Updated February 25, 2020:
Southern Test
1. All data from the 2016 trials and stem canker nursery at Stoneville were submitted in a timely fashion.
2. 2016 Seed samples for analysis from Stoneville trials were submitted on time.
3. Draft 2016 results in Excel format were sent to collaborators and participants beginning in January 13, 2017. The “final” Excel formatted results of the 2016 trials were sent to all collaborators, participants and private breeders on March 15, 2017.
4. The Annual Meeting of the Southern Test was held at Soybean Breeder’s Workshop on February 14, 2017. An additional meeting was held on January 13 to discuss changes in 2017 to include the best quality traits lines and reached a consensus among cooperators.
5. The PDF version of the 2016 annual report was distributed on March 15, 2017 to collaborators, participants and private breeders. A PDF copy of the annual report was published online. Hard copies of the annual report were mailed in early April 2016.
6. The ARS website for the Southern Test was reformatted to look more professional and contain links to the Northern Test Annual Report.
7. Pedigree information from the 2016 tests was sent to Rex Nelson at Soybase.org for inclusion in the Soybean Parentage Database.
8. All 2017 seed was distributed on time and the trials were planted.
9. Seven tests were planted at Stoneville in April 2017 and have been harvested. Datasheets are being prepared and seed is being sent for analysis.
10. We are waiting for 2017 data from collaborators.
11. Stem canker testing at Stoneville, MS in 2017 was completed and the final results are being prepared.

Northern Test
1. All data from the 2016 trials in Indiana and the phytophthora root rot test were submitted in a timely fashion.
2. 2016 Seed samples for analysis from Indiana trials were submitted on time.
3. Draft Excel raw data files (ANOVA results) were emailed to cooperators for review December 28, 2016. Final results were emailed to cooperators for final review on February 5, 2017.
4. The Annual Meeting of the Northern Test was held at Soybean Breeder’s Workshop on February 14, 2017. An additional meeting was held on January 13 to discuss changes in 2017 to include the best quality traits lines and a consensus was reached among cooperators on new policies.
5. A PDF copy of the annual report was published online and emailed to collaborators on, participants and private breeders on February 16. Hard copies of the annual report were mailed to cooperators February 22.
6. Pedigree information from the 2016 tests was sent to Rex Nelson at Soybase.org for inclusion in the Soybean Parentage Database.
7 Email Voting Sheets, Preliminary Entry and Seed Request Forms to cooperators on January 17 2017. Compiled results and prepared entry lists in timely fashion.
8. All 2017 seed was distributed on time and the trials were planted.
9. Three tests were planted in Indiana and have not been harvested yet.
10. 2017 Phytophthora root rot test is in progress and will be finished very soon.

Continued participation in the testing program by public breeders indicates the utility of the testing program. In the 2017 Southern Test there were 15 soybean breeders who participated by growing tests and/or entering lines. These soybean breeders and collaborators are located in ten states and represent three ARS locations and nine Universities.

In the 2017 Northern Test there were 18 soybean breeders who participated by growing tests and/or entering lines. These soybean breeders and collaborators are located in ten states, two Canadian provinces and represent one ARS location, eleven Universities and three Canadian research organizations.

Our two KPI were met by:
1. Producing and distributing preliminary data to participants early enough to be used to make soybean line selections for the next growing season.
2. Producing and distributing the annual reports to public researchers, seed company scientists, the National Agriculture Library, and the University of Arkansas Library (Southern Test only) and Purdue University Library (Northern Test only).
3. The annual reports of both tests are available to the public online at ARS websites.
4. Soybase.org has links to the annual reports of both tests.
5. Data.gov has a link to the annual report of the Southern Test.

Expected Outputs/Deliverables:
1. Preliminary data from 2016 trials was distributed to collaborators and participants prior to the annual meeting.
2. The Annual Meeting of the Northern Test and the Southern Test were held in conjunction with the Soybean Breeders Workshop in St. Louis MO in February 2017. In addition, a third meeting was held to discuss the dissolution of the Quality Trait test and addition of seed quality evaluation to the Uniform Tests.
3. The 2016 Annual Reports for both tests were produced and delivered on a timely basis.
4. The 2016 Annual Reports for both tests in pdf format were posted online.
5. Hard copies of the Annual Report were mailed to participants and libraries.
6. 2017 Trials at Stoneville have been harvested. All Northern Test plots in Indiana will be harvested by November 1. The data will be submitted for the annual report in a timely fashion.
7. Stem canker and Phytopthora disease screens in 2017 were successfully completed and the data will be submitted for the annual reports in a timely fashion.

The breeders utilize these results to make critical decisions regarding the advancement of lines and varieties towards release for commercial use. The data from these trials are used to justify releases. The 2017 data needs to be analyzed and reported.

Pedigree information for the entries in the tests was sent to Rex Nelson at Soybase.org for inclusion in the Soybean Parentage Database. This database is an ongoing project which makes pedigree information available online to everyone. It is very helpful for writing release notices and registration articles.

Two ARS researchers have requested to receive seed from Uniform Tests for research. The ARS requires a written agreement in which (i) the owner of each line in the trials gives permission for the seed produced in a trials associated with the Uniform Tests to be given to a certain researcher for a certain purpose; and (ii) releases the institution who grew the trial from liability for contamination of the seed. A template agreement is being developed by the ARS technology transfer office in the Midwest Area.