This is our third year in a row of trumping the previous year’s number of trial sites! In 2025, BrettYoung has more than 50 sites to trial across canola, soybeans, and silage corn. The trials feature new varieties, in-market varieties, 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 with the opportunity to check out future varieties for our portfolio and five us the chance to generate more data with newly launched canola hybrids like BY 7202LL, BY 7206LL, and BY 6223TF,” said Cornelsen.
Product lineups at BCT locations vary in 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.
The information collected from BCTs is part of a larger data set 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 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 diversify that segment. Seven new LibertyLink hybrids and three new TruFlex hybrids will be available to view through BCT locations.
“Our main canola genetics supplier, DL Seeds, has created a phenomenal hybrid lineup with exceptional disease resistance traits and strong pod shatter tolerance to test this season,” said Cornelsen.
The DefendR designation signals durable disease resistance genetics and reliable pod shatter tolerance you can trust. To keep pace with current trends in demand, the new canola hybrids will deliver an increased focus on earlier maturity. They are also fully packaged with DefendR traits so yield performance and plant architecture (height, standability/harvestability) will be the other main features among the new candidates we are seeking feedback on.
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 early variety, BY Nebo XT, and we’ll be taking a closer look at several new deployments: BY Meru E3, which offers flexibility with Enlist E3™ Weed Control System, and three experimental varieties.
Cornelsen mentioned the soybean deployments last year focused on the early-mid maturing varieties.
“This year’s focus is finding a new mid-full season variety to meet the needs of the largest soybean production zones within Southern Manitoba,” she said.
Corn #
Silage corn trials have taken off this year with trials planned all across the Prairies for the first time. BrettYoung’s silage corn BCT program provides 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 hybrids, BY Brava RR2 and BY Guernsey VT2P. A third shorter-season hybrid will also be looked at through short season retailer trials.
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 addeed 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.
