102 | Advancing Seed in Alberta SpecialCrops THIS publication provides information on pulse variety performance within Alberta and northeastern British Columbia. Important agronomic characteristics and disease resistance information is provided for varieties of field pea, chickpea, lentil, fababean, dry bean and soybean. The Alberta Regional Variety Testing program for pulse crops is coordinated by Alberta Pulse Growers Commission (APGC) and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AAF). Funding for the program is provided by Agriculture Agri-Food Canada (Growing Forward II), AAF, APGC and entry fees (private companies) for the varieties being tested. Data for this publication are contributed by numerous applied research associations, Prairie Grain Development Committee and AAF. Variety choice is one of the important decisions any crop producer makes and it should never be based solely on genetic yield potential of a variety. Producers are encouraged to select varieties based on local growing conditions and planned end use. As well, growers should consider other factors such as plant height, standability(lodging) at physiological maturity and disease/pest resistance when selecting which variety to grow. Using long-term, multi-site data will lead to the selection of the best, yield-stable varieties. The yield comparison tables have several features: •  Overall actual yield of the standard check (kg/ha) based on all data available to the testing program is provided along with the number of station years of testing. •  Actual yield of the standard check in each growing area for field pea is reported. •  Overage yield of each variety is expressed relative to the standard check. • Significant statistical differences relative to the standard check are indicated. Yields that are statistically higher (+) or lower (-) than the check are indicated. No symbol after the yield figure indicates that there is no statistical difference from the check. Pay particular attention to data on new varieties that have not been fully tested. If a large difference from the check is reported but is not significant, it could mean that yields have varied widely, and/or there are not enough data to prove a statistical difference. With additional years of testing, the reported yield differences will become more accurate. The following regional trials were grown in 2018: •  Nineteen green and yellow pea trials in Alberta and two sites in British Colombia; • Twelve fababean trials; • Nine lentil trials; •  Three wide row dry bean trials at Bow Island, Lethbridge and Vauxhall; • A narrow row dry bean in Lethbridge, and; • Eight soybean. For additional information, including varieties not listed in this factsheet, please call Alberta Ag-Info Centre toll-free at 310-FARM (3276) or check the Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development website, Ropin’ the Web at www.agriculture.alberta.ca/rvt. special crops – performance trials and grower directory