(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / Joclyn Bushman)
Executive Insights: The Power of Public Investment
February 1, 2025 | Kirk Leeds
Soybeans are a cornerstone of U.S. agriculture. They spur significant economic, environmental, and nutritional value. The crop’s success is not accidental. Behind every productive field lies a vast network of research and collaboration. Public investments courtesy of the soybean checkoff and private funding from seed and technology companies play essential roles in advancing soybean production. Combined, they drive innovation for one of America’s most critical crops.
The farmer-created soybean checkoff collects a small assessment on every bushel of soybeans sold. These dollars are strategically invested into research, market development, and communications. Unlike private funding which focuses on proprietary technologies, checkoff-funded research benefits all growers by addressing broad agronomic challenges and sustainability goals.
One shining example of the checkoff’s impact is the work conducted through the Iowa Soybean Research Center (ISRC) at Iowa State University. Since its inception at the urging of the Iowa Soybean Association, ISRC has partnered with Iowa soybean farmers, land-grant researchers, and industry stakeholders to tackle pressing issues like pest and disease management, soil health, and precision agriculture. This collaborative model ensures checkoff investments are matched with expertise and resources from the private sector, maximizing impact.
ISRC has spearheaded efforts to improve soybean resistance to two of the most significant threats to soybean yields: sudden death syndrome and soybean cyst nematode. Through innovative breeding techniques and integrated pest management strategies, farmers have seen tangible benefits in both productivity and profitability.
The North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) complements these efforts. The multi-state collaborative has supported soybean research for more than 30 years. It focuses on issues that transcend state borders, pooling checkoff dollars from 13 soybean-producing states to address shared challenges.
Since its founding, NCSRP has played a pivotal role in developing disease-resistant varieties, improving nutrient management practices, and promoting sustainable farming systems. Notably, its work on soybean aphid control has saved farmers millions of dollars in pesticide costs and prevented yield losses. This success underscores the importance of coordinated, long-term investments in research.
While public investments lay the foundation for broad agronomic advancements, private companies contribute cutting-edge technologies. They include genetically modified traits and precision agriculture tools.
Together, public and private investments create a synergistic effect, delivering both foundational knowledge and innovative solutions. For example, private companies have developed herbicide-resistant traits giving farmers more options for weed control. Meanwhile, checkoff-funded research ensures these tools are used effectively within integrated systems, maximizing their benefits while minimizing resistance risks.
The continued collaboration between public institutions, checkoff programs, and private companies is vital as soybean farmers face weather and market volatility, and evolving pest and disease pressures. Initiatives like the ISRC and NCSRP provide a model for leveraging collective resources and expertise to solve complex problems.
Farmers benefit from these efforts, from increased yields and reduced input costs to improved environmental outcomes. Soybean checkoff dollars combined with strategic partnerships ensure innovation remains a driving force in American agriculture. This collective investment in research and development improves soybeans, benefiting farmers and securing a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
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