Research supports soybean advancements

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Soybean Association is observing its diamond anniversary with events throughout the year.

As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, ISA recently released the first of several video docuseries that will focus on their investments in production, research, advocacy and education.

ISA’s investments in research through the checkoff has led to significant findings that continue to have positive impacts on farmer productivity.

“A lot of the work that was done in biotechnology was done at the University of Illinois. ISA was assessing the needs back in the mid-1990s of what was the greatest problem that Illinois farmers face,” said Ken Dalenberg, of Mansfield, retired ISA chairman, soybean advocate and early innovator in precision ag.

“It was through encouragement from the ISA to move forward that soybeans was important in the biotechnology arena.

“In northern Illinois, it was white mold. In central Illinois, sudden death syndrome was an issue. But as you go to southern Illinois, soybean cyst nematode was a big problem. So, it wasn’t really just one project. Those were three major projects which are still continuing today.

“The outcomes of sudden death syndrome research, the white mold research, the SCN research led us to having varieties which still are on the market today.”

Aaron Hager, U of I weed biology scientist, professor and Extension specialist, said ISA, like many other organizations, has always tried to “put the needs and the interests of their constituents first.”

“We’ve had a lot of firsts in our program. So much of it was because of the people, the ability to collaborate together, but also the willingness of companies, of organizations, to provide that funding so we could do that work,” he said.

“It really is a testament to the fact that we can always accomplish so much more together than what we can individually.”

“I think the research is important because, one, we’re unbiased, third party. There are new diseases and pests coming in every year, or what ones are important change every year. So, a lot of the research if focused on limiting yield losses for farmers,” said at-large director Brady Holst, of Augusta, the ISA Soybean Production Committee chair.

“The one project we’re going to be funding that will have the biggest impact is looking into genetic research on soybean cyst nematodes. We’re looking at doing some genetic testing on those to try and be able to use the CRISPR to edit their genes and develop gene drive in them to basically look for areas to make them less of a problem.”

During all ISA events, questionnaires are handed out and representatives take questions form farmers. That information is used to find research projects.

“If it’s something that hasn’t been tested that a farmer asks, generally we will look for somebody who can do that research,” Holst said.

Hager believes production research will look different “10 years, 15 years, 60 years from now, from what it does today — but the need is going to continue to be there.”

“For me, what’s always been the most satisfying part is the people, getting to talk with the farmers, whether it’s somebody who calls with a question that they really don’t have a good answer for, they really want to try to maybe think through a process, or it’s a challenge that they’re facing,” Hager said.

“If you can help them do that, that’s the greatest satisfaction I ever get, knowing that hopefully we’ve done something that’s helped somebody overcome a challenge, something that’s made them perhaps more efficient in their operation, or share some new knowledge with them. That’s really what drives me on a day-to-day basis.”