We wrapped up our 2025 Soybean Test Plot earlier this week here at Maranatha Acres. This year’s plot included 17 soybean varieties from five different seed companies, planted side-by-side with a consistent checker to measure performance under real-world field conditions.
Every season brings something new to learn, and 2025 was no exception. With drought stress, white mold pressure, and late-season heat, this year truly tested how these varieties could hold up.
By collecting true on-farm data, we can make more informed seed decisions for the coming seasons and help tell the story of how local conditions impact yield and plant health across Northwest Ohio.
Test Plot Overview
The 2025 plot was planted on May 15, 2025, on a farm with sandy loam soils, similar to many fields across our operation and area. The field was conventionally tilled (disc ripped in the fall, worked in the spring) and was corn in 2024.
Soybeans were planted in 30-inch rows at a target seeding rate of 125,000 seeds per acre, and 8 gallons per acre of 28% nitrogen and 10/34/0 fertilizer applied 2×2. The plot included both early (2.3–2.8 RM) and full-season (2.9–3.5 RM) varieties, giving us a clear picture of performance across maturity ranges.
Harvest took place on September 29, 2025, following a stretch of hot, dry weather and only limited rainfall during August and September — conditions put every variety’s drought tolerance to the test.
Key Findings from the 2024 Soybean Test Plot
Top Yielding Varieties
Despite a season marked by early moisture and late-season dryness, the 2025 Soybean Test Plot showed several standout varieties that rose above the rest.
Leading the way was Pioneer® P28Z89E, with a check-adjusted yield of 76.8 bu/acre. This variety continues to impress year after year, combining excellent SDS and white mold ratings with strong top-end yield potential. Even under stress, it maintained standability and consistency, making it one of our top go-to options heading into 2026.
Close behind was Pioneer® P23Z82E, finishing with a check-adjusted yield of 75.0 bu/acre. This early-maturity variety performed exceptionally well in this year’s conditions, with rapid canopy development and solid agronomics that helped it stay green longer during the dry stretch.
Rounding out the top three was Pioneer® P25A16E (Test Plot Checker), posting a check-adjusted yield of 74.8 bu/acre. This bean has proven itself year after year on our sandy loams, showing the reliability and stability we value when comparing new genetics.
Other strong performers included HiSoy® HS25E30 (72.2 bu/acre), a consistent yielder across multiple seasons, and Pioneer® P32Z91E (71.9 bu/acre), which continues to be one of the strongest full-season options in our plot.
Early-Season Standouts
In the early plot, Pioneer® P28Z89E (76.8 bu/acre) took the top spot, followed closely by Pioneer® P25A16E (75.6 bu/acre) and Pioneer® P23Z82E (75.0 bu/acre). These early-season maturities benefited from timely planting and early growth conditions that allowed them to finish strong ahead of the late-season dry stretch.
Full-Season Performers
Among the full-season soybeans, Pioneer® P32Z91E (71.9 bu/acre) led the way again this year, maintaining its position as a dependable late-maturity option. The untreated version of Pioneer® P32Z91E (71.3 bu/acre) performed nearly identically, showing how strong the variety’s genetics are on their own.
With margins tightening, we’re seriously considering planting a portion of untreated soybeans in 2026, as our data continues to show no clear ROI between treated and untreated seed.
Xitavo® XO3224E (69.9 bu/acre) and Stine® 30EH100 (67.1 bu/acre) also delivered solid results across the full season plot, even with the lack of moisture to finish.
White Mold Observation
White mold pressure was visible across several areas of the plot, especially where the soybeans had a denser canopy. One surprising observation worth noting from this year’s test plot was with Xitavo® XO3105E, which had a heavy white mold presence at harvest.
The disease pressure was evident in both the harvested sample and yield data—this variety posted a check-adjusted yield of 60.3 bu/acre, likely impacted by infection. This result can show how disease pressure can make a big difference in yield potential, even in 30-inch rows.
Moisture Levels
Moisture content is always a critical factor in the timing of harvesting soybeans. Soybeans can start the day at 11% moisture and finish at 8% just based on air movement and sunshine. This year, the moisture was pretty consistent for both our early and full-season plots. The moisture ranged from 10.5% to 11.9%. One interesting note is that the untreated Pioneer® P32Z91E actually was .2% wetter than the treated Pioneer® P32Z91E. That is something we will watch in future plots.
Yield Accuracy
To ensure the accuracy of the data, we employed two weight wagons on-site. One was used for the early plot, while the other was used for the full-season plot. Each test plot received an average checker yield, which we used to adjust and compare the performance of each variety accurately no matter the soil type. The average checker yield was calculated from the checker rows in each plot, providing a baseline that allowed us to normalize the data and give a more precise comparison across all varieties.
Peking Varieties & SCN Management
Over the past few seasons, we’ve gradually shifted to more Peking-trait soybeans and reduced varieties with the PI88788 source of resistance.
This year, only six entries were non-Peking, and our data continues to show a consistent yield advantage with Peking varieties—especially in our sandier soils where Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) pressure tends to be higher.
SCN (soybean cyst nematodes) is the #1 yield-robbing pest in soybean production, as these microscopic pests attack the roots of the plants, reducing yields. Peking varieties are an important tool in managing SCN pressure, and our data showed that these varieties performed well, especially in fields with known SCN issues.
Weather Challenges and Their Impact
The growing season started strong with consistent early rainfall and near-perfect summer weather. But as August arrived, the rain shut off and flash drought conditions set in.
As of early October, much of Northwest Ohio is now classified in a D1 drought, marking the driest year in the Maumee River watershed since the 1988 drought.
According to FarmServer, this farm has received 23.4 inches of moisture this year, 1.2 inches more than last year, but still below the 5-year average.
While these conditions took some top-end yield off, particularly for full-season soybeans, they also gave us valuable insight into which varieties maintain performance under stress.
Looking Ahead: Applying What We’ve Learned
The insights gained from our 2025 Soybean Test Plot will play a critical role in shaping our planting decisions for the coming seasons. By understanding how different varieties perform under both ideal and challenging conditions, we can make more informed decisions that optimize yield, quality, and sustainability.
For example, based on this year’s results, we’re likely to favor varieties like Pioneer® P25A16E and Pioneer® P28Z89E, which performed exceptionally well in both the early and full-season plots, even in the face of drought while also watching Pioneer® P32Z91E and Pioneer® P23Z82E as other viable options.
Peking varieties will remain a cornerstone of our management strategy for SCN-heavy fields, and we’ll keep evaluating seed treatment ROI based on side-by-side data.
This year again reinforced the importance of on-farm data—not plot boards or brochures. By testing genetics side-by-side in our own soils, we can see how these varieties truly perform under the same weather, same soil, and same management.
Conclusion
The 2025 Soybean Test Plot at Maranatha Acres has once again provided valuable data that will guide our future planting decisions. This test plot not only allows us to see how different varieties perform in real-world conditions, but it also gives our seed partners critical insights into how their products are working in the field.
We’re excited to continue learning and growing year after year, ensuring that we make the best decisions for our farm, our soil, and our future.
For a detailed breakdown of the data, including specific variety performance in both early and full-season plots, check out our full report on the 2025 Soybean Test Plot results. We look forward to sharing more insights as we continue to refine our practices for next year’s planting season.
Stay tuned for more updates later this fall as we share data from additional side-by-side trials, including a Biotrinsic Z-15 biological test and a soybean variety comparison.