Fulton County has been in a long partnership with the University of Tennessee County Standardized Test for Corn and Soybeans.  The objective of the trials are to collect yield data from on farm tests for the various varieties of corn and soybeans that can be compiled to provide research based information to the producer on average yield of the varieties submitted for these  tests.  The producers in Fulton County feel this is reliable data from their county that provides them information on selecting seed variety for the next year along with using the data provided by the University of Kentucky Hybrid trials.  

During the 2020 growing season, with the restrictions created due to the pandemic from Covid-19, these trials were placed on hold.  Logistics of the guidelines and the weather during spring planting season did not allow for adequate time for the slower planting process.  As a result the producers were not able to use the most current research-based data for variety selection from the data generated in the county from the University of Tennessee trials.  Producers did have information on varieties from the University of Kentucky trials conducted in county, but there was not any local soybean data from the University of Kentucky.  In phone calls and conversations during late fall and early winter, producers were really having to search for reliable data from non-research based sources which proved to be very difficult.

These conversations, are proof of the importance of: 1. University based, unbiased, research based data.  2. The need for locally generated data that represents the growing conditions for the local area.  Based on these conversations and needs this program will continue as long as possible in the county until another form of research or data source is found and producers are willing to cooperate in the program.  It was not until the 2020 growing season, that the full impact of this program was known.  This proves that the program is still relevant and vital to the decision making process of the local farming operations.  Currently this program in already underway for the 2021 growing season.