MSU Extension Soybean Educator Honored with Distinguished Academic Staff Award

Mike Staton serves as the statewide soybean educator through a role that is jointly funded by the Michigan Soybean Committee and Michigan State University Extension. In this role, Mike works tirelessly with soybean growers across Michigan to provide current, research-based and audiencefocused programming to Michigan field crops farmers. Mike has strengthened collaborations among producers, the Michigan Soybean Committee, MSU and MSU Extension.

On-farm research is a cornerstone of Mike's soybean work. As research coordinator for the MSU On-Farm Soybean Research Trial Program, Mike is credited with developing improved protocols for conducting on-farm research projects and has led over 550 replicated trials on 100 Michigan farms that are designed in response to an annual needs assessment of Michigan soybean producers. Mike analyzes and publishes the Michigan On-Farm Soybean Research Report, an unbiased look at the year's trial results. Mike's work has demonstrated an increase in profitability for growers and improvements to their agronomic management practices.

Mike communicates with producers through many MSU Extension News articles, a variety of MSU Extension bulletins and fact sheets, articles in peer-reviewed journals and in the Michigan Soybean News magazine. Mike also presents at educational meetings, field days, and statewide, national and international conferences.

The MSU Distinguished Academic Staff Award awards are given to academic specialists and MSU Extension academic staff for extraordinary achievements, excellence and exceptional contributions in advising, curriculum development, outreach, extension, research and/or teaching. Mike's commitment to excellence and dedication to Michigan's soybean industry make him exceedingly deserving of this prestigious award. MSC congratulates Mike on this outstanding achievement!