Roughly 12,000 farmers throughout Michigan produce soybeans, a versatile crop used in several products from food and animal feed to biodiesel.
According to the Michigan Soybean Committee (MSC) — a farmer-led organization that manages annual contributions from growers known as the soybean checkoff — Michigan’s soybean farms encompass more than 2.2 million acres.
Mark Seamon, MSC research director, said Michigan State University research is one of the primary components of producing a successful crop each year.
“We look at research from Michigan State as critical to soybean production in Michigan,” he said. “We think it has a significant effect on the yield of our soybean crop. Now that we’re in a situation of being pretty close to the cost of production (with respect to revenue), we need to make sure we’re economically sustainable, and MSU research takes that into consideration.”
The future is something on the minds of all farmers, and Seamon said it’s particularly significant to the group he works for with the MSC.
“Sustainability is one of the things our seven-member farmer board thinks is very important,” he said. “That’s because most of these farms are multigenerational and will be passed down to the children of the current operators. They want to make sure their farms are as productive or more by the time they’re done with their careers. It’s critical for them to help support projects that include sustainability. They want to know how we keep up productivity on farms and improve things like soil health as they look forward to the next generation.”
MSU AgBioResearch has invested in scientists and research infrastructure to solve some of the major challenges facing the soybean industry, including devastating insects, diseases and weeds, proper nutrient management, and a soybean breeding program to develop varieties uniquely suited to Michigan’s growing conditions.
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