What’s new in soybean varieties for 2017?

Last year, the big news in soybean varieties could be summed up in one technological term: Xtend, which became part of the fall lineup for many of the seed companies. Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show was abuzz with talk about Xtend, with demonstration plots aplenty, and all sorts of signage promoting the new system’s platform, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend.

If there was one slight drawback, it was that many of the varieties that were promoted came with an asterisk denoting pending registration.

This fall is different. Xtend is obviously still a force in the industry, but many of the companies are focused this year on disease and pest packages, including soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and white mould, both of which are garnering increasing attention in parts of eastern Ontario.

Management of soybeans is getting more attention, and today’s varieties must compete on technology, disease resistance, agronomics and plant characteristics.

In all, 10 companies are participating in our list of new technologies and new varieties for the 2017 growing season, featuring more than 75 new arrivals (some are varieties with very limited release in 2016). And you know the drill. Don’t take our word for it. It’s important to discuss your seed and cropping decisions with your dealer, agronomist or seed company representative.

Bayer CropScience

LibertyLink — Using the LibertyLink soybean system helps manage glyphosate-resistant weeds. By rotating to the LibertyLink soybean system, the company says you get high-performing genetics coupled with powerful, non-selective weed control on glyphosate-resistant and tough-to-manage weeds, along with effective resistance management, since Liberty is the only herbicide with a Group 10 mode of action.

Balance GT — The Balance GT Soybean Performance System was developed through collaboration between MS Technologies and Bayer CropScience. Created using high-yielding, elite soybean genetics, Balance GT promises exceptional performance coupled with outstanding weed control.

Balance GT soybeans are tolerant to both glyphosate and isoxaflutole, the active ingredient in new Balance Bean herbicide. These two chemistries will ensure protection against a variety of weeds, with exceptional performance against both broadleaf weeds and grasses, including difficult-to-manage weeds such as eastern black nightshade, waterhemp and ragweed. Glypho­sate can be used to combat weeds on contact while Balance Bean herbicide, with its unique reactivation feature, will continue to provide control from application through canopy closure.

Balance GT soybeans will be the first step in a foundational system that will grow to include a triple-stacked herbicide-tolerant soybean, providing tolerance to glyphosate, Balance Bean and Liberty (glufosinate).

CFO7LL is a LibertyLink variety for the 2600 CHU region and the maturity group (MG) of 0.5. The LibertyLink technology provides a novel mode of weed control, plus excellent early-season emergence and vigour, with very good lodging and standability, a good disease package.

CF2707Xt is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean variety suited to 2700 CHU regions. This is new technology from Country Farm Seeds and a great fit for all soil types, with excellent standability and outstanding phytophthora resistance.

CF3172Xt is another Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean variety, this one for the 3175 CHU areas and with a maturity group rating of 2.4. Again, this provides growers with the convenience of the Roundup Ready and Xtend system along with good early-season vigour, good phyto­phthora field tolerance and a tall, robust and bushy plant style.

CF3207Xt is the third of four new Roundup Ready 2 Xtend varieties. It’s suited to the 3200 CHU zone with a maturity group rating of 2.5, plus excellent emergence and standability, great disease resistance including phytophthora and brown stem rot. It grows to a medium plant height with a slender profile for narrow rows.

CF3256Xt is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety with an MG rating of 2.7. It is suited to the 3250 CHU area and offers a great disease package, including SCN protection, plus good early-season vigour. It also provides high yields on clay-type soils.


22-61RY is suited to all soil types and row widths and it has excellent emergence and very good standability. This variety has a very good phytophthora root rot tolerance and aggressive growth, making it a great fit for tougher growing conditions.

DKB005-52 is a medium-height variety with excellent standability, white mould tolerance and phytophthora root rot tolerance. It is well suited to all soil types and row widths and is resistant to SCN.

DKB008-81 offers a strong agronomic package and excellent standability. Well suited to all row widths and soil types, this variety has excellent white mould tolerance and very good phytophthora root rot field tolerance.

