ABOUT US
Stronger Together
The USSRC is a soybean checkoff-sponsored partnership with the purpose of bringing more collaboration and coordination to soybean checkoff research. Working together, open collaboration generates more ROI with cross-organization investment understanding.
It came from an idea...
The USSRC was formed in 2022 as a direct result of the inaugural Soybean Research Forum & Think Tank that was hosted in 2021. That event brought together a group of farmers, academic researchers, and industry representatives, to identify and address current and future soybean research challenges, and take advantage of market opportunities.
Three themes emerged as critical in moving soybean research forward
1
Focus on major soybean production challenges, including data, sustainability, ecosystem/carbon marketplaces, new uses and management systems.
1
Focus on major soybean production challenged, including data, sustainability, ecosystem/carbon marketplaces, new uses and management systems.
Farming is changing, and to ensure farmer resiliency and success in the future we must solicit and fund research that helps tackle these challenges.
Farming is changing, and to ensure farmer resiliency and success in the future we must solicit and fund research that helps tackle these challenges.
2
Improved communication across the soybean value chain.
2
Improved communication across the soybean value chain.
Researchers desire a better understanding of the entire soybean value chain, including knowing what end-users need, and how the research they’re doing may impact a grower’s access to the marketplace.
Researchers desire a better understanding of the entire soybean value chain, including knowing what end-users need, and how the research they’re doing may impact a grower’s access to the marketplace.
3
Better collaboration across entities and disciplines.
3
Better collaboration across entities and disciplines
An improved sense of which organizations are funding what projects, and what expertise researchers have, will help better identify opportunities to leverage and extend the impact of our resources.
An improved sense of which organizations are funding what projects, and what expertise researchers have, will help better identify opportunities to leverage and extend the impact of our resources.
1
Focus on major soybean production challenges, including data, sustainability, ecosystem/carbon marketplaces, new uses and management systems.
Farming is changing, and to ensure farmer resiliency and success in the future we must solicit and fund research that helps tackle these challenges.
3
Better collaboration across entities and disciplines.
An improved sense of which organizations are funding what projects, and what expertise researchers have, will help better identify opportunities to leverage and extend the impact of our resources.
2
Improved communication across the soybean value chain.
Researchers desire a better understanding of the entire soybean value chain, including knowing what end-users need, and how the research they’re doing may impact a grower’s access to the marketplace.
It was clear from this event that the way to most effectively address the themes identified was a collaborative of committed partners. The Iowa Soybean Association and the Illinois Soybean Association joined forces in 2022 to kickstart the creation of USSRC and since then more partners have joined.
Our Leadership
The USSRC is led by Director Katherine Drake Stowe, a Farmer Advisory Group and Technical Advisory Team member.
Drake Stowe grew up on a small family farm in eastern North Carolina. She attended North Carolina State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and master’s and doctoral degrees in crop science. Prior to joining USSRC, she served as research director of the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association.
ADVISORY TEAM
Two advisory teams provide producer and technical guidance to the USSRC
The farmer advisory group is made up of one farmer from each member state, with technical support from staff.
Members of the Technical Advisory Team include:
North Central Research Program: Ed Anderson
Atlantic Soybean Council: Danielle Bauer Farace
Southern Soybean Research Program: Becky Kinder
Mid-South Soybean Board: Joyce Berger-Doyle
profitable payback
Every soybean checkoff dollar invested in partner organization research returns value to the farmer. Take a look at some of the thought leadership advanced soybean opportunities. USSRC will help increase that ROI through:
More strategic prioritization of research projects to extend farmer checkoff dollars
Increased awareness of other states’ research portfolios which leads to less duplication of efforts and more collaboration opportunities
Improved understanding of USB’s research funded projects which results in opportunities to complement (not duplicate) work happening at the national level.
Increased connection to startups and emerging technologies to drive new opportunities for soy farmers
Increased access to federal and industry funds which will further leverage checkoff investments
