User-friendly production research at your fingertips
July 8, 2020
Soybean production research reports may not be light reading for the masses. But the valuable nuggets those studies offer just got a lot easier to access, understand and apply on the farm.
“To promote checkoff-funded production research, the United Soybean Board (USB) has partnered with the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) to create the Soybean Research & Information Network (SRIN – www.soybeanresearchinfo.com),” says Cate Newberg, USB/NCSRP program manager leading the effort. “The site is dynamic, easy to consume and offers farmers one place with past and present checkoff-funded research projects.”
Iowa Soybean Association member and Farmersburg farmer Suzanne Shirbroun has already bookmarked the website in her phone.
“The crop scouting season is when I use the site the most,” Shirbroun says. “There are great pictures of the diseases and a lot of good information on each disease. With so many sources on this site, if I need more information it is just a click away. I also use the insect tab quite often. The information is clear and concise for what I need.”
All in one place
Newberg says the SRIN site was developed to be the communications arm of the National Soybean Checkoff Research Database – a database that has been built up during the last several years.
The SRIN site contains state and national research funded by various checkoff programs. It is accessible by all soybean organization staff, farmers, university and company researchers, agronomists and others interested in study results. It is the only site that focuses on all checkoff states’ research projects and resources while linking directly to the USB database for those who want to dig deeper.
On this site, users can:
- View detailed information, photos and videos about pests, diseases and agronomic and conservation practices
- Get scouting and management advice
- Find tips to control yield-robbers, weed management and more
- Review links and resources for more details in the Resource Library
- Sign up up for auto notifications
“The research database is essentially a warehouse of all the production research nationwide dating back to 2008,” says Newberg. “There is a lot of data for researchers to compare and contrast, see what has been done on various topics and find collaboration. It’s highly technical.”
Complementing the database with the new SRIN site provides the opportunity to present research in a digestible fashion. Newberg says users can mine the site for projects of interest by entering the state and/or subject area. The research articles on the SRIN site also link back to original research in the database as well as related research from other states and regions. Doing these prevents research overlaps and saves checkoff funds for use in future projects and priority areas.
Newberg adds she is also sharing some of the research found through the SRIN site on social media and other outlets.
“We promote articles so we can get real world management ideas out there that impact farmer production and conservation efforts. It is this research knowledge and information sharing that will help advance the soybean industry,” she says.
As the site continues to be populated, Newberg says farmers can expect additional pest and disease information, production-related resources and links to publications and annual reports.
“The site will continue to grow and farmers will be able to see the benefits of their investments,” says Newberg. “We’ve gotten off to a great start this year and have made a lot of progress.”
Newberg asks that soybean farmers contact her with feedback and suggestions at cnewberg@iasoybeans.com.
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