Through a partnership with North Carolina State University, the association invests farmers’ checkoff dollars in practical agricultural research projects. Project leaders from the NCSU Ag Research Service and NCSU Cooperative Extension Service deliver the results of these projects to farmers at commodity conferences, field days and county grain meetings across the state.  This investment in research pays off through innovative new ways to minimize the per-unit cost of soybean production and maximize farm profitability.

Track Research Findings in Our Research Report

The association publishes an Annual Research Update.  The 2010 Research Update is available here.

Research project proposals are submitted every October by North Carolina State University's College of Agriculture & Life Sciences.  The Research Committee of the Board of Directors reviews the proposals and makes funding decisions at the November board meeting.  The membership gives final approval to the funding proposal at the Annual Meeting in January.  Project start dates are April 1 of each year.  Many projects are in fact funded over a number of years, reflecting the long-term and continuous nature of soybean research.

These projects are currently funded in the 2011/2012 research awards:

NCSU CROP SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
10-01 Testing Advanced Soybean Lines in the NC Official Variety Trials [R], $6,000, A.J. Cardinal

10-03 Roundup-Ready 2 vs. Roundup-Ready Soybeans [E], $8,675, E.J. Dunphy 
  
10-04 Potential Yield Enhancements [E], $6,500, E.J. Dunphy 
  
10-05 Soybean Variety Information Booklet [E], $4,250, E.J. Dunphy 
 
10-06 Refining Management Strategies for Problematic and Resistant Weeds in Soybean [E], $16,350, D.L. Jordan 
  
10-07 In-Service Weed Management Training for Cooperative Extension Agents and Other Agribusiness Groups [E], $5000 
 D.L. Jordan and E.J. Dunphy 
  
10-08 Development of High Protein High Yielding Varieties for the Export Market [R], $20,159, T.A. Melton and T.E. Carter 
  
10-09 Identification and Characterization of Antigenic Soybean Proteins [R], $15,000
 T.A. Melton, J.W. Burton, B. Hammerberg and E. Taliercio 
  
10-10 Continuation of Off-Season Winter Nursery for Soybean Breeding in North Carolina [R], $13,500
 T.A. Melton, J.W. Burton and T.E. Carter

11-03 Marker Assisted Selection to Develop Soybean Cultivars Resistant to Cyst Nematodes [R] $12,412,  A.J. Cardinal and S.R. Koenning 
  
11-04  High Yielding Soybean Cultivars and Germplasm with Improved Fatty Acid Content [R], $28,762, A.J. Cardinal 
  
11-05 Selecting High Oil Soybean Varieties [R], $3,000, A.J. Cardinal and J.W. Burton 
  
11-11 High Yielding Soybean Cultivars and Germplasm with Improved Protein Content [R], $28,762, A.J. Cardinal 
  
11-06 Variety Demonstrations [E], $5,400, E.J. Dunphy 
  
11-07 Drought Tolerant Varieties [E], $7,800, E.J. Dunphy 
  
11-08 Populations of Indeterminate Soybeans [E], $6,000, E.J. Dunphy 
  
11-09 Improving Soybean Yield By Identifying Mechanisms and Varieties that Facilitate the
Translocation of Starch from Leaves and Stem to the Seed During Periods of Stress [R], $25,450
 R.W. Heiniger and E.J. Dunphy

11-10 Creating a Corn Earworm Threshold for Flowering North Carolina Soybeans [R], $8,554, D.D. Reisig and E.J. Dunphy 
 
NCSU ENTOMOLOGY DEPARTMENT
10-11 Soybean Insect Threats and Issues [E], $6,800, D.D. Reisig and J.S. Bacheler 

10-12 Development of New Sampling Methods and a Threshold Calculator for Managing Major Soybean Insect Pests [E], $6,600, D.D. Reisig and J.S. Bacheler 
  
10-13 Development of New Stink Bug Thresholds and "Pod-safe" Development Stage for Soybeans [E], $5,600 
 D.D. Reisig and J.S. Bacheler 
  
NCSU PLANT PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT
10-14 On-Farm Evaluation of Resistant Varieties for Management of Soybean Cyst Nematode [R], $28,280, S.R. Koenning 
  
10-15 Rotation for Management of Soybean Cyst Nematode, [R], $15,970, S.R. Koenning 
  
10-16 Survey of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes and Races of Soybean Cyst Nematode Prevalent in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina Soybean Production Areas [R], $32,545, S.R. Koenning 

11-12 Soybean Problem Diagnosis Support for Cooperative Agents [E], $1,370, S.R. Koenning, C.R. Crozier and E.J. Dunphy 
  
11-13 Sentinel Plots for Early Detection of Soybean Rust [E], $18,860, S.R. Koenning and E.J. Dunphy
  
NCSU POULTRY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
10-17 Feeding Value of Expeller Soybean Meal for Broilers [R], $20,000, P.R. Ferket and C.R. Stark 

NCSU SOIL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
10-20 Effects of Tillage Systems and Piedmont Soil Physical and Chemical Properties
 On Soil Profile Soil Moisture Dynamics and Soybean Yield [R], $500, J.G. White and J.L. Heitman 
  
NCSU COLLEGE OF TEXTILES
10-21  Development of Solvent Systems and Product Screening Samples in Support of High Soy Protein Content Cellulose Fibers [R], $34,054, R. Kotek 
  
NCSU CROP SCIENCE
10-22 Technician Salary Support - Dunphy [E], $10,509, E.J. Dunphy 

NCSU BIOLOGICAL & AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
11-01 Water Use Efficiency of Soil-Water-Sensor-Controlled Irrigation with a Subsuface
Irrigation System Contrasted with Center Pivot Irrigation in a Corn-Wheat-Soybean Crop Rotation [R], $15,742,  G.L. Grabow, R.L. Huffman and J. Roston Navas 
  
11-02 Residue Management Strategies for North Carolina Soybean Production [E], $8,800
 M.W. Veal and G.T. Roberson 
  

Total 2011 Check-off Funded Research & Extension Projects, $427,204