Call to Action

The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association has requested funding through our Congressional Representation, for the state of Minnesota for a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) position in Functional Genomics at the University of Minnesota. This funding is currently tied up in the Agriculture Appropriations Committee, which will be meeting next week.

Because this position is critical to Minnesota soybean farmers, we are asking you to call U.S. Reps. Gil Gutknecht (202-225-2472) and John Kline (202-225-2271). Ask them to contact Rep. Bonilla of Texas, the ranking House member on the appropriations committee, and tell him that Minnesota must keep the funding currently proposed in the President's budget for a USDA-ARS position in Functional Genomics at the U of M.

Please also call Sen. Norm Coleman (202-224-5641) and ask him to contact Sen. Robert Bennett, the ranking Senate member of the Senate Subcommittee for Agricultural Appropriations. Ask Sen. Coleman to tell Sen. Bennett that Minnesota must keep the funding currently proposed in the President's budget for a USDA-ARS position in Functional Genomics at the U of M.

Over the last 10 years Minnesota soybean farmers, through their contribution to the National Soybean Checkoff, have invested over $1 million of their own money in the University of Minnesota to address the declining quality of Minnesota's soybean crop. Low protein in Minnesota soybeans cost Minnesota farmers close to $31 million in 2002.

The University of Minnesota has, to the best of their ability and financial resources, provided the personnel and research facilities to tackle this quality issue. However, it appