16 soybean varieties to watch for the 2027 growing season

By Olivia Hart

Sixteen soybean varieties from nine seed companies form Top Crop Manager’s 2027 watch list, compiled from information supplied by the respective seed companies. SI Botanzi XT remained pending registration as of June 2026. The list targets 2027 availability; among varieties with stated ratings, maturity spans 2225 to 2450 crop heat units (CHU) and 000.8 to 00.5 relative maturity.

What changes in weed-control flexibility?

The 2027 slate includes Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, XtendFlex and Enlist E3 entries. Bayer’s DKB003-13XF, its earliest XtendFlex entry, adds glufosinate to glyphosate and dicamba tolerance; Secan’s SC26-2375XF also uses XtendFlex and cites glufosinate for added weed-control options.

Pioneer supplies two Enlist E3 entries, while Thunder Seeds describes TH006XF as offering spraying flexibility. Trait-label compatibility therefore belongs in the first round of seed selection, before yield potential.

What does each company offer?

• Bayer DKB0007-77: The medium-tall variety has a branchy, robust architecture, stands well on average, and offers excellent iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and white mould tolerance. It carries Roundup Ready 2 Xtend technology for glyphosate and dicamba tolerance.
• Bayer DKB003-13XF: This medium-tall variety combines excellent emergence and early vigour with an excellent stand and branchy architecture. Its good overall disease package includes very good IDC and white mould tolerance, while XtendFlex provides tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate.
• Maizex Polar R2X: Rated 2300 CHUs/00.1 RM, this Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety combines strong yield performance across soil types, great white mould tolerance and great pod height that helps capture every bean.
• Maizex Ram R2X: Rated 2350 CHUs/00.3 RM, this Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety has a clean plant phenotype, great standability and strong white mould tolerance. It works well across all soil types.
• Maizex Moose R2X: Rated 2375 CHUs/00.4 RM, this Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety stays neat and tidy across all soil environments. Great first-pod height and leading plant standability make harvest easier.
• Northstar Genetics NSC Newdale RR2X: The variety pairs exceptional yield potential with an early 00.1 RM/2300 CHU class, making it suited to Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan soybean production.
• Northstar Genetics NSC Oakbank RR2X: Rated 00.5 RM/2425 CHU, this variety has an exceptional IDC rating, a very strong disease package and resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN).
• Pioneer P0009Z36E: The earliest-maturing Z-Series Enlist E3 variety was developed for shorter-season soybean acres. It combines excellent standability, strong Phytophthora protection and good white mould tolerance to manage risk while maintaining yield potential.
• Pioneer P00Z19E: This new, 0-early Enlist E3 variety brings a well-rounded defensive package, strong Phytophthora field tolerance and solid agronomic performance to Western Canada, offering another high-performing option for shorter growing seasons.
• Prograin Arlo R2X: Rated 2450 CHU/00.4 RM, this robust semi-bush scores above average for IDC, Phytophthora root rot, white mould and overall defence. Prograin reports great agronomics.
• Proven Seed PV S005X17: Exclusively available through Nutrien Ag Solutions, this mid-season Xtend variety offers significant, stable yield for its maturity group. Its tall, bushy plant has an impressive appearance and excellent all-round agronomics, outstanding IDC resistance, strong white mould tolerance and the Rps1k Phytophthora gene.
• Secan SC26-2375XF: This high-yielding XtendFlex variety allows glufosinate application for more weed-control options. It is semi-tolerant to IDC, rates very good for lodging and carries a 2375 CHU/00.3 RM rating.
• Sevita International MANITOU: The new food-grade variety has high protein sought by international food manufacturers. At 00.5 RM/2400 CHU, it combines great standability, adaptable plant architecture and Rps1c Phytophthora tolerance, and qualifies for Sevita’s identity-preserved production premiums.
• Sevita International SI Botanzi XT: This Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety combines exceptional yield performance with architecture suited to a range of production systems. Rated 000.8 RM/2225 CHU, it carries Rps1c and great IDC tolerance, but remained pending registration as of June 2026.
• Thunder Seeds TH006XF: This high-yielding variety offers spraying flexibility and a great disease package, including excellent IDC tolerance and solid defence against SCN and white mould. Its medium-tall plant carries a medium-bushy canopy.
• Thunder Seeds TH004 Enlist: The variety offers very good IDC tolerance, good defence against SCN and white mould, medium height, good standability and a stacked Phytophthora gene.

How should maturity guide selection?

Newdale and Polar sit at 00.1 RM/2300 CHU, with Newdale specifically suited to Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. Pioneer develops both Enlist E3 entries for shorter seasons.

Oakbank and Manitou sit at 00.5 RM; Arlo, Moose and Secan occupy 2375-2450 CHU classes. SI Botanzi XT has the lowest stated CHU rating, 2225, at 000.8 RM. That leaves a 225-CHU spread across rated entries.

Which traits affect field decisions?

Moose combines first-pod height with leading standability; Ram offers great standability, Secan a very good lodging rating, and Manitou great