pod shatter tolerance you can trust and durable disease resistance genetics. The new hybrids are fully packaged with DefendR designations so yield performance and maturity will be the main distinguishing features among the new candidates.
Soybean #
The soybean BCTs have been concentrated to Manitoba this season. There will be a focus on collecting more performance data from last year’s new varieties: BY Hector XT, BY Deno XT, and BY Robson XT, and we’ll be taking a closer look at three new deployments: BY Nebo XT, BY Arvon XT, and one experimental.
Cornelsen mentioned the soybean deployments last year focused on the mid-maturing varieties.
“This year’s focus is finding a new early-mid maturing variety to meet the needs of our shorter growing zones within Manitoba and Saskatchewan.”
Corn #
Silage corn trials are the smallest segment within BrettYoung’s BCT program but provide valuable performance data and feed quality analysis. Two new experimental hybrids have been chosen for this year’s BCT program to be trialled against our standout silage hybrid, BY Brava RR2.
BrettYoung also has entries in many provincial and regional trials. Third party testing groups have our commercial products and some of our experimental products, so keep an eye out this season for those.
Cornelsen noted without the growers and agronomists helping us set up BCTs and additional trials, they wouldn’t be possible.
“We appreciate all the growers that help put trials in for us,” she said. “They’re the largest part in making BCTs successful.”
Reach out to your BrettYoung Regional Account Manager (RAM) to tour a BCT site this summer.
