Home to the fastest growth of soybean acres in the U.S., Northwest Minnesota has become the focus of soybean checkoff research investments in variety development.

In 2009 the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) will invest more than $1 million into research projects that benefit Minnesota’s soybean farmers – with at least three of those projects specifically targeting farmers in the northwestern part of the state. One of the projects, entitled Expanded Variety Development and Testing for Northern Minnesota, focuses on expanding varieties of early maturing genotypes in the soybean breeding and genetics program at the Universityof Minnesota.

Dr. Jim Orf, professor of soybean breeding and genetics at the University, has been conducting this in-depth research into northern soybean variety development in the Red River Valley for the past few years. This project has led to expanded testing in three different northern locations in order to develop the earliest public and private varieties. The locations include Roseau, Thief River Falls and Crookston.

Tested varieties include conventional general purpose soybeans, transgenic soybeans (Roundup Ready, Liberty Link, and RR2- Yield), and food grade soybeans.

“My research compares both public and private varieties and provides information on maturity, yield, iron chlorosis scores, phytophthora genes, and protein and oil content so soybean producers can make informed planting decisions,” saysDr. Orf.

The expanded testing has allowed for more breeding lines in the north and has resulted in the release of maturity group 00 food type varieties, as well as early maturity group 0 conventional, Roundup Ready and food type varieties.

In many cases, the new varieties have higher yield, additional phytophthora resistance, higher protein and oil content and better Iron Chlorosis resistance, as well as tolerance to white mold and soybean cyst nematode.

These higher yielding, hazard resistant general purpose and food type varieties, have given soybean producers in NW Minnesota the opportunity to increase their profitability and remain competitive in the world marketplace.

In addition to higher yields and other previously mentioned traits, Dr. Orf’s research includes experimental lines with soybean aphid resistance, larger seed and higher protein, smaller seed, higher sugars, higher isoflavones, low linolenic acid, drought tolerance and greater genetic diversity.

“I anticipate future varieties with improved yield and combinations of traits will continue to make soybeans grown in northwest Minnesota profitable,” says Dr. Orf.

Other 2009 soybean checkoff-funded research endeavors focused on the Red River Valley include the Northwest Minnesota Soybean Applied Research & Education Project conducted by Charla Hollingsworth, Doug Holen and Phil Glogoza, and Soybean Breeding and Genetics Support, led by Dr. Orf.The MSR&PC is made up of an elected board of 15 soybean producers from across the state. The mission of the council is to invest soybean checkoff dollars in well-defined research, marketing, education and commercialization programs designed to increase demand and thereby improve the profitability of Minnesota’s soybean farmers.

Your Soybean Checkoff... funding research to meet the needs of Northern Soybean producers