Michigan Soybean News Spring 2024

Soybean Staff

Ben Steyer Chief Executive Officer bsteyer@michigansoybean.org

Kathy Maurer Financial Director kmaurer@michigansoybean.org

Mark Seamon Research Director mseamon@michigansoybean.org

Sonja Lapak, Editor Communication Director slapak@michigansoybean.org

Katlin Fusilier Outreach Specialist kfusilier@michigansoybean.org

Hanna Campbell Demand Specialist hcampbell@michigansoybean.org

Claire Dewey

Administrative & Marketing Coordinator cdewey@michigansoybean.org

Michigan Soybean Association 3055 W M-21 St. Johns, MI 48879 Phone: 989.652.3294

soyinfo@michigansoybean.org

Ad Sales

Sonja Lapak slapak@michigansoybean.org

J.L. Farmakis Inc. - National Phone: 203.834.8832 bill@jlfarmakis.com

Magazine Circulation:

Michigan Soybean Leadership

Michigan Soybean Association

Larry Phelps, Vicksburg

Jay Williams, Waldron

Tom Woelmer, Monroe

Karen Warner, Yale

Allison Morse, Birch Run

PJ Feldpausch, St. Johns

Matthew Wila, Blanchard

Rob Howland, Brown City

Robert Wasmiller, Burt

Michigan Soybean Committee

Sara Trattles, Colon

Pete Crawford, Dansville

Nathan McCalla, Ann Arbor

Scott Wilson, Lexington

John Burk, Bay City

Mark Senk, Owosso

Ryan Drozd, Allegan

American Soybean Association

Heather Feuerstein, Belding

Janna Fritz, Bad Axe

United Soybean Board

Laurie Isley, Palmyra

Dennis Gardner, Croswell

Carla Schultz, Mayville

North Central Soybean Research Program

Steve Koeman, Hamilton

US Soybean Export Council

Dave Williams, Elsie

Clean Fuels Alliance America

Matt Stutzman, Adrian

Soy Aquaculture Alliance

Alan Moore, Bannister

Soy Transportation Coalition

Dan Rajzer, Decatur

World Initiative for Soy in Human Health

Doug Darling, Maybee

Specialty Soya & Grains Alliance

Steve Peach, Plymouth

USA Poultry & Egg Export Council

Mark Trowbridge, Leonidas

US Meat Export Federation

Brian Pridgeon, Montgomery

Farm Produce Insurance Fund

Jason Haag, Unionville

MSA Director SpotlightMeet Larry Phelps

Tell us about yourself, your farm and your family.

Our six generation family farm is located in Kalamazoo County. My son Aaron and I raise around 750 acres of corn and soybeans, of which, 335 acres is irrigated. My wife, Dawn, and I have been married for 29 years. We have three grown children. Andrew works at Spring Arbor University, Aaron works with me on the farm, and Adam goes to school in Arizona. Dawn teaches sixth grade at Centreville Elementary.

Favorite MSA board experience?

My favorite MSA board experience has been meeting new people and learning about their farms. It gives me great pride in agriculture to meet and work with so many quality people. I also enjoyed going to Commodity Classic as a delegate for ASA's policy development process.

Off-farm hobbies?

I enjoy traveling with my wife, spending time at Lake Michigan beaches and reading books about U.S. history and sports, especially football.

Planting or Harvest?

It's hard to choose between planting and harvest because it takes both, but I would have to say harvest. Bringing in a successful harvest is truly one of life's great joys.

Red or Green?

We run green equipment. Do you have a farm dog?

I do not have a farm dog, but my son has an Australian Shepherd that is at the farm a lot. Her name is Tuffy and she loves to run around and ride in the tractors and trucks.

Staff Update

There are many examples of events and ideas in the world today that seem to be 180 degrees from reality. While they make interesting content for the news, political discussions and social media posts, they don’t seem to make it into real life situations such as crop production. It doesn’t matter to a soybean plant if we have wild ideas, it will respond to the realities of the environment around it and its genetic potential. The temperature, sunlight, moisture and available nutrients will determine much of its productivity. My experience is that farmers have taken a cue from the natural world which is based on the realities of hard work, perseverance and a reward for a job well done.

Even though Bertrand Russell passed away in 1970, he described the situation today in the quote “As soon as we abandon our own reason, and are content to rely upon authority, there is no end to our troubles.”

Farmers have the great responsibility to use their own reason in the endless judgment calls throughout a growing season to make the best of the situation that they have. Many decisions rely upon support from others such as agronomists, seedsmen, accountants and mechanics, but the final call is made with reason based on this support combined with experience and a healthy dose of intuition.

Of course, we all need to submit to authority in obeying laws, paying taxes and getting along with other people. But we must be vigilant to hold the line on allowing “authority” to override reason. There are so many products and practices that claim to benefit crop yields, soil quality and improve profits. Some of these examples have a believable story while others are somewhat of a stretch to believe. While the judgment of who to trust as an authority can be tough sometimes, it is important to get it right most of the time. For farmers, this can be the difference between a successful farm and a failure.

Most of the world would be wise to look to farmers in this area as a good example. The lessons will be to let reason guide decisions, don’t be mislead by those claiming to be an authority and look forward to reaping what you sow.

Mark Seamon Research Director mseamon@michigansoybean.org

2023 Michigan Soybean Yield Contest Winners

The winners of the 2023 Michigan Soybean Association(MSA) yield contest were announced at the end of 2023 and celebrated at the 50 th MSA Annual Meeting of Members during the Great Lakes Crop Summit.

In 2023 there were over 110 entries from soybean farmers across the state of Michigan. MSA would like to thank all of the sponsors of this year’s contest. Without their support this contest would not be possible. The 2023 contest was sponsored by the Michigan Soybean Committee, AgriGold, Asgrow, Beck’s, Channel, DF Seeds, Dyna-Gro, Golden Harvest, Pioneer, Renk, Stine, Xitavo and ZFSelect.

Additional information about the contest and harvest data can be found at www.misoy.org/ yield contest

Details about the 2024 contest will be posted on our website, social media and will be included in upcoming issues of the Michigan Soybean News magazine.

MSA Kicks off Year of Celebration at 50th Annual Meeting of Members

Founded in 1974, the Michigan Soybean Association was pleased to kick off a year of celebration in honor of 50 years of advocacy work during their Annual Meeting of Members. The meeting and reception that followed were a great opportunity for members to connect, reminisce and swap stories of MSA events and accomplishments over the years.

In addition to the anniversary celebration, the director election results were also announced during the meeting, which was held at the Great Lakes Crop Summit at the end of January.