DKB01-11 is a medium-height variety with excellent emergence and standability. This variety grows well in all soil types and row widths and even likes high-fertility situations. It is resistant to SCN and has very good tolerance to white mould and very good field tolerance to phytophthora root rot.

DKB04-41 has very good emergence and excellent standability. Not only is it well suited to all soil types and row widths, but it also has a strong disease package with excellent white mould tolerance and phytophthora root rot field tolerance.

DKB06-61 offers farmers SCN resistance, very good field tolerance to phyto­phthora root rot and very good tolerance to white mould. It is better suited to heaver soil types and no-till systems, and has excellent emergence and very good standability.

DKB09-91 is a tall variety that grows well in wider rows and lower populations. It has excellent emergence and very good standability, plus a very strong disease package with resistance to SCN and excellent field tolerance to phytophthora root rot.

DKB10-01 is a variety with a very strong disease package. Namely, it is resistant to SCN, has the Rps 3a resistance gene and a strong field tolerance to phytophthora root rot and very good white mould tolerance. This variety has very good emergence, seedling vigour and standability. And it works well with no till and tougher growing conditions.

DKB14-41 comes with a very strong trait package, including SCN, brown stem rot, and sudden death syndrome (SDS) resistance. This variety has excellent white mould tolerance and very good phyto­phthora root rot field tolerance. It has excellent emergence and very good standability and is well suited to all soil types and agronomic systems.

DKB20-01 offers farmers SCN resistance, excellent field tolerance to phyto­phthora root rot and SDS and very good white mould tolerance. This variety is suited to all soil types and row widths.

DKB21-11 is a medium-height, branchy variety with very good emergence, seedling vigour and standability. This variety is well suited to all soil types and row widths and is resistant to SCN, with a good package for SDS and phyto­phthora root rot.

DKB22-21 is a variety that is resistant to SCN and has very good field tolerance to phytophthora root rot. It is also moderately resistant to SDS and has excellent white mould tolerance and can be grown in all soil types and row widths, having excellent emergence and standability

DKB24-41 works well on heavier soils and in no-till systems. This variety has very good emergence and standability with a strong disease package, being moderately resistant to SDS, resistant to SCN and very strong against phytophthora root rot.

DKB26-61 is a tall variety with excellent no-till adaptability. It’s suited to all soil types and row widths and has excellent emergence. This variety has an excellent disease package, with the Peking resistance source for SCN and very good white mould and phytophthora root rot field tolerance.

DKB28-81 excels in all soil types, tillage systems and crop rotations. Its very strong defensive trait package includes SCN, SDS and brown stem rot resistance. This variety also has excellent white mould tolerance and very good phyto­phth­ora root rot tolerance.

DKB32-21 is a full-season variety that yields very well in no-till situations. This is a tall variety, well suited to all row widths and soil types, with a good disease package and resistance to SCN.
DS0067Z1 is a new 2450 CHU variety with Roundup Ready 2 Yield technology. Strong emergence and good resistance to phytophthora root rot combine to provide good stand establishment, with medium-short plant height, medium canopy and a black hilum. Trials show excellent yields for an early variety.

DS032R1 is another of Dow Seeds’ nine varieties with Roundup Ready 2 Yield technology. Its hallmark is an early soybean (2625 CHU) with very good emergence and excellent lodging tolerance and good phytophthora tolerance via the Rps1k source.

DS038A1 is a Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean variety, also suitable for the 2625 CHU area. This variety offers an excellent disease tolerance package, including SCN resistance and very good Rps1c source phytophthora resistance.

DS064Y1 is suited to the 2700 CHU region, and is another of the Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans. It also provides resistance to SCN and other diseases, with consistent yields across all environments. Of the Roundup Ready 2 Yield varieties from Dow, this brown hilum variety has the highest rating against brown stem rot — an 8.5.

DS124U1 is Dow’s Roundup Ready 2 Yield variety suited for the 2850 CHU region. This is an extremely attractive line with good disease tolerance and Rps1c resistance to phytophthora. It is also adapt­able to all soil types.

