Soybean farmers through their checkoff are partners in soybean research projects that deal with pests, diseases, variety improvement and many agronomic challenges.  At the end of the day, it all comes back to a focus on yield.  Either enhancing the yield or protecting the yield.  The North Carolina Soybean Producers Association, on behalf of N.C. soy growers, fund projects to examine popular yield enhancements, to determine thresholds and protocols for the newest generation of insect pests, to combat herbicide resistant weeds, to demonstrate profitable agronomic practices, and above all to transfer the resulting technologies back to growers.

Much of what we know about the soybean plant comes from checkoff-funded research projects.  Recently, researchers have studied the drought-resistant qualities of the plant, and have selected germplasm adapted for drought resistance.  Soy growers have studied high yield systems to see if they can unlock the yield potential believed to be inherent in the plant.  And soy growers continue to look for the best germplasm to breed high yield and stress resistance into the plant.  The checkoff has been there to support all these endeavors.

For more information on projects being done to improve yield, visit http://soybeans.ces.ncsu.edu/