Districts 2 and 5, along with an at-large seat were up for election. Jay Williams of Waldron was elected to the District 2 seat. In District 5, Allison Morse of Birch Run was reelected for a second term. Lastly, Robert Wasmiller of Burt was elected to the at-large seat. Congratulations to Jay, Allison and Robert!

Outgoing board members were also recognized for their contributions to the association. Heather Feuerstein of Belding termed off as an at-large director after serving for nine years. She most recently served as the president of MSA and is currently serving on the American Soybean Association board of directors. Gary Parr of Charlotte also termed off as the District 2 director. Gary served for nine years and was most recently serving as the MSA vice president. Thank you to Heather and Gary for their leadership and service!

MSA would also like to thank BASF for their partnership and support of the reception celebration. Stay tuned for more information in future issues of the Michigan Soybean News magazine on additional ways MSA plans to celebrate 50 years of membership and advocacy on behalf of the Michigan soybean industry.

Jay Williams

Allison Morse

Robert Wasmiller

Gary Parr

Heather Feuerstein

MSA Hires Administrative & Marketing Coordinator

Hello all, I am Claire Dewey, the newest employee of the Michigan Soybean Association(MSA). I am working part-time as the Administrative and Marketing Coordinator. In addition to my work with MSA, I run a cut flower business and work as a graphic designer for my family’s business. I have a bachelors degree from Michigan State University (Go Green!) in Agribusiness Management with a minor in Agronomy.

Currently, I live in Charlotte, just south of Lansing, with my husband Michael and son Larkin. We have a German Shepherd, named Flynn and two cats. In my spare time you will find me playing soccer, watching sports (specifically hockey and football) or reading a good book.

One fun fact about me is I have a goal of visiting all 50 states. I only have 13 left to visit! My travels have taken me across the U.S. where I have been to 14 different National Parks with plans to visit several more. I love talking about my travels and must-see places.

I'm looking forward to working with many of you in my new role!

THANK YOU

TO THE MICHIGAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION SPONSORS

New & Renewing Members

Morgan Beattie, Marshall

Steve Lott, Mason

William Kirk, Oscoda

Ryan Wojtowicz, Standish

Charles Arver, Centreville

Richard Kalisek, Corunna

Mike Jasper, Sawyer

Steven & Wayne Schlagel,

Paul Taylor, Ottawa Lake

GOLD SILVER

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

First Name:_____________________________

Last Name:_____________________________

Address:_______________________________

City/State/Zip:___________________________

Phone:_________________________________

Cell Phone:_____________________________

Email:_________________________________

1-yr: $75 3-yr: $190

Young Farmer (18-24): $20

Non-Farmer Individual: $100

Payment Amount & Method:

Check (Payable to MSA) or Credit Card

Credit Card Type:_____ Expiration Date:______

Credit Card #:_________________ CVV:______

Signature:_______________________________

Date of Birth:__________________

Number of Soybean Acres:_______

Total Farm Acres:______________

Occupation (circle one):

Farmer Retired Other

• Dues are not tax deductible as a charitable contribution for federal tax purposes, but may be deductible as a business expense.

• 18% of member dues are allocated to lobbying activities and are not deductible.

Mail application with payment to: Michigan Soybean Association 3055 W M-21, St. Johns, MI 48879

Join online:

Paying the soybean checkoff does not make you an MSA member. Checkoff dollars cannot be used for lobbying. Your membership is critical to our efforts on behalf of Michigan soybean farmers!

For more information on member benefits, visit www.misoy.org/member-benefits/. Member benefits include:

• Scholarship opportunities for your children and grandchildren

• Preferred vehicle pricing opportunities

• Cabela’s gift card purchase discount

• Discounted registration to Commodity Classic

• Annual $75 seed coupon for renewing members to use with our partnering seed companies

• The MOST IMPORTANT MSA member benefit: Having a voice in Lansing and Washington, D.C.!

Michigan Legislative Update

Last year turned out to be a strange year in the Michigan Legislature. After the Democrats regained majority in the Michigan House of Representatives in 2022, for the first time in twelve years, two of their members ran for mayor in their respective hometowns in 2023 and won. This took the Democrats' 56-54 seat majority and made it a 54-54 split with Republicans.

As a result, the legislature adjourned in November for the year as opposed to mid or late December. Those two seats will be filled in special elections in April and it’s anticipated that they will remain Democratic seats, however it will certainly slow down activity in the House until the spring.

In 2018, Proposal 2 was passed by the voters in Michigan creating an “independent” redistricting commission. Previously, legislative district maps were drawn by the legislature and were deemed too political by voters.

The maps drawn in 2022 by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRD) were ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court in December of last year. In the decision, the court stated that the MICRD “randomly selected citizen mappers responsible for drawing the lines violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution which prohibits drawing districts on the basis of race when they drew the lines that run through Detroit.” This means that 13 state House district maps need to be redrawn in the coming months prior to the August primary election.

As we look ahead to the 2024 legislative calendar,

MSA has been active in supporting several legislative initiatives that could be beneficial to our membership. We're committed to staying engaged and pushing for progress, in spite of some of the challenges and unique occurrences in the state's government this year.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Sen. Sam Singh has ramped up efforts to get his legislation creating a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tax credit moving in the Senate Energy and Environment Committee. Senate Bill 447, which would create an SAF credit in Michigan if passed, would create a $1 per gallon purchaser credit (up to $2 with additional GHG reductions) for SAF purchased in Michigan.

MSA has been in conversations with other stakeholders regarding SB 447 including Delta Airlines. We see this as another opportunity to provide cleaner energy for transportation in our state while increasing demand for soybeans.

Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Back in early 2023, MSA was involved in a work group on Senate Bill 275. This legislation, also introduced by Sen. Sam Singh, would establish a clean fuel standard to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels.

It would require the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to use this standard to establish a market for trading carbon intensity credits. Fuel providers that produced fuels below the standard would receive credits that could be traded or sold. Fuel providers that produced fuels above the standard would have to reduce the fuels' carbon intensity below the standard or acquire credits to

Jason Wadaga, Vice-President of Government Relations, Kindsvatter, Dalling & Associates

Jason Wadaga

offset the deficit. Ultimately, by the end of 2035, the bill would require the carbon intensity of all transportation fuel produced or imported for use in the state to be reduced to at least 25 percent below a 2019 baseline level.

MSA has continued to advocate for minor tweaks to this legislation. Like the SAF legislation, SB 275 has the potential to provide cleaner energy for transportation in our state while increasing demand for soybeans.

MSA Awaiting Committee Hearing on Tax Inventive for Biodiesel

As you know from prior updates, Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) introduced House Bill 4847 to create tax incentives for biodiesel producers and retailers in Michigan. This bill is MSA’s number one legislative priority for this legislative session.

