The University-based Soybean Extension Specialists in the U.S. have been collaborating on common-themed research protocols in an effort to amplify our resources and deliver robust soybean best management recommendations to growers across the nation. The group is leveraging QSSB research funding to maintain local and create national Extension impact in an Extension initiative supported by the United Soybean Board. In 2019-2020, we had two collaborative research topics of focus: foliar fertilizer use in soybeans and sulfur and nitrogen applications at soybean planting. These collaborative research project resulted in 20-25 environments of data produced annually across >10 states as opposed to the 3-4 environments of data that could be generated in North Carolina alone annually. This allows researchers to quickly capture a range of yield and environmental variability when determining production practice impact on soybean yield and to ultimately inform best management practices. The continued success of this national project is contingent on the support of QSSB-funding for localized research efforts. This proposal seeks to request continued support from the NC
Soybean Producers Association for collaborative research efforts with focuses for 2021 and 2022 in soil health and soybean N-fixation.