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Soybean checkoff congratulates recent USDA honor awardeesA nationwide team of university, Extension and government researchers focused on Asian soybean rust were recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns awarded the researchers the team award for "Enhancing Protection and Safety of the Nation's Agriculture and Food Supply" at the 59th Annual Honor Awards on Oct. 20 in Washington D.C. The United Soybean Board and North Central Soybean Research Program invest checkoff funds into rust research projects conducted by the award-winning team. The rust team was led by Coanne O'Hern with members from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Research Service, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, Risk Management Agency and several land grant universities. Among the recipients were researchers who lead checkoff-funded rust research projects, including Morris Bonde, Anne Dorrance, Marty Draper, Reid Frederick, Glen Hartman, Don Hershman, Monte Miles and X.B. Yang. The honor award, which is the most prestigious given by the USDA, was presented to the team specifically for "advance planning, rapid response and recovery of a disaster that was averted by using science-based and technological strategies or addressing and mitigating risks for a potentially devastating plant disease, the Asian soybean rust." "It's great for the soybean industry to have the support of USDA to help manage rust," says Billy Wayne Sellers, USB's Rust Initiative team leader and soybean farmer from Baxley, Ga. "I've experienced rust on my farm firsthand, and I'm glad to know that the soybean checkoff and USDA are investing in rust research." This year Asian soybean rust has spread farther north in the United States than ever, which stresses the necessity for soybean farmers to keep rust on the radar. "Just because some farmers didn't see rust in their crops this year is no reason for them to let their guard down," Sellers says. "We all need to be vigilant." Together, NCSRP and USB invested checkoff dollars into sentinel plots to help farmers with early detection of rust. The checkoff also funds research to identify genetic sources of rust resistance in soybean varieties, to develop field-friendly diagnostic tools and to detect rust spores through rainfall analysis and air monitoring. The North Central Soybean Research Program is composed of farmer-leaders from 12 state checkoff boards who invest checkoff dollars in coordinated, managed, production-related research. USB is made up of 64 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Customer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff. Date: 11/22/06
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