The goal of the bill is incentivizing the production and sale of biodiesel that will reduce engine emissions for healthier air and a better environment. Fleets have easily and economically reduced their carbon footprint by replacing

petroleum-based diesel with cleaner-burning biodiesel for over 30 years.

We modeled our bill off one that was recently successful in the Missouri Legislature. Specifically, the legislation would:

• Create a Retail Tax Credit

• .02 cents per gallon for B5-B10

• .05 cents per gallon for B11+

• Create a Producers Tax Credit

• .02 cents per gallon for every gallon produced by a Michigan biodiesel producer

• Set a 6-year sunset on all incentive provisions

• Cap the program at $16 million for retailers and $2 million for producers

The tax credits would be evenly distributed to all that participate in the program.

House bill 4847 has been referred to the Tax Policy Committee in the Michigan House of Representatives. MSA’s government affairs team has been working diligently with the Chairwoman of that committee, Rep. Cynthia Neeley, to receive a hearing date.

MAINTAINING OUR REPUTATION TO DELIVER

Whether shipping by river, road or rail, the soy checkoff is committed to ensuring America’s infrastructure is a significant advantage for U.S. soybean farmers. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And it’s helping make a valuable impact for soybean farmers like you.

See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for soybean farmers at unitedsoybean.org

March is Elevator Appreciation Month!

The Michigan soybean checkoff is assessed at the rate of one-half of one percent (.005) of the net market value of soybeans sold by the producer to the first purchaser.

Checkoff assessments collected by Michigan first purchasers must be remitted to the Michigan Soybean Committee. The funds are used for production research, market development and outreach efforts on behalf of Michigan’s 12,000+ soybean farmers.

Thank you to the first purchasers who collect the checkoff each month! Their cooperation is a critical step in helping ensure checkoff funds are utilized for the collective benefit of Michigan soybean farmers.

Acres Cooperative

ADM Edible Bean Specialties, Inc.

ADM Grain Co.

American Soy Products Inc.

Armada Grain Co.

Battle Creek Farm Bureau Assn.

Bierlein Seed Inc.

Caledonia Farmers Elevator

Cargill

Ceres Solutions

Citizens, LLC

Commodity Exchange Inc.

Community Mills Inc.

Cooperative Elevator Co.

Cremer Farm Center

DF Seeds, LLC

Durand Feed & Grain

Eaton Farm Bureau Co-Op

Endeavor Ag & Energy, LLP

Esper Grain, LLC

Farmer's Coop Elevator

Farmer's Coop Grain Co - Kinde

Freeland Bean & Grain

Gallagher Farms

Gavilon

Great Lakes Grain and Transportation

Harrington Seeds Inc.

Harvest Mills Inc.

Helena Agri Enterprises, LLC

Hirschman Grain, LLC

Hoffman Ag Service, LTD

Hopkins Elevator

Ida Farmer's Co-op

Ionia Grain, LLC

Ittner Bean & Grain Inc.

JBS United Feeds, Inc.

John Marion Inc.

Jorgensen Farm Elevator

Lapeer Grain Imlay City

Leslie Farm Center

Litchfield Grain Co.

M&W Seeds

MAC

Masserant's Feed & Grain

Mathews Elevator

Maybee Farmers Inc.

Millington Elevator & Supply

Moline Coop

Morning Star Grain, LLC

Musgrove Grain, LLC

Nutrien Ag Solutions

Ottawa Lake Coop

Ovid Elevator Company

Penn Acres

Prattville Fertilizer & Grain, Inc.

Quality Roasting, LLC

Shaffer Farms

Simons, E.R. Co.

Springport Elevator, Inc.

Star of the West Milling Co.

Stop Loss Trading, LLC

The Andersons

Turner Bean & Grain

Van Gilder Commodities, LLC

Vershum R & Sons Inc.

VHGC, Inc.

Vita Plus

Voyces Elevator Inc.

Waldron Grain & Fuel Co.

Westphalia Milling Co.

Witt Seed Farm

Zeeland Farm Service Inc.

ZFS Ithaca, LLC

Zmitko Farms

Where Does Resistance Come From?

Dr. Eric Patterson, Assistant Professor &

Weed Geneticist, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Edited by Dr. Erin Burns, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Where does herbicide resistance come from? This question is fundamental to preventing the emergence and spread of new resistance cases. Essentially there are only two options. Either resistance arises from new mutations in weeds already in the field or it is coming from outside the field from already resistant plants.

While all resistance cases start as the former, new mutations are exceedingly rare. The chance that any one field produces a novel mutation is estimated to be no lower than one in ten thousand but is probably several orders of magnitude rarer for most herbicides. Therefore, it is logical that, for the most part, resistance originates only once in a geographic area and is mostly spread from field to field. Then how can resistance spread so quickly? We call the spread of traits from one population to another gene flow. For weeds, there are too major drivers of gene flow: seeds and pollen. These are the only two stages of a plant life cycle that are mobile. Seed mediated gene flow (SMGF) can be driven by several factors; weed seeds can adhere or be trapped on farm equipment that is shared or sold, birds can eat weed seeds and spread them in their waste, seeds can be mixed with grain or pollinator mixes,

spread in manure, or the weeds themselves can have mechanisms of long-distance dispersal (like dandelion seeds!). All evidence to date suggests that seed dispersal is the main driver of resistance gene flow.

Another, often under looked, source of gene flow is pollen. Pollen mediated gene flow (PMGF) is when resistant pollen grains are either picked up by wind or by pollinators and delivered to receptive female flowers. These flowers then produce a resistant offspring which germinates in the following season. PMGF happens often in close physical proximity but drops off rapidly at increasing distances. In a study with waterhemp, glyphosate resistance male plants were placed in the middle of rings of glyphosate susceptible female plants at varying distances. At distances 15 feet or less, glyphosate resistance was spread to between 15-54 percent of offspring; however, at distances of 165 feet, only five to nine percent of offspring received glyphosate resistance from the male donors (Sarangi et al., 2017). By modeling this steep decline, we can extrapolate on the data and predict that longdistance dispersal is very rare (>1000ft); but with weeds it’s a numbers game. The more pollen donors,

the more receptive females, the stronger the wind, and the greater number of female flowers all mean higher odds of rare PMGF.

It is incredibly difficult to measure long-distance fertilization events as it is nearly impossible to track microscopic pollen grains over miles. Pollen grains have been found at high altitudes suggesting that long distance fertilization is possible assuming the grains remain viable; however, the odds of a pollen grain landing on a receptive female are incredibly low. In a study looking at gene flow in a weedy relative of sugar beets, they were able to verify PMGF up to ~6 miles between plants, the furthest documented case of PMGF in a weedy plant. In that same study they found that for weedy beets, between 11.3 percent to 17.5 percent of successful fertilizations were in between fields through PMGF (Fenart et al., 2007). We still have very few data points to model the importance of PMGF in longdistance resistance spread, but circumstantial evidence says it is possible, although rare.

