At their summer meeting, the Board of Directors of the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) approved funding for 11 research projects for fiscal year 2027, which runs October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.

The board awarded four new projects and approved seven projects renewed for the second or third funding cycle. The board is comprised of soybean farmers representing the 13 North Central member states. The projects are collaborative, multi-state and multi-disciplinary conducted to advance grower productivity and profitability. In this year’s Request for Proposals, the directors focused on weed management as a topic requirement.

“The slate of new research projects are varied within weed management,” says Joe McClure, NCSRP Executive Director. “Each project brings a different aspect, from herbicide application management to new technologies such as targeted sprayers and bioherbicides. Research results will help farmers improve management of troublesome weeds in their soybean fields.”

The renewed projects continue the innovative ideas of scientists in the region. Research topics include creating new decision-making tools for farmers to maximize yield, improve return-on-investment and get ahead of disease; novel genetics that can advance soybean quality as well as improve the soybean cyst nematode fight; and keeping abreast of new and expanding insect pests.

All of the projects have an outreach component, which includes developing guides, fact sheets and tools for farmers to use. The researchers will share information at field days, through talks at extension meetings and through podcasts and videos to get research results in the hands of farmers.

The list of FY27 project summaries are on the NCSRP website, under “Current Projects.”

The NCSRP board of directors meeting was the culmination of a three-day gathering in Iowa in August. The summer meeting is held in a different member state each year. The directors, along with Qualified State Soybean Board (QSSB) research staff, met in Ankeny and Ames. Attendees toured several Iowa State University (ISU) sites, including the Advanced Teaching and Research Building, Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex, ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Reiman Gardens.

The group was welcomed to campus by Asheesh “Danny” Singh, Associate Dean of Research and Discovery for the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Iowa Soybean Research Center co-directors, Mark Licht and Steve Whitham, provided information about the center housed on the ISU campus.

FY27 Projects and Lead Project Investigator:

• Advancing Soybean Health: Field Trials to Decision Support Tools to Maximize Disease Management – Richard (Wade) Webster, North Dakota State University
• Advancing Integrated Management of Herbicide-Resistant Pigweed Species in Soybeans Through Emerging Technologies, Cultural Practices and Extension Education – Debalin Sarangi, University of Minnesota
• Boots on the Ground 2: AI-Driven Tools for Maximizing Soybean Yield and Profitability – Shawn Conley, University of Wisconsin
• Engineering Soybean Cyst Nematode-Resistant Soybeans Using Genome Editing – Thomas Baum, Iowa State University
• Exploring New Technologies for Integrated Management of Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in Soybean in the North Central Region: Research & Extension – Amit Jhala, University of Nebraska
• Harnessing Innovative Bioherbicides: Exploring Their Potential to Manage Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp in Soybean Production Fields – Ahmad Fakhoury, Southern Illinois University
• Less Herbicide, More Yield? Targeted Sprayers for Profitable Soybean Production – Thomas Butts, Purdue University
• Management Tactics and Tools for Insect Pests in the North Central Region – Justin McMechan, University of Nebraska
• Overlapping Fall and Spring Applied Residual Herbicides – Joseph Ikley, North Dakota State University
• The SOYGEN Collaborative: Genomics-Assisted Breeding for Environmentally Resilient Soybeans – Aaron Lorenz, University of Minnesota
• SoyRenSeq II: Validating and Deploying New Sources of Disease Resistances into Elite Soybean Lines Across the North Central Region – Jianxin Ma, Purdue University

The North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) brings together Soy Checkoff investments from 13 member states to drive impactful research and innovation. Through support for basic and applied research, student and postdoctoral training, extension and outreach, and communications, NCSRP works to increase profitability, enhance yields, and improve soybean quality for soybean farmers. Learn more at www.NCSRP.com.