b'removal for one year, it may be removed from the tables unlessthese reasons the check varieties are grown every year (e.g. an objection is received for consideration at the annual meeting.AAC Brandon for CWRS wheat, CDC Copeland for barley) Notwithstanding the above criteria, a variety can be retainedand that changes to these checks are infrequent. The Overall in a table if a compelling case is made. In cases where both theStation Years of Testing column provides an indication of the breeding institution and seed distributor wish to have a varietyunbalanced nature of the dataset. deleted from the table, removal can occur without a notification flag. Please note that under normal circumstances, removal fromiv. How much data goes into each yield value reported in the a table does not indicate variety cancellation has occurred.tables?Single site years of data will not be reported as it is often an Understanding Data in the Tables: unreliable indicator of performance. At least six site-years i. Yield and Non-Yield Traits of yield data collected over two years are required prior to Variety choice should never be based solely on yieldreporting the figures in this publication. For new varieties, performance, as its only one factor that affects net return.Overall Yield is often the first indication of yield potential Producers are encouraged to consider other characteristics suchrelative to the check. As additional data become available, yield as maturity, plant height, lodging and disease or pest resistanceperformance is also expressed on the basis of environmental when deciding which varieties to grow. The genetic yieldproductivity (Yield Test Categories of Low and High). Where potential of a variety is often masked by numerous factors, somethere are less than six site-years of data for a yield column, an of which can be controlled through variety choice and othersindication will be made that there is insufficient data to describe, through astute agronomic management. Long term satisfactionsymbolized by reporting an XX. Yield rankings among with a variety is often related to non-yield characteristics. varieties can change substantially due to growing conditions. To reflect these differences, results from a test site that produced ii. Check Varieties and Benchmark Check Varieties high yield in a particular year are placed into the database for Producers have asked for additional checks in the regionalhigh yielding environments. The same site may contribute to variety trials that reflect more commonly grown varieties.the low yield category in a drought year, when yields are low. Starting in 2018, two benchmark checks have been includedAlberta covers a huge geographical area with many diverse in the trials and reflect the two most popular varieties forgrowing conditions. Unfortunately, due to capacity issues and the crop or market class during the previous year, based oncosts, not every area/region in Alberta has regional variety crop insurance data. The benchmark checks will change astrial sites. As such, yields are reported with low and high yield the popularity of varieties changes. Please note that there arecategories rather than regions. It should also be noted that local instances when the benchmark check and the check variety arevariety performance may differ significantly from the regional the same entry.variety trial results especially in areas with limited or no Changes in check varieties required long and carefulregional variety trial data sites.planning. At least three years of trials, in which the old andConsistent performance over all Yield Test Categories new check varieties are grown together, are required to provideindicates a variety has environmental responses similar to the sufficient overlapping data. When there is a change in the checkcheck and may have good yield stability over a wide range variety, variety performance is adjusted to the new check. Sinceof environments. Scientific studies conducted on variety the new check varieties are higher yielding than the previousperformance have shown Yield Test Category analysis provides checks an overall decrease in the yield performance of alla more reliable indication of yield performance than results entries relative to the new checks will occur.organized by geographic region. iii. Variety Comparisonsv. Types of Yield Data ReportedExercise caution when making yield comparisons amongYields are reported in many different formats. When selecting varieties. A varietys yield should only be directly compareda variety, its important to understand what each yield column to the standard reference check. Actual head-to-head testingrepresents. The yield comparison tables have several features:between other varieties may not have occurred. Small plotOverall actual yield of the check (bushels/acre) based on all agronomic trials are expensive to grow and new varieties aredata available to the testing program is provided along with registered every year. Its simply impractical to grow all varietiesthe number of station years of testing. at the same time. Following several years of data collection, The range in yield for each Yield Test Category is defined.the yield performance for a particular variety stabilizes relative Actual yield of the check in each Yield Test Category is to the check and further testing is no longer required. Its forreported.Spring 2023 63'