From a management perspective, what can be done to prevent the spread of herbicide resistance? Taken together, research suggests that the most

Investing Checkoff Dollars

important factor for preventing resistance spread is to prevent, as much as possible, SMGF, including thoroughly cleaning farm equipment between fields and when equipment is being bought and sold between growers. These practices will reduce a majority of the risk of novel resistance introductions. Furthermore, if a rare mutation occurs or resistance is spread through PMGF, the next most important management strategy is to quickly identify and control survivors so that they do not create a seedbank with resistance genes that will persist year-after-year.

Literature Cited

Sarangi, Debalin, Andrew J. Tyre, Eric L. Patterson, Todd A. Gaines, Suat Irmak, Stevan Z. Knezevic, John L. Lindquist, and Amit J. Jhala. "Pollen-mediated gene flow from glyphosateresistant common waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis Sauer): consequences for the dispersal of resistance genes." Scientific reports 7, no. 1 (2017): 44913.

Fenart, Stephane, Frederic Austerlitz, Joel Cuguen, and JEANFRANÇOIS ARNAUD. "Long distance pollen-mediated gene flow at a landscape level: the weed beet as a case study." Molecular Ecology 16, no. 18 (2007): 3801-3813.

Grower Leaders Attend Soybean Leadership Academy

Anew year means welcoming new soybean leaders in Michigan. As we welcome new directors to both boards, it is necessary to provide education to help build the leadership skills of our involved farmers. The American Soybean Association (ASA) partners with states to provide this training as an opportunity for grower leaders to build their understanding of the soybean industry and build skills that will serve them well as they start their time on the board.

The ASA Soybean Leadership Academy offered breakout sessions and keynote speakers with the objective of providing leadership development tools for farmers. The 2024 Soybean Leadership Academy theme was “Facing Headwinds – Leading During Challenging Times”, which focused on factors influencing the soybean industry and how soybean leaders can maximize their strengths to address these challenges.

The general sessions included segments on “Soybeans and the World View” with Zoe Zongyuan Liu, Ph.D., Council on Foreign Relations; “The Future of Soybean Growth in Brazil “with Joana Colussi, Ph.D., Instructor and Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; “It’s Time to Go Home, Now What” with Jones Loflin and a session on Connections with Jasmine Brett Stringer.

This year, four individuals participated from Michigan including MSA board members Karen Warner and Matthew Wila, MSC board member Sara Trattles and Michigan Soybean CEO Ben Steyer.

"My biggest takeaway was seeing the amount of people nationwide who are also focused on promoting soybeans and supporting soybean farmers. It was great to meet others from different soybean associations around the country, and share thoughts, bounce ideas off each other and discuss common challenges and successes," shared Karen Warner.

Sara Trattles noted, "I thought all of the speakers were relevant to current times and the networking with other leaders was valuable."

If you are interested in building your leadership skills, getting more involved, or want more information about the 2025 Leadership Academy, please contact Ben Steyer, at 989-652-3294 or bsteyer@michigansoybean.org

Matthew Wila, Sara Trattles, Karen Warner, Ben Steyer

Great Lakes Crop Summit Celebrates 10 Years

The 2024 Great Lakes Crop Summit (GLCS) again had a record turnout, with over 1,100 farmers and agribusiness professionals attending the two-day conference in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. This annual conference brings together corn, soybean and wheat farmers from across the state for educational sessions, networking and a trade show featuring more than 60 agribusinesses.

The event is hosted by the Michigan Soybean Committee, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and Michigan Wheat Program. This year, the program celebrated 10 years. As a way to give back in celebration of 10 years of GLCS, attendees brought non-perishable food items for donation to the Greater Lansing Food Bank. Over 500 items were donated to help fight hunger in Michigan.

Notable soybean breakout session topics included using data to maximize profitability, checkoff funded research efforts, crop insurance updates, reducing soil compaction and more. Speakers came from across the U.S. and Canada to share their knowledge with attendees and offer actionable information that growers can use on their farms.

Keynotes included Nathan Greuel of Case IH who shared a presentation titled "The Journey from Equipment Automation to Autonomy: Where Are We Now?" and Vance Crowe who discussed "My Grandfather's Axe: The Art of Passing Down Something You've Built".

“Each year, the Great Lakes Crop Summit looks for ways to meet the needs of soybean, corn and wheat farmers,” said MSC CEO Ben Steyer. “Continued participation from both farmers and agribusiness reiterates the value that both see in the learning and networking opportunities provided by the event.”

Planting Soybeans Early

Pros and Cons

Improved crop management practices and genetics coupled with a changing environment have led some farmers to shift their soybean planting dates earlier than the traditionally recommended planting dates. The main reason for this shift is increased yield potential. While planting time varies by geographic region in the US, most soybean farmers can plant soybeans earlier without compromising yield potential by adhering to a few recommended practices.

Other Factors to Consider

Figure 1. Regional relationship between the historic last freeze date and recommended first planting date. The last freeze is defined by a 10% or lower probability of air temperatures at or below 30°F. The recommended first planting date is a compilation of research findings and extension recommendations.

Potential Benefits

Increased Yield

When environmental conditions are favorable for crop development, early planting increases yield by:

> Increasing the amount of solar radiation accumulation which results in larger plants (more nodes & pods)

> Increasing the seed filling period (more grain yield)

> Increased root development for better access to soil nutrients and water.

Potential Risks

Air temperatures below 30°F for extended periods

Soil temperatures below 50°F

Poor early season weather or nonideal maturity group

Plant damage or death

Earlier Harvest Date

> May help mitigate end-of-season risks

> May save irrigation water

> May reduce pesticide applications

While many factors have an effect on final grain yield in soybeans, early planting is relatively easy way to increase yield potential.

Wet and cold conditions

Soil-borne diseases (e.g. Sudden Death Syndrome and Brown Stem Rot)

Compromised germination

Compromised vegetative development

Recommended Management Practices

Associated with high yield in early planting dates

> Plant a range of mid to later-maturing soybean than usual.

> Use seeding rates at or above the recommended level.

> Use seed treatments to protect against specific pests (i.e. SDS or phytopthora)

> The effect of seed treatments on yield was found to be small and less critical compared to the planting date and maturity group

non-uniform stands, temporal variability, limited root and shoot growth

> Apply foliar fungicides as needed when disease pressure reaches threshold levels.

> Use several herbicide modes of action to help mitigate the damage from herbicideresistant weeds.

