Today’s farmers are engaged in one of the world’s most innovative and productive industries. Despite the fact that less than two percent of Minnesota’s population is farmers, they supply consumers around the world with a safe, healthy and abundant food supply. Today one farmer produces enough food for 155 people and does so on less land and using fewer chemicals than 30 years ago.

A key to that production is research.

There is compelling evidence that agricultural research conducted either federally or by individual states yields significant benefits at a relatively low cost. Minnesota soybean farmers are so convinced of the value of public research that they have invested more than $1.5 million through the soybean checkoff program this year.  Overseen by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), this research covers a variety topics designed to increase the productivity of the state’s soybean crop.

“Without research, you are operating blind,” says Crookston, Minnesota farmer Greg LeBlanc, who chairs theMSR&PC Research Committee.  “If there is something that is limiting yields, there is probably a solution somewhere in research.”

The MSR&PC has set research priorities for the coming year to address key production issues facing the soybean industry.

 One priority issue involves research on disease and Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) management. Farmers need research to address how to manage the yield and quality limiting effects of SCN, foliar diseases as well as root and stem rots. SCN is rapidlymoving into Northwest Minnesota, so farmers need research and extension education on how to effectively manage SCN in that part of the state.

Another key research issue for MSR&PC involves cultural practices. Farmers need new research and extension education efforts that focus on optimizing soybean yields by integrating cultural practices into a systems approach management strategy. Some of the cultural practices in this strategy include rotational crop management, variety selection, soil and tillage management, nutrient and manure management, iron deficiency chlorosis management, weed control management and drainage and irrigation water management practices. 

Soybean farmers are also focusing research and education efforts into how to avoid the buildup of herbicide resistant weeds, soybean yield-enhancing effects of various manure management systems, research on the impact of tile drainage on soybean production and how to adjust management practices between tiled and non-tiled soils in order to increase profitability. 

Another research topic being pushed by Minnesota soybean farmers is the need to continually identify and develop need new high yielding varieties with good defensive traits to reduce the impact of diseases, pests and other yield limiting factors. Farmers are working to develop an aggressive public breeding program to help respond to the continually adapting pests. This is especially true for the specialty and food grade markets that Minnesota soybean producers have developed.

Insect management has been identified by farmers as a priority issue as they seek research into how to best manage soybean aphids.  Development of more efficient scouting strategies and development of thresholds for aphid resistant varieties and late season infestations are needed as is expanded research into new biological control strategies. Soybean aphids are likely be a serious pest of soybeans well into the future, so farmers are looking for new approaches for aphid management that will be sustainable in the future.

Water management research is a priority issue for Minnesota farmers to properly quantify the positive impact of optimally tile-drained soil on soybean production and water quality.

Farmers need research efforts that can properly quantify the “natural background” levels and sources of nutrients, sediment and bacteria that come from agricultural landscapes as well as identifying and targeting conservation and water quality practices

.“Our funding of research is only the beginning,” LeBlanc adds. “We need to be sure that information from research gets Rick Browne ....from page 10 The long term outlook for agriculture remains positive, but the structure ofour markets is likely to be changing. The strength of global markets, particularly China, and the expansion of production in areas such as South America and the Black Sea region, will likely change who buys commodities and who sells them. U.S farmers often take for granted the availability of machinery, fertilizer, seed and financing, but those factors are limiting production around the world. Browne’s glimpse into the future dynamics of world commodity trade offered hope for farmers when it comes to demand, but not without the risks of increasing competition from other grain producing areas.  Rick Browne was a keynote speaker at the 2011 Prairie Grains Conference. to farmers in the form of answers to their problems, so we work to educate farmers about the excellent research that is available to them.”