b'PARTNER CONTENTIndependent Performance Trials:An Effective Tool in Seed SalesJ essie Prenger Bhalerao recently received some feedback from a seed dealer who explained exactly why being part of an inde-pendent field trial program is so valuable.He said, I use your data to confirm the performance of seed I sell. Independence is very important for objective information. For him its as simple as thatindependent trials show exactly how his product performs without any bias, which he knows his farmer customers can see right through, says Bhalerao, informa-tion product manager for FIRST Seed Tests based in Urbana, Ill.FIRST Seed Tests provides comparisons of seed genetics to improve yield and profitability for American corn and soybean farmers. It does so through the use of small plot yield trials. While no single experimental unit size will satisfy everyone, small plot research provides many advantages, she says. It allows us to replicate the products tested three to four times per site, with 18-20 yield measurements per product in a region tofrom two different sourcesboth internal research and external, evaluate yield performance. independent tests.Why does small plot size matter? It allows comparison of manyAs a seed dealer, it validates what my seed company is telling products in the same field conditions, rather than a handful ofme in terms of how good a product is. As a farmer it shows me how checks in larger strip trials. This gives growers more informationgood the products Im using are compared to my neighbors, says on competing products to make their seed selections.William Kessler of GoldStar Ag in Henderson, Minn.Also, small plots require a smaller amount of seed, meaning we can provide the agronomic and performance information aPutting Info into the Buyers Handscompanys sales force needs about new products in early produc- Communicating those results to seed buyers is key. FIRST delivers tion before the seed is in wide use, Bhalerao adds. harvest information quickly, getting data into growers hands FIRST offers a program with a uniform entry system, testingduring the sales season. methodology and reporting across 15 states. Its field managersFIRST offers a free email service to notify subscribers when meet regularly to review procedures, discuss equipment andnew harvest data is available, which it recently updated to allow techniques, and plan program changes and improvements.more customization of which notifications subscribers receive. Subscribers like to get early seed discounts and make seed Why Relinquishing Control is a Good Thing purchases by Nov. 15 each year. Fast yield reporting helps them FIRST tested over 1,000 corn hybrids and almost 800 soybeanget that done, Bhalerao says.varieties in 2020. For 2021, Xtend Flex soybean varieties will be al- New in 2020, the FIRST website Product Search feature offers a lowed in tests since that technology has been approved for importcompilation of yield results for a given product, with a view of the in the EU. geography in which it was tested, the field conditions, and links Its field managers also lead professional research businesses,to its harvest reports and summaries. In 2021, FIRST will launch committed to high quality and timely delivery of yield results.YieldGuide.ag to offer expanded search capabilities to help grow-Seed companies can use FIRST to explore new areas whereers select seed using more complete agronomic profiles of tested they may not have a plots program or sales team to see how theyseed products.might expand their offerings, Bhalerao says. Applications to enter 2021 FIRST corn grain, soybean, and corn The seed companies willingness to relinquish control of thesilage trials are released in January. Seed companies can contact results when they enter FIRST trials lends a tremendous cred- FIRST for information on how to enter the trials and to find out ibility to their claims about product performance, she adds. Formore about the pricing and services available in the program.growers and even seed dealers, it helps to hear product claimsFor more information visit firstseedtests.com.DECEMBER 2020SEEDWORLD.COM /83'