For more in-depth information on soybean planting dates: soybeanresearchinfo.com

Authors: Andre Reis, University of Missouri; Shawn Conley, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Jonathan Kleinjan, South Dakota State University; Michael Plumblee, Clemson University.

For more information: go.ncsu.edu/s4s2023team

Interpreting Agronomic Data

Agronomic data reaches farmers through product advertisements, extension publications, and industry portfolios, among others. Being able to interpret complex data is necessary for assessing the validity of the information and using numbers to draw conclusions that ultimately lead to profitable management decisions.

Checklist

Dataset originates from an acceptable study design

Statistical parameters are reported

Study accounts for known and unknown variability

Types of Variability

1. Between-treatment variability: caused by differences between products or practices

2. Random field variability: not caused by treatment effects, e.g., differences in soil properties

Between-treatment variability +

Random field variability

Overall experiment variability

Example 1:

Example 1:

1.

1.

The Fertilizer Experiment

The Fertilizer Experiment

2. BEHIND THE SCENES

2.

4. Interpretation

4. Interpretation Yes

lower than significance level?

Conclusion

Conclusion

3. STATISTICS

Average across replications

Control = 53.5 bu/ac

> CV measurement variability.

> CV measurement variability.

Fert. X = 57.0 bu/ac

Average across replications

Control = 53.5 bu/ac

Fert. X = 57.0 bu/ac

Treatment difference = 3.5 bu/ac

CV = 2.2%

Treatment difference = 3.5 bu/ac

p-value = 0.03

CV = 2.2%

Significance level = 0.05

p-value = 0.03

Significance level = 0.05

Conclusion

Fert. X significantly outyields Control by 3.5 bu/ac

X significantly outyields Control by 3.5 bu/ac

Fert. X outyielded the Control by 3.5 bu/ac, and this difference was significant (at a significance level of 0.05), indicating that the yield gain was likely due to between-treatment variability (e.g. application of fertilizer).

The Fertilizer Experiment

Fert. X outyielded the Control by 3.5 bu/ac, and this difference was significant (at a significance level of 0.05), indicating that the yield gain was likely due to between-treatment variability (e.g. application of fertilizer).

Terms to Know

Example 2:

The Soybean Variety Experiment

Low or experiment

Low or experiment

> p-value the differences variability p-value observations variability

> p-value the differences variability p-value observations variability

Example 2:

Solely comparing average differences can be misleading

The Soybean Variety Experiment

Solely comparing average differences can be misleading

1. RESULTS SUMMARIZED

1.

4. Interpretation

lower than significance level?

SCENES 3. STATISTICS

2. BEHIND THE SCENES

Treatment difference

2. BEHIND THE SCENES

p-value = 0.03 Significance level = 0.05

Terms to Know

> CV (coefficient of variation): a measurement of the overall experiment variability.

outyielded the Control by 3.5 bu/ac, and this difference was significant (at a significance level of indicating that the yield gain was likely due to between-treatment variability (e.g. application of fertilizer).

Treatment difference = 3.5 bu/ac

CV = 2.2%

4. Interpretation

Low CV = low overall experiment variability, or individual observations are close to the experiment average

The Soybean Variety Experiment

p-value = 0.03

Significance level = 0.05

Conclusion

Conclusion

> CV (coefficient of variation): a measurement of the overall experiment variability.

Low CV = low overall experiment variability, or individual observations are close to the experiment average

3. STATISTICS

3. STATISTICS

Average across replications

Var. X = 54.3 bu/ac

Var. Z does not significantly outyield Var. X Raw Data

> p-value (probability value): indicates the level of confidence that treatment differences are a result of between-treatment variability and not random field variability. p-value of 0.03 = 97% chance that the observations are due to between-treatment variability and not random field variability.

4. Interpretation No p-value lower than significance level?

p-value lower than significance level?

2. BEHIND THE SCENES

> p-value (probability value): indicates the level of confidence that treatment differences are a result of between-treatment variability and not random field variability.

3. STATISTICS

Var. Z = 59.0 bu/ac

Average across replications

Var. X = 54.3 bu/ac

Var. Z = 59.0 bu/ac

Treatment difference = 4.7 bu/ac

CV = 16%

Treatment difference = 4.7 bu/ac

p-value = 0.52

CV = 16%

Significance level = 0.05

p-value = 0.52

Significance level = 0.05

Conclusion

Conclusion

Var. Z does not significantly outyield Var. X

p-value < significance level = the difference between treatments is significant. comparing average differences can be misleading

> Significance level: a threshold determined by the user to classify p-values as significant or not significant. The significance level of 0.05 (95% confidence) is a common benchmark in agronomic research although higher significance levels such as 0.10 (90% confidence) may be warranted in situations where lower confidence levels can be tolerated.

Var. Z outyielded Var. X by 4.7 bu/ac. However, this difference was not significant (at a significance level of 0.05), and is likely the result of random field variability.

level? Conclusion Fert. X significantly outyields Control by 3.5 bu/ac

Var. Z outyielded Var. X by 4.7 bu/ac. However, this difference was not significant (at a significance level of 0.05), and is likely the result of random field variability.

Terms to Know

> CV (coefficient of variation): a measurement of the overall experiment variability.

Experiment difference was significant (at a significance level of between-treatment variability (e.g. application of fertilizer).

Terms to Know

p-value of 0.03 = 97% chance that the observations are due to between-treatment variability and not random field variability.

Low CV = low overall experiment variability, or individual observations are close to the experiment average

4. Interpretation

SCENES 3. STATISTICS

> p-value (probability value): indicates the level of confidence that treatment differences are a result of between-treatment variability and not random field variability. p-value of 0.03 = 97% chance that the observations are due to between-treatment variability and not random field variability.

> Significance level: a threshold determined by the user to classify p-values as significant or not significant. The significance level of 0.05 (95% confidence) is a common benchmark in agronomic research although higher significance levels such as 0.10 (90% confidence) may be warranted in situations where lower confidence levels can be tolerated.

p-value < significance level = the difference between treatments is significant.

outyielded Var. X by 4.7 bu/ac. However, this difference was not significant (at a significance and is likely the result of random field variability.

Treatment difference = 4.7 bu/ac CV =

> Significance level: a threshold determined by the user to classify p-values as significant or not significant. The

Key Takeaway

A small but significant yield advantage (Example 1) is more meaningful than a larger but non-significant yield advantage (Example 2).

Authors: Daniela Carrijo

For more information: go.ncsu.edu/s4s2023team

> Significance determined significant level benchmark higher confidence) where tolerated. p-value between

> Significance determined significant level benchmark higher confidence) where tolerated.

p-value between

A small (Example a larger advantage

Authors: Nicole Mark Emma Manni

For more

Authors: Nicole Mark Licht Emma Manni

For more

, Penn State University; Nicole Fiorellino, University of Maryland; Mark Licht, University of Iowa; Emma Matcham, University of Florida; Manni Singh, Michigan State University.

