Comparison of Variety Performance Trials and Farm Level Yield Gains of Wheat Varieties Adopted in Saskatchewan

Wheat producers in Saskatchewan rely on information from variety performance trials to make informed decisions about new variety adoption, considering factors such as yield potential, weed, pest, and disease resistance, and climatic adaptability. These variety performance trials, however, are conducted under controlled conditions that may not adequately reflect real-world farming or heterogeneity in yield across risk zones. Limited research has compared relative yield gains observed in variety performance trials to on-farm experiences. In this study, we use fixed-effects panel data analysis to compare on-farm relative yield gains to variety performance trials’ relative yield gains. In addition, we examine if any heterogeneity exists in terms of producer relative yield gains across risk zones in the province. Our findings indicate significant differences in relative yield gains between variety performance trials and on-farm results using the F-test. Finally, using the Log-likelihood Ratio test we find that the performance of different wheat varieties varies significantly across risk zones in Saskatchewan. Producers must consider the unique characteristics of their region, market conditions, and risk factors when selecting and adopting varieties. Thus, they should consider multiple factors beyond yield potential when selecting varieties, be encouraged to continue conducting their own on-farm trials. Policymakers should consider using both on-farm and field trial data in the variety performance trial. They can also develop a mechanism to allow producers to upload the results of their on-farm experiments, include producers as partners in variety evaluation and if possible, extend the coverage of performance trials across risk zones and multiple diverse agro-climatic areas.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural Economics

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Opoku, Prince

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Tyack, Nicholas
• Slade, Peter

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Gray, Richard
• Torshizi, Mohammad
• Liebenehm, Sabine

• Variety Performance Trials
• Farm Level trials
• Relative Yield Gain
• Yield Gains
• Yield
• Variety Adoption
• Wheat Adoption
• Wheat Selection
• Wheat
• Wheat Varieties
• Risk Zones
• Fixed Effect
• Chi-squared test
• Log-Likelihood Ratio test
• Wheat Farmers or Wheat Producers
• Heterogeneity
• Saskatchewan
• Canada
• on-farm data
• trial data

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/15067

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/15067