As northern U.S. states gear up for another soybean harvest, the University of Minnesota Extension and Northern Soy Marketing (NSM) are encouraging farmers to send soybean samples to test soybean quality. The results will aid in encouraging overseas soy buyers to purchase northern U.S. soybeans due to their higher essential amino acid (EAA) concentration through the development of a Soybean Quality Report.
“Sending these samples will help the three soybean councils that make up NSM – Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota – as well as the University of Minnesota Extension and the U.S. Soybean Export Council measure the full value of the oil, protein and amino acids in the states’ soybean bushels,” NSM CEO Tom Slunecka said. “This information is valuable when marketing our beans abroad, and the report generated is one of the most trusted documents around the world.”
The sampling is open to all farmers, not just those in Minnesota. In fact, samples are especially needed from new areas of soybean production, including western North Dakota. Farmers who choose to participate will receive a resealable plastic bag and pre-addressed return envelope to gather the soybean sample. UMN researchers will then analyze the soybean sample and send back individual, confidential results to all participants. The data will be analyzed and reported in aggregated statistics in the report.
“The samples farmers and agribusinesses send back are critical to helping soybean checkoff researchers track feed and oil value and support sales-building activities with customers around the world,” Slunecka said. “Sending in a soybean sample is an easy way to showcase the hard work farmers do every day to continue producing the highest quality soybeans.”
If you have not received a sampling packet before and would like to participate in the study, please contact Seth Naeve, University of Minnesota Extension agronomist, at naeve002@umn.edu or (612) 819-2338.
All soybean samples need to be mailed by Oct. 23, 2020 to:
University of Minnesota
411 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN 55108-6024