Soybeans are a Slam Dunk for Michigan!

As part of an ongoing partnership with MSU Athletics, the Michigan Soybean Committee sponsored the Michigan State University men's basketball game on January 18, 2024 vs. Minnesota. MSC staff and board members had an interactive exhibit on the concourse in the Breslin Center and shared lots of great soybean and agriculture information with game attendees.

Part of MSC's new strategic plan includes a larger emphasis on consumer engagement and connecting with consumers over shared values such as food and sustainability. Partnerships like this one allow MSC to connect with consumers and provide resources and information on the many ways soy impacts people's day-to-day lives. From soy tires and shoes to soy sauce and even bacon, soybeans truly touch every life every day!

MSC also had a booth in the Breslin Center for the February 24th women's basketball game vs. Rutgers. This game was the annual 4-H game, which 4-H members and their families can attend. In addition to the game, there were booths around the arena for youth to learn about agriculture and MSU Extension opportunities available to them. MSC staff were on hand to share soybean information and had many great conversations about agriculture.

This partnership has been a rewarding and successful endeavor that MSC looks forward to continuing. Having conversations with consumers about soybeans and the farmers that grow them helps to build trust in agriculture and a better understanding of the food they eat. We're excited to continue to share ways that consumers and farmers alike can Score BIG with SOY!

Michigan Farmer Elected Vice Chair of Soy Aquaculture Alliance

Alan Moore, MSC Farmer Representative, Soy Aquaculture Alliance

Soybeans are a crop that has an unlimited number of uses thanks to their versatile oil and protein makeup. I have been interested in the production and promotion of soybeans for my entire 50-year career in the industry. I have enjoyed being Michigan Soybean Committee’s liaison to the Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) and am truly honored to be serving the SAA as Vice Chair this year.

The Soy Aquaculture Alliance is dedicated to expanding the use of U.S.-grown soybeans in domestic aquaculture diets. Soybeans and fish may seem unlikely partners, but bringing the land and sea together offers major opportunities for both. SAA supports research, promotion and collaboration that build this partnership.

Current statistics show that nearly 90 percent of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported. At SAA, we see great potential to increase domestic production of seafood, to not only increase domestic protein security, but also utilize more U.S. soybeans in aquaculture feed rations. We are working with researchers on environmentally-friendly production systems and focusing on economical feeds with higher inclusion rates of soy products. We are also working on a project called social licensing. Its goal is to listen to and educate influential people in an area where an aquaculture production facility is to be built before a possible conflict starts.

I am passionate about the work SAA is doing and look forward to continuing to serve soybean farmers through my time serving with this collaborative organization.

Alan and Phyllis Moore

Reflections on the Michigan Soybean On-Farm Research Program

Mike Staton, MSU Extension Soybean Educator

As my career with MSU Extension winds down, I want to look back at the last 13 years as these were the most rewarding. During this time, I was fortunate to be part of the Michigan Soybean On-Farm Research Program, an efficient and productive partnership between the Michigan Soybean Committee and Michigan State University Extension. I firmly believe that this partnership accomplished more for soybean producers than the two organizations could have done by operating independently. Keith Reinholt created the soybean on-farm research program in 2009 and named it STARS (Strip Testing at Regional Sites). In 2011, Keith changed the name of the on-farm program to SMaRT (Soybean Management and Research Technology). Mark Seamon took over when Keith retired and changed the name one more time in 2018 to the Michigan Soybean On-Farm Research Program.

Despite the name changes, the goal has always remained the same. The on-farm program provides soybean producers with a simple way to evaluate the yield and income benefits of new products, management practices and equipment. Soybean producers and agribusinesses provide input into the topics evaluated in the trials each year, which ensures they are timely and relevant to producers.

We also make the trials as easy as possible to conduct while still producing reliable results.

I want to focus on some of the more meaningful results produced by the Michigan Soybean On-Farm Research program so far. The planting rate trials are at the top of the list. We conducted 67 trials over seven years and found that the highest planting rate (160,000 seeds per acre) was the least profitable and it out-yielded the 130,000 seeds per acre rate at only one of the 67 locations. The 100,000 seeds per acre rate was the most profitable even though the two highest rates (130K and 160K) produced the highest yields. In addition, two of the trials were infested with white mold and demonstrated that reducing planting rates to 100,000 seeds per acre can be an effective tactic for managing white mold.

The on-farm program also clearly demonstrated that early planting is a profitable practice. The 25 trials we conducted from 2019 to 2023 showed that early planting increased yields by an average of 3.5 bushels per acre at 10 of the locations and reduced yields at only three sites. Early planting produced an average yield increase of 1.5 bushels per acre across

Planting

Mike Staton

all 25 locations.

The results from the row-spacing trials we conducted can also help producers make decisions regarding their next planter purchase. The results from 11 trials comparing 15” rows to 30” rows using split-row planters showed that 15” rows produced 2.8 bushels per acre more than 30” rows.

Foliar fertilizer applications were shown to rarely produce higher yields or increase profits. In fact, foliar fertilization was profitable in only 15 of the 172 trials we have conducted since 2009. Foliar applications of manganese sulfate are the exception and are recommended when deficiency symptoms are visible.

Helping soybean producers reduce their harvest losses was another significant outcome produced by the MSC/MSUE partnership. We conducted annual field days around the state showcasing new equipment and demonstrating where harvest losses occur, how to measure them and how to reduce them. The partnership also generated numerous articles and a new MSU Extension bulletin (E-3487, Reducing Soybean Harvest Losses). These materials provide specific recommendations for reducing losses under challenging conditions such as: plants with green stems, lodged plants and short plants with low pods. We also provided economic information showing that harvesting soybeans

Row Spacing Trial

at 15 to 16 percent moisture is more profitable than harvesting at 11 percent, which encouraged producers to begin harvesting soybeans earlier.

I am grateful to the Michigan Soybean Committee for funding 50 percent of my position for the past 13 years and for giving me the opportunity to improve the lives of Michigan soybean producers. I am confident that my successor, Eric Anderson, will continue to explore new ways to meet the needs of Michigan soybean producers.

RESEARCHING A BETTER BEAN

Whether you’re dealing with drought, flood, heat or other climate-related stress, the soy checkoff is working behind the scenes to diversify U.S. soybean genetics and increase stress tolerance. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And it’s helping make a valuable impact for soybean farmers like you.

