By Andi Anderson
The Iowa Soybean Research Center (ISRC) has funded three new soybean research projects and held a Think Tank to discuss the challenges and direction of soybean production research.
The new projects were selected by the ISRC Industry Advisory Council (IAC), which is made up of three Iowa soybean farmers and 20 industry partner representatives. The IAC met in September to consider proposed research ideas and offer guidance on how to best invest $414,000 in available new funding.
The three new projects are:
- Characterization of iron deficiency and Fusarium graminearum interactive responses in soybean: This project, led by Silvina Arias, adjunct assistant professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology at Iowa State University, will study how iron deficiency affects soybean's response to Fusarium graminearum, a fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium head blight.
- Application of innovative intercropping practices to increase soybean production in Iowa: This project, also led by Silvina Arias, will investigate the use of intercropping practices to increase soybean production in Iowa. Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in the same field at the same time.
- Soil amendment with biofuel industry co-products for improving soybean disease management and soil health: This project, led by Leonor Leandro, professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology at Iowa State University, will evaluate the use of biochar and digestate, two co-products of the biofuel industry, to improve soybean disease management and soil health. In addition to the new research projects, the ISRC also held a Think Tank to discuss the challenges and direction of soybean production research. Nearly 40 individuals participated in the Think Tank, representing Iowa soybean farmers, agricultural industry, Iowa State researchers, and the Iowa Soybean Association.
The Think Tank identified a number of research topics and gaps, including:
- The changing climate
- Soil health
- Specific diseases and pests
- Markets and government regulations
- Plant health versus profitability
- Funding issues
- Scalability of data
- Emerging technologies
- The need for remote sensing and smaller equipment
- The need for academia and industry to work together more effectively
The ISRC plans to share the takeaways from the Think Tank with its stakeholders to help shape the direction of future soybean production research through the center.
The ISRC is a collaborative effort between the Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa State University, and the agricultural industry. The center's mission is to support and coordinate soybean research, teaching, and extension activities at Iowa State University and to promote the transfer of soybean technology to Iowa soybean farmers.
Photo Credit: istock-oticki
Categories: Iowa, Crops, Soybeans