Production Research Action Team seeking RFPs

Oct 15, 2024

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) is now accepting research-project proposals for fiscal year 2025. The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit pre-proposals from various investigators and collaborators to help enhance environmental stewardship and increase the production profitability of Minnesota soybean producers. To submit a proposal for checkoff-funding consideration, email the cover sheet, full project proposal and budget template to projects@mnsoybean.com by 5 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2024.

The Council is seeking projects in the following areas:

Soybean pest management

Agronomic research and technology transfer

Soybean breeding, molecular genetics and functional genomics

Tasked with wisely directing Minnesota soybean checkoff investments, MSR&PC invests in three core areas: research, education and promotion. The RFP process is a critical component to ensure that checkoff investments represent and address the myriad difficulties and opportunities for Minnesota soybean growers.

“For these proposals, we tend to see everything from cutting-edge soybean breeding genetic research that might be 10 years down the road to nutrient management surveys to research projects that address weed management,” said David Kee, MSR&PC director of research.

Successful research proposals will increase profitability to Minnesota soybean farmers, while promoting, educating and increasing awareness of the state’s nearly 26,000 soybean farmers and the importance of soybeans and soybean products to industry, influencers and consumers.

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Video: Midwest Weather Shock: Flash Drought Turns Into Heavy Rain Threat This Week (2026 Forecast)

A rapidly changing Midwest weather pattern is unfolding in 2026 as areas that recently slipped into abnormal dryness and flash drought conditions are now facing the threat of heavy rain and repeated storm systems.

After a wet spring erased early drought conditions, regions across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and northern Missouri have quickly dried out again since mid-to-late May. Soil moisture is dropping fast, and crops like corn and soybeans are beginning to feel the stress of rising temperatures and lack of consistent rainfall. Now, weather models show a major shift.

A developing system moving in from the Northern Plains is expected to bring multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, with the potential for locally heavy rainfall across the Midwest. While some areas may miss out, others could finally see much-needed relief from the growing dryness. In this video, we break down:

Current drought conditions across the Midwest

Why a flash drought is developing quickly

Timing and path of incoming storm systems

Which states are most likely to see heavy rain

How long this wet pattern could last

Will this rain end the drought or create new flooding risks? Watch the full forecast to find out.