See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for soybean farmers at unitedsoybean.org

Farmers Appointed to Serve on MSC Board of Directors

Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced two new appointments to the Michigan Soybean Committee board of directors. Sara Trattles of Colon grows soybeans, as well as corn, seed corn and alfalfa on her family farm. Off the farm, Sara is employed as the Vice President of Agribusiness Lending at GreenStone Farm Credit Services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management from Michigan State University and a master’s of agribusiness management from Kansas State University. Sara was appointed to represent District 1 growers for a term expiring September 2026.

Nathan McCalla of Ann Arbor farms alongside his father and brother. They grow a crop rotation that includes 900 acres of soybeans, as well as corn, wheat, pumpkins, and hay on the farm dating back to 1912. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Michigan State University. McCalla was appointed to represent District 3 growers through September 2026.

“The Michigan Soybean Committee is led by a board of industry leaders with expertise and knowledge that benefits all Michigan soybean farmers. Sara and Nathan are great examples of strong leaders who are committed to being good stewards of soybean checkoff funds,” said MSC communication director Sonja Lapak. “We are excited for them to join the board and continue to grow as leaders in our organization."

MSC would like to congratulate Sara and Nathan on their appointments. We look forward to working with these farmers and appreciate their willingness to serve the Michigan soybean industry.

MSC would also like to recognize and thank Dan Rajzer for three years of service and Laurie Isley for nine years of service on the Michigan Soybean Committee board of directors.

Dan, who farms in Decatur, served on MSC's production, outreach and market development subcommittees and will continue to serve as MSC's national representative on the Soy Transportation Coalition.

Laurie, who farms in Palmyra served on the production, outreach, market development and administration and resources subcommittees. She also served as secretary/treasurer, vice president and president during her tenure on the board. Laurie will also continue to be involved in the soybean industry, as she was recently reappointed for a second term on the United Soybean Board.

Thank you to Dan and Laurie for their dedication and time spent serving Michigan's soybean growers.

Laurie Isley

Dan Rajzer

Nathan McCalla

Sara Trattles

Panama Canal: Challenges and Opportunities

Dan Razjer, MSC Farmer Representative, Soy Transportation Coalition

Last December I had an opportunity to travel with my colleagues from the Soy Transportation Coalition to the country of Panama where we observed first-hand the daily workings of the Panama Canal. Each year the Soy Transportation Coalition holds one of their board meetings at a key supply chain location so that the farmer board members can see firsthand some parts of the supply chain.

As pointed out in a recent Michigan Farm News article, 32 percent of U.S. soybeans pass through the canal, making it a vital link to transporting agricultural products to Asian countries.

During our visit, we learned about some of the challenges that both the country of Panama and users of the canal face.

First, and foremost on their minds is the current drought that is affecting the country. Unlike most canals that use pumping stations to fill and empty the locks, the Panama Canal is all gravity fed. Between the Atlantic locks and the Pacific locks lies Gatun Lake, the source of water for the canals which sits at 85 feet above sea level. The locks were designed to use fresh water from this lake to reduce operating costs and maintain the bio-diversity of both oceans. The current drought has reduced the lake volume and reduced ship movement by almost 40 percent to just 22 ships per day. While we were there, they received rain that allowed them to increase ship movement slightly but there was no long term improvement in sight.

From an agricultural perspective, the cost of moving product through the canal will increase. It was not unusual to hear that ships were waiting for up to 14 days to enter the canal system. One could see 20-30 ships parked at each entrance waiting to enter. And unless you have scheduled use of the canal in advance (sometimes a year or more), your wait may be even longer. This is hard, especially for perishable commodities, and may create quality problems for the end user.

Liquid petroleum gas tanker making its way through the Atlantic side locks heading to the Caribbean Sea

Container ship being escorted by tugs into the locks

Automobile carrier unloading at the docks in Panama City

Container unloading area at Balboa Port near Panama City

Investing Checkoff Dollars

In spite of reduced ship movements, the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) has not seen a reduction in revenue. PCA reported $3.3 billion in revenue for fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, an increase of $319 million over the previous year. This is good news because one of their long-term projects aims to evaluate diverting additional water into Gatun Lake from neighboring watersheds, which could reduce future drought impacts.

Aside from current issues facing the Panama Canal, the system itself is a sight to behold. It is certainly one of the most impressive engineering feats ever accomplished. Massive amounts of earth and mountains were moved to create a canal, dams were built to create a lake, and tons of cement was poured to create the locks, all during the early 20th century (1903 – 1914) when the biggest crane was a steam shovel.

One of the original locks, known as the Mirafloras Locks on the Pacific side, measured 110 feet wide by 1,000 feet long when completed in 1913. Unable to accommodate more modern ships, an additional set of locks called the Cocoli Locks were completed in 2016, with measurements of 180 feet wide and 1,400 feet long. Similar size locks were built on the Atlantic side shortly after the Pacific build. I was truly impressed with the size of ships that go through the locks with as little as a foot of clearance on each side.

And guess what? The new locks are too small to accommodate the new super carriers. Will there be another canal built to accommodate them? Stay tuned.

The Soy Transportation Coalition is a soybean checkoff funded organization comprised of 13 state soybean boards, the American Soybean Association, and the United Soybean Board. The 13 participating states encompass 85% of total U.S. soybean production. The Michigan Soybean Committee is one of the participating state soybean boards.

New Tool Estimates Financial Toll of Soybean Cyst Nematode

Have you ever taken a closer look at your spending and been shocked by how much you pay for subscription services? The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) can be a similar drain on your finances, flying under the radar and chipping away yield potential as years pass. The SCN Coalition’s new SCN Profit Checker tool works like a budget audit, laying bare just how much yield and money SCN is costing you.

New Tool is Backed by Extensive Research

Data from more than 25,000 field trial plots conducted by Iowa State University with SCN-resistant soybean varieties revealed a significant direct relationship among SCN egg numbers, reproduction of SCN populations on PI 88788 resistance and yield loss.

That relationship was used to create an algorithm for estimating SCN’s economic impact by field. The algorithm is the engine behind SCN Profit Checker, a simple calculator that estimates how much SCN costs a farmer in any soybean field.

For example, if the results of the SCN Profit Checker reveal an estimated 8.3 percent yield loss, which represents a loss of $49.80 per acre based on a 50-bushel-per-acre yield expectation and $12.00-per-bushel marketing price, a farmer can take this information to their agronomist or crop advisor to work together to devise a plan to combat the pest.

SCN Profit Checker is funded by the United

Soybean Board and is available for free at scnprofitchecker.com .

