The temperatures might be in the negatives outside, but inside the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA) annual meeting Jan. 28 in St. Cloud, farmers were looking ahead to spring. 

The 123rd Annual Meeting of MCIA kicked off with an update from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) on its seed regulatory program. This program tracks compliance with seed labelers and retailers to ensure the law is obeyed. Michael Merriman, MDA seed and biotechnology supervisor, explained the most common warnings and violations and what producers should watch out for in the future. 

MSR&PC was a premier sponsor of the annual meeting.  

“For Minnesota Soybean, it’s important to support the MCIA mission,” said MSR&PC Director of Research Sergio Cabello Leiva. “It’s part of our core goals: To facilitate farmers to improve their productivity and profitability in their soybean operations, and to access high quality soybean seed.” 

Cabello Leiva shared an overview about some of the soy checkoff research MSR&PC is working on, along with soybean issues seen in 2025 to prep farmers for the 2026 growing season.   

“We need to be able to pick the right soybean seed for field conditions,” said Cabello Leiva. “Based on your needs and challenges – nematodes, disease pressure – to determine the desired yield and quality. Minnesota Soybean is investing to find the right traits for soybean production in the state.” 

He went on to discuss the U.S. Soybean Genetics Collaborative seed guide; MSR&PC has seven different varieties of soybeans featured. 

Jim Kukowski, an American Soybean Association director from Stratchona and past recipient of MCIA’s Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, was in attendance, along with various seed dealers, University of Minnesota staff and MDA contacts.