Pa. soybean farmers support checkoff-funded research projects

HARRISBURG, Pa. —The Pennsylvania Soybean Board has approved $135,917 in checkoff dollars to fund various research projects.

Projects range from work on reliable crop production data, projects to support Pennsylvania’s animal agriculture industry, and to increase markets for soybeans.
Funding grants were approved for the following projects:

Plot program

$28,568 to Penn State to establish a sentinel plot program in Pennsylvania soybean fields. The program will be run in collaboration with Penn State Extension to provide soybean growers with statewide assessment of insects and diseases active in soybean fields.

Eighteen soybean fields will be scouted weekly for insect pest and disease population.

$37,559 to Penn State for continuation of the Pa. On-Farm Soybean Research Network. In the coming year, this on-farm product testing network, which was initiated in 2009, will focus on evaluating the potential of foliar fungicide responses under high yield conditions; evaluating the effectiveness of molybdenum seed treats, especially on fields with low pH; and evaluating the potential of bio stimulants for soybean production.

vAdditionally, dedicated soybean production meetings will be held at various locations throughout the state, and research results will be disseminated through crop meetings and online resources.

Variety trials

$7,000 to Penn State to manage the annual soybean variety trials at Penn State’s research farms in Lancaster and Centre counties. Commercial varieties and experimental cultivars will be evaluated.
2013 marks the 22nd consecutive year for the trials, which are designed to evaluate soybean varieties for their performance under Pennsylvania conditions.
$6,136 to Penn State for research into common pokeweed management in field crops.

Field workshops

$8,862 to Penn State for Soybean Field Workshops where growers will have the opportunity to learn from hands-on experience. The half-day workshops, which will be conducted at 10 locations, will be held twice at each location, once right after planting and once in August before the canopy completely closes.

Producers will gain hands-on experience in soybean disease and pest identification, scouting and economic impacts.

Sow enrichment

$10,000 to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton School of Veterinary Medicine for research targeting gestating sow enrichment in anticipation of the next animal welfare challenge.
$14,992 to Penn State University for a study into the prevention of inflammation-driven colon cancer by soy protein concentrates.

Research will build on studies that support this new use of soybean protein. If successful, the studies will provide pre-clinical data to support clinical trials on the colon cancer preventative effects of soy protein concentrate.

Biodiesel use

$12,800 to the National Biodiesel Board for certified training for diesel technology professionals in Pennsylvania.