Simple Inputs for the Tool

To use SCN Profit Checker, a farmer, agronomist or crop advisor provides the state name and the following field-specific information:

• SCN egg count

• SCN female index on PI 88788

• Sand content of the soil

• Soil pH

University experts have provided default female indexes on PI 88788 for most states – including Michigan – to use as a starting point if a farmer does not know that detail for the SCN population in a specific field. But ideally, a farmer would work with his or her agronomist or crop advisor to get an HG Type test that provides the female index for the SCN population in the field of interest. The more specific the information provided in the calculator, the more accurate the estimate.

The tool also takes into account sand content and pH of the soil in the field because of the direct relationship with SCN reproduction.

What is SCN Female Index?

The index indicates how well an SCN population is controlled by the PI 88788 source of resistance that is commonly used to breed soybean varieties. When soybean varieties with SCN resistance from PI 88788 were initially used, the SCN populations were controlled well, and female indices were typically between zero and 10 percent, indicating 90 to 100 percent control.

In situations where soybean varieties with PI 88788 SCN resistance have been grown repeatedly

Investing Checkoff Dollars

for numerous years, such as in Michigan, SCN populations evolved to develop high reproduction on PI 88788 resistance.

For Michigan, the default SCN female index in SCN Profit Checker is set at 40 percent, which is the midpoint of the range of female indices currently known for SCN populations in the state and indicates the nematode has overcome the common source of SCN resistance. The estimated yield loss of a field determined by the calculator will be most accurate if actual female index values are known and used. Michigan State University Plant and Pest Diagnostics is one of the few labs in the nation that conducts the female index test.

Although the calculator is built from research results in Iowa, the percent yield loss can be used for a range of geographies. Users should be aware of the effects of weather, aspects of the specific soybean varieties grown elsewhere, local soil conditions, and other factors which may also have significant effects on yield loss caused by SCN in an individual field. As a result, the output from the calculator should be considered only an estimate of possible yield loss.

continued on following page...

Driving Change in SCN Management

The dynamic tool uses information about the field along with the farmer’s yield expectation and targeted soybean price to calculate a yield and profit hit estimate from SCN.

“Demonstrating to farmers the financial burden of SCN in dollars and cents makes it real. In doing so, The SCN Coalition hopes to motivate more farmers to actively manage the pest,” explains MSU Nematode Diagnostician and SCN Coalition member Angie Tenney. “They can use this information to be more strategic when developing an active SCN management plan with their trusted crop advisor.”

Active SCN Management Starts With a Soil Test

The SCN Coalition has a unified message. It encourages soybean farmers to collaborate with their agronomist or crop advisor to develop a plan to actively manage SCN that includes:

• Take an SCN soil test to know your number

• Rotate SCN-resistant varieties

• Rotate to non-host crops like corn and wheat

• Consider using a nematode-protectant seed treatment

The Michigan Soybean Committee provides financial support to the SCN sampling program that is operated by Michigan State University Plant and Pest Diagnostics. Visit www.canr.msu.edu/ pestid/ forms to learn more. This information, along with state specific SCN management recommendations is available by visiting thescncoalition.com/experts.

The SCN Coalition is a public/checkoff/private partnership formed to increase the number of farmers who are actively managing SCN. Our goal is to increase soybean farmers’ profit potential and realize higher yields. Partners in The SCN Coalition include university scientists from 28 states and Ontario, grower checkoff organizations, including the North Central Soybean Research Program, United Soybean Board and several state soybean promotion boards, and corporate partners including BASF, Bayer, Growmark, Nufarm, Pioneer (Corteva), Syngenta, UPL Ltd., Valent and Winfield United. To stay up to date with the latest happenings, follow @TheSCNCoalition on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

2023 Market Development Highlights

Soy Excellence Centers

The Michigan Soybean Committee (MSC) began a partnership with the United States Soybean Export Council's (USSEC) Soy Excellence Centers (SEC) in 2022 to help grow preference for U.S. soy internationally. The SEC program is working to turn budding soy markets into stories of economic success by building early-to-mid career protein professionals for the agriculture supply chain abroad. These centers facilitate workforce training and continuing education activities that build knowledge and skills to help participants overcome key challenges and operational hurdles in food and agribusiness operations. Training opportunities include lessons on feed manufacturing, feed mill management, soy foods and multiple livestock

sectors. SECs are located around the world with four main hubs in the Americas, Asia, Middle East/North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Michigan Soybean was introduced firsthand to the USSEC's SECs when a trade team from Nigeria visited Michigan farms in the summer of 2022. Many members of this trade team had attended professional development programs at the Nigeria SEC focusing on poultry, agronomy, aquaculture and feed mill management. SEC participant, Chidiebere Mykie-Obial, Owner of Muchi Farms in Nigeria had this to about the SEC program, “Soy Excellence Center allowed me to meet professional and experienced facilitators, and gave me hands-on experience. SEC gave me wings to fly.”

MSC was excited to continue our support of this great program in 2023 and have also renewed funding for 2024. Visit soyexcellence.org to learn more about this project and learn more about SEC stories of impact at soyexcellence.org/stories-ofimpact-from-our-sec-tomorrow-solvers/ .

Original Engine Manufacturer Approval of B20

One of the largest pulls in today’s market for soybean oil is the production of renewable liquid fuels, like biodiesel. It is important to ensure continued interest in biodiesel to help spur continued growth in demand for soybean oil. In 2023, MSC partnered with Clean Fuels Alliance America on a project to increase support of biodiesel in higher blends by original engine manufacturers. This project works cooperatively with engine manufacturers from all fuel application segments to

generate the data needed to support OEM positions and any necessary changes to existing fuel quality specifications for B20 (20 percent biodiesel) blends and for blends up to B100 (100 percent biodiesel).

The choice by PepsiCo to utilize B100 in an increasing numbers of vehicles for their nationwide fleet is having an impact on OEMs approving higher biodiesel blends in order to capture their business. Additional OEMs are now publicizing their own carbon reduction and environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, which is leading towards higher biodiesel approvals.

Pork Promotion in Mexico

MSC is working with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to promote consumption of

U.S. pork in Mexico. U.S. pork loin promotion is a strategic priority for USMEF in Mexico, where training events are achieving success in driving a growing interest in and encouraging trial purchases of the product.

In many instances, USMEF has partnered with leading pork importers to provide education and training for their end-user clients in food service and retail with a specific focus on the U.S. pork loin. These events are opportunities to explain the quality attributes of U.S. pork loin and demonstrate its versatility through the range of cuts that can be obtained from it.

USMEF deployed its mobile grill and kitchen to support Dilusa, a major U.S. meat importer and distributor working to expand its portfolio of U.S. pork products in central Mexico. Dilusa developed six new recipes with U.S. pork loin and tenderloin for the event, making them available as samples for attendees. More than 150 end-users and potential customers of Dilusa in food service and retail, as well as select social media influencers, were special guests for the masterclasses and workshops.

BELIEVE YOU CAN.