The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) has been on the road in the northern half of the state to begin 2026, interacting with farmers and sharing information on the latest checkoff research, including stops at the Soil Management Summit and DIRT Conference, MN Organics Conference and Small Grains Update Meetings.  

For MSR&PC Director of Research Sergio Cabello Leiva, the northern Minnesota ramble was a return to his research roots.  

“It’s a very exciting time of year because it’s an opportunity for us at Minnesota Soybean to deliver information to our audience of farmers and ag professionals all throughout the state,” said  Cabello Leiva. “I love the northern part of the state as I spent several years working in North Dakota and northern Minnesota, so it’s good to be back.” 

The Soil Management Summit and DIRT conference,  a combined effort of the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University, puts an emphasis on farmer experience and applied science on the topic of soil health and sustainability. The conference, which was held Jan. 14-15 in Fargo, N.D. on Jan. 14-15, featured presentations, Q&As with researchers, farmers and ag professionals, trade show and ample learning and networking opportunities.  

“The Soil Management Summit is a great opportunity for farmers, ag professionals and scientists to get together and talk about sustainability and protecting our soils,” said Cabello Leiva, who joined MSR&PC in spring 2025. “The way I see things is that if we have a healthy soil, we have high organic matter; basically we are saving money for our future. We are giving more nutrients to our crops, more healthy crops, more healthy balance. It’s a win-win situation.” 

As a sponsor of the event, MSR&PC hosted a table talk at the conference, providing a chance for producers and researchers to have an informal, roundtable discussion about research and agronomic practices.  

 “The presenter at the table doesn’t have a PowerPoint, maybe a small handout, but it’s meant to be informal, meant to stimulate discussion, and it’s meant for researchers and farmers to learn from one another,” said Dr. Angie Peltier, U of M Extension Educator who hosted the table talk on behalf of MRS&PC. “Everyone at the table has an equal voice and can share their own experiences. The learning that happens during those interactions is tremendous.” 

Peltier spoke at her table talk about  some of the latest checkoff=supported research projects and how that research can drive yield and long-term profitability for Minnesota farms. 

“We chatted a lot about soybean cyst nematode and knowing that risk, because a lot of producers still have no idea that their field could be infested and that is our No. 1 yield impactor in soybean fields,” said Peltier. “We also discussed one of the newest pathogens found in the state called Red Crown Rot, so it’s important that farmers keep an eye out for that and other emerging threats and that we collaborate to come up with workable management practices to address those threats.” 

In addition to the Soil Management Summit, MSR&PC also sponsored and participated in the MN Organic Conference Jan. 8-9 in St. Cloud, followed by Small Grains Update meetings throughout northwest Minnesota. The MN Organic Conference was unique in that it spearheaded conversations and interactions with a different group of soybean producers who share similar production concerns, such as weed management.  

“We have a lot of tools for weed control from the conventional side that apply to organic soybean producers,” Cabello-Leiva said. “It’s a good partnership and there are a lot of mutual benefits for our food-grade soybean producers, of which we are developing new varieties for right here in the state with the University and Minnesota Soybean together.” 

The Small Grains Update meetings made stops all throughout the Red River Valley, including Dilworth, Halstad, Crookston, Lancaster, Roseau and St. Hilaire. In a time where market prices are low and inputs are high, Cabella Leiva spoke to producers on how they can get the best bang for their buck through utilizing available research, applying only what farmers need and staying on top of agronomic issues that impact yield.  

“A good variety, a good seed treatment, good fertility in our soils and just apply the absolute necessary to obtain the biggest yield and best quality,” he said. “There’s an opportunity to improve by just applying what we need. We have a lot of research about that, and we invite people to take a look at our research book for those solutions.” 

Throughout the slate of conference and meetings, farmers had the opportunity to pick up MSR&PC’s latest research report, From Seed to Solutions. The publication can be viewed online here. Cabello Leiva and checkoff researchers will also be in attendance to visit with producers Jan. 20-21 at MN Ag Expo in Mankato.