DS177P1 is a Roundup Ready 2 Yield variety best suited to the 2975 CHU region, with tolerance to SCN plus Rps1k source tolerance to phyto­phth­ora. Also on its list of attributes are excellent emergence and lodging toler­ance, with an overall strong agronomic package.

DS215Y1 is for the 3050 CHU area and with Roundup Ready 2 Yield technology. It also has Rps1c resistance to phytophthora and a 7.5 rating on white mould, plus strong resistance to SCN. It’s an attractive short plant with good lodging resis­tance and excellent yields in high-yield­ing environments.

DS244N1 is a Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean variety bred for the 3175 CHU region. It features good emergence and standability, as well as a good disease package, including resistance to SCN. It is an excellent performer on lighter, well-drained soils.

DS268V1 is a Roundup Ready 2 Yield variety that scores an 8 rating on white mould, performs well against SCN, and carries the Rps1k source for phytophthora. Among its features are dominant yield performance and an 8.0 on brown stem rot.


P005T13R (R) is a very early variety rated at 2400 CHU, with very good field emergence and harvest standability. It contains multi-race phytophthora resistance via the Rps1c gene, and grows to a shorter plant with a moderate canopy.

P08T96R (R) is a new glyphosate tolerant, 2725 CHU variety that combines top-end yield performance with strong agronomics, along with medium white mould tolerance and multi-race phyto­phthora resistance via the Rps1c gene. Highly suitable for no-till seeding. The company says this is a variety to watch.

P09T29X (RR2X) is a new early Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety rated at 2750 heat units with very good field emergence and above-average harvest standability. It contains multi-race phytophthora resistance via the Rps1c gene plus built-in SCN resistance.

P10T41X (RR2X) is a new early Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety rated at 2750 heat units, with built-in SCN resistance and multi-race phytophthora resistance via the Rps1c gene. It has very good field emergence and above- average harvest standability.

P10T48R (R) is a high-performing variety with solid agronomics rated at 2775 heat units. It is glyphosate tolerant with very good field emergence and above-average harvest standability. Also, it offers multi-race phytophthora resistance via the Rps1c gene in a shorter plant height with a moderate canopy width.

P19T39R2 (RR2Y) is a new 3000 CHU variety with the Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield trait and built-in SCN resistance (P188788). Average white mould tolerance. This is a taller variety with a wide canopy and would be an excellent companion variety to Pioneer brand P19T01R.

P22T24X (RR2X) is a new early Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety rated at 3075 heat units. It has built-in SCN plus multi-race phytophthora resistance via the Rps1k gene. With very good field emergence and harvest standability, this is a good option to help growers manage glyphosate-resistant weeds.

P24T84X (RR2X) is another new early Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety rated at 3125 CHU. Bringing very good field emergence and harvest standability, it contains multi-race phytophthora resistance via the Rps1c gene plus built-in SCN resistance.

P28T62R (R) is a full-season glyphosate-tolerant variety rated at 3225 CHU, with sound agronomics. It also has an excellent disease resistance package including built-in SCN resistance (Peking source) and multi-race phytophthora resistance (Rps1k and 3a). Also noteworthy is its exceptional field emergence, making it suitable for early planting.

P28T71X (RR2X) is a new Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety with very good field emergence and above-average harvest standability. It contains multi-race phytophthora resistance via the Rps1c gene along with built-in SCN resistance.

P31T52X (RR2X) is a full-season Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety with multi-race phytophthora resistance via the Rps1c gene and built-in SCN resistance. Very good field emergence and above-average harvest standability.

P33T19X (RR2X) is a full-season Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety rated at 3350 CHU. It contains multi-race phytophthora resistance via the Rps1k gene along with built-in SCN resistance. The variety also offers very good field emergence and exceptional harvest standability.


2017 is a year of introductions for Elite. Three early varieties are introduced in the wake of Akras R2. They are Lono R2, Podaga R2 and Hydra R2. Lono R2 will bring top yield potential for the very early zones, while Podaga R2 has yield stability and finally Hydra R2 will impress with its record-setting yield potential. Kultana R2 brings strong root health to the maturity Group 1 zone. Four new Xtend varieties also make their debut and are certain to impress with their superior weed-control system and top yield potential.


