Among their many duties, perhaps the most important role that directors representing the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council are tasked with is finalizing an annual fiscal year budget.  

“This is really the heart of what MSR&PC does — making really important decisions on checkoff resources to ultimately help our fellow farmers and our communities,” Gail Donkers, a Faribault farmer and MSR&PC chair, said at the close of the August board meeting. “The farmers entrust us to be good stewards of the checkoff dollars, and that’s top of mind with every project we consider.”  

Since the mid-1970s, when Minnesota became the first state to oversee its own checkoff program, MSR&PC has dedicated countless hours to making sound investments to grow demand for soybeans through funding research, developing new uses and opening markets across the globe.  

During the Council’s August board meeting at its Mankato headquarters, the elected board of 15 soybean farmers representing nine districts across Minnesota carefully examined, identified and approved the projects that will earn checkoff funding in FY27. Directors Dave Garry and Lawrence Sukalski participated in the budget process for the first time since beginning their first terms on the Council in July 2026.

“It’s always encouraging to participate in this process alongside my colleagues to benefit our fellow soybean farmers,” said Council Treasurer Glen Groth, who farms in Winona County. “These checkoff dollars are the farmers’, and they want us to maximize every dollar to ensure these projects bring value back to their operations.”   

The Council’s budget, which runs from Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2027, comprises several core areas: 

• Product Development 

• Promotion 

• Marketing/Communications 

• Influencer Education 

• Production Research (research projects are typically approved for funding during the April board meeting) 

• High Impact 

• Management & Compliance 

• Leadership Development 

Minnesota is home to more than 25,000 soybean farmers who grow more than 7 million acres and harvest roughly 350 million bushels of soybeans. One half of one percent of the market price is “checked off” anytime a farmer sells soybeans (half of which stays in state, with the other half going to the United Soybean Board). For every dollar Minnesota growers pay into the checkoff, they earn $12.30 in return value. Since Minnesota’s soy checkoff was established over 50 years ago, soybeans yields have more than doubled across Minnesota, and the state’s soybean production has increased by over 300%, while global demand has increased by over 200%.

“The year ahead is going to be a busy one, because our farmer directors have chosen to fund projects that are exciting and bold,” MSR&PC CEO Tom Slunecka said. “As a staff, we’re up to the challenge and look forward to delivering on the potential these projects offer.”  

Slunecka said he’s especially eager to work with farmer leaders on commercializing soy-based lawn fertilizer.   

“This has been in development for several years now, and we feel in 2027 the time is right to see how we can bring this product to the marketplace, because it can be a real win-win for farmers, the environment and consumers across the country,” he said.  

The year ahead still poses myriad challenges, from continued input costs to emerging diseases like red crown rot. The Council continues to be mindful of potential roadblocks when setting the budget, but growers are feeling more optimistic outlook heading into the 2026 harvest.  

“This year’s budget process was smoother than last year, because prices have rebounded a bit and there’s a bit more clarity with trading partners like China, but there’s still a great deal of uncertainty and we have to be aware of that at all times,” Donkers said. “I just thank everyone on our board for their dedication to serving the soybean farmers of Minnesota.”  

Following harvest, the Council team will gather again in December in Mankato for its final 2026 board meeting.