Soybean Research Information Initiative Makes Research More Accessible

The North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) recently launched the Soybean Research & Information Initiative (SRII), designed to provide easy access to expert information and news about soybean pests, diseases and agronomics.

The South Dakota soybean checkoff is one of the member-states involved in NCSRP. The new website, www.soybeanresearchinfo.com, replaced the Plant Health Initiative. SRII, funded by the soybean checkoff, is a one-stop-shop for farmers or anyone with an interest in soybean production to quickly find the latest research and information about ongoing projects in the 12 soybean-producing states that encompass the NCSRP.

As farmers across the Midwest finish planting soybeans and plants start to grow, the SRII website is the go-to source for information to make management decisions.

“When you do have questions, there’s now a website that serves as a central location for soybean information,” said Trevor Glick, NCSRP president who farms near Columbus, Ind. “It’s nice to have a resource with accumulated, unbiased research on the same subject.”

With an increase in soybean checkoff-funded basic and applied research by NCSRP and at the national level, NCSRP Director Ed Anderson said it became clear a new, expanded website was needed with better capabilities and functionality to disseminate information.

The primary improvements are consolidating information and pictures of soybean pests and diseases to readily find information and help with identification. Drop-down menus featuring those two subjects and diagnostic tools are easily found at the top of the SRII home page. The menus consist of dozens of topics ranging from soybean aphids and sudden death syndrome to soybean growth stages and suggestions of where farmers can contact their nearest diagnostic clinic.

“The Plant Health Initiative served its purpose, but we wanted to take the soybean research and information to a whole new level,” Anderson said. “We’ve expanded content and utility to go way beyond just disease and insects. There’s now an agronomic section and a resource library — we’re providing everything soybean to farmers, academia, government, industry, farm organizations, etc.”

The new agronomics section contains helpful tips and information concerning a variety of topics such as variety selection, planting, cover crops, organic production and more. Results from all land grant university soybean variety trials conducted in the region are available on SRII. If farmers want to speak with experts conducting NCSRP-funded research projects, contact information is provided.

The website also provides information about NCSRP, the latest soybean news and topics, videos and a complete library with brochures and field guides from land grant universities and extension services covering more than three dozen issues soybean growers deal with in the Midwest.

“Research is only useful if it’s communicated,” Anderson said.

To learn more about NCSRP, visit its website at www.ncsrp.com.

The Soybean Research & Information Initiative (SRII) represents a cooperative partnership between soybean checkoff boards and land grant universities from 12 north central states. The initiative’s goal is to provide expert information and news about soybean pests, diseases and agronomics. SRII receives its funding through soybean checkoff dollars, and is administered by the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), its primary sponsor.