RX Kodiak, rated for 2700 CHU/0.6 RM, are Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean seedlings that have impressive vigour with excellent early-season disease tolerance. Plants are medium plant height and they branch well, making them suitable for narrow and wide rows. RX Kodiak has resistance to SCN and average tolerance to white mould. These soybeans have proven to perform well in reduced tillage scenarios.

RR2 Atlas, a Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield variety, suited for 2750 CHU/0.7 RM, comes with industry-leading disease tolerance and aggressive seedling vigour combined with phyto­­phthora field tolerance. They establish early and close the canopy well. Plants have medium height and a semi-branched canopy ideal for all row widths. They are also resistant to SCN and have very good tolerance to white mould.

RX Pinnacle, rated for 2975CHU/1.6RM, is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety with defensive traits ideal for stress. This variety also offers very good field phytophthora tolerance, leading to seedling vigour and above-average stands under tough conditions. Plants are medium to tall with a semi-branched canopy ideal for narrow and wide row widths. RX Pinnacle has resistance to SCN and above-average tolerance to white mould. Position on heavier soil types for optimum performance.

RX Velocity is suited for 3150 CHU/2.3 RM. These Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans give broadly adapted performance, in a medium to tall plant height with a branched canopy that is ideal for all row widths. Plants have resistance to SCN and very good field tolerance to phyto­phthora. At harvest, plants have excellent standability for ease of harvest. Can be positioned on all soil types.

RX Stamina is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety, rated for 3150 CHU/2.4 RM, with very good disease tolerance for heavier soil types. Seedlings have aggressive growth habit to quickly close rows. RX Stamina has resistance to SCN, SDS and excellent field tolerance to phyto­phthora. Plants are medium height with semi-branched stature. This variety should be planted in heavier soil types for optimum performance.

RX Aspire, rated for 3200 CHU/2.7 RM, is another Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean. It gives dependable performance with defensive traits and medium to tall plant height with branched architecture. Plants have very good tolerance to phytophthora and resistance to SCN. Plants have excellent standability and late-season appearance. It should also be planted on heavier soil types for optimum performance.

RX Ballistic Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans, rated for 3225 CHU/2.8 RM, offer robust performance under tough conditions. Seedlings have exceptional vigour with an aggressive growth habit which closes rows quickly. Plants are slender and tall. They also have very good tolerance to SDS and resistance to SCN. This variety does well in narrow rows on heavier soil types.

PS 00095 R2* for the late 000 maturity group with the Roundup Ready 2 Yield trait presents an opportunity for very short-season growing areas. Best performance on narrow row widths with above-average IDC rating. Excellent late-season standability for ease of harvest. Ideally suited for 2150 to 2300 CHUs. Excellent white mould resistance and good field tolerance to phytophthora root rot. *Pending reg­istration.

0077 XRN is a new Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean variety adapted for Eastern Canada, ideally suited for 2250 to 2500 CHU, with value-added SCN and phytophthora Rps1k root rot protection. Besides tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate herbicides, this variety has excellent agronomic and defensive traits to help maximize productivity. Exceptional emergence and early vigour should also be noted.

PS 0333 XRN is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean variety ideally suited to the 2500 to 2700 CHU areas. It also has SCN and Rps1c/1k phytophthora root rot protection, has tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate herbicides and can adapt to all row widths. Excellent performance on clay soils and in no till have been shown with this new variety.

PS 0555 XRN is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean ideally suited to the mid 0 maturity market and 2550 to 2800 CHU areas. With value-added SCN and Rps1c phyto­phthora root rot protection and tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate herbicides, it has top clustering and unique orange/tawny pubescence.

PS 0610 NLL is an introductory LibertyLink variety ideally suited for 2600 to 2800 CHUs. It offers impressive yield expression for mid MG 0 maturity plus very good white mould resistance. Strong early vigour with bushy fill-the-row plants also have SCN and Rps1k phyto­phthora root rot protection. It offers a non-selective alternative to glyphosate- tolerant systems.

PS 1222 XRN is a new Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean variety for early MG I with high yield performance and strong defensive package for the 2650 to 3000 CHU areas. It offers protection to SCN, has the strong Rps3a phytophthora root rot gene and provides tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate herbicides.

PS 1304 NR2 is an impressive Roundup Ready 2 Yield trait introduction as an early MG I with high yield performance and strong defensive package for the 2700 to 3000 CHU areas. It has protection to SCN and has strong field resistance for phytophthora root rot. This variety shows strong emergence and early-seedling vigour with bushy fill-the-row plant type. It performs well in no till and heavy-residue soils.

PS 1666 XRN is an impressive Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean variety ideally suited for the mid maturity group I for the 2800 to 3000 CHU zone. With SCN and white mould resistance all in one package, it also has Rps1c phytophthora root rot gene. This variety has good emergence and early-seedling vigour as well as tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate herbicides.

PS 1710 NLL* is an introductory LibertyLink variety ideally suited for 2800 to 3000 CHU. It has impressive yield expression for early MG I maturity, plus excellent standability and very good white mould resistance. Strong early vigour with bushy fill-the-row plant type. It’s a non-selective alternative to glyphosate-tolerant systems. *Pending registration.

PS 2020 XRN is a new Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybean variety for early MG II that combines high yield potential with good agronomic characteristics in the 2900 to 3100 CHU areas. With protection to SCN and phyto­phthora root rot, very strong emergence and early-seedling vigour, this is a new dicamba and glyphosate-tolerant variety.

PS 2444 XRN is a high-yielding Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybean variety, ideally suited to mid MG II for the 2950 to 3200 CHU zone. It offers protection to SCN and phytophthora root rot, SDS resistance and provides tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate herbicides. Avoid fields with history of severe white mould pressure with this one.

PS 2555 XRN, a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety, is ideally suited as a mid MG II with solid agronomic traits for the 3050 to 3300 CHU areas. It protects against SCN and phyto­phthora root rot and provides tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate herbicides, along with strong emergence and early-seedling vigour.

PS 2666 XRN is an impressive high-yielding Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean variety for mid MG II with solid agronomic traits for the 3100 to 3300 CHU areas. With built-in protection against SCN and phytophthora root rot and providing tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate herbicides, these plants are taller and excel on clay soils and feature outstanding emergence and early-season vigour.

PS 2777 XRN, with tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate, is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean variety for later MG II with solid agronomic traits for the 3100 to 3300 CHU areas. It also has exceptional standability and protection from SCN and phytophthora root rot.


SeCan is launching six new Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean varieties, adding to its complete lineup of Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield and conventional soybean genetics. Named after cars, Excursion R2X, Expedition R2X, Expo R2X, Flex R2X, Explorer R2X and Express R2X are now available, SeCan says, “to drive growers’ weed control and yields forward in 2017.”

Ranging in maturity from 2650 to 3175 CHU, these varieties combine dicamba tolerance with the yield potential, agronomic characteristics, and glyphosate tolerance that growers have come to expect from Roundup Ready varieties. The Roundup Ready 2 Xtend trait delivers an additional mode of action to manage early-season and glyphosate-resistant weeds.

S10-S1, rated for 2800 CHU, is a medium-height plant variety that brings top-end yield potential to a variety of environments within the 1.0 maturity zone. It boasts a solid agronomic package to help guard against in-season stress. S10-S1 has uniquely stacked Rps1k and Rps3a genes that deliver excellent protection against phytophthora, and also provide strong protection against SCN, iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and white mould.

S14-A6 is a medium-short 2850 CHU variety and fits well between the 1.0 and 2.0 maturity zones, offering exceptional yield potential with broad adaptability in a variety of soil types. This variety emerges very strong at the start of the season and has excellent field appearance. S14-A6 also features a solid, built-in SCN package and dependable phytophthora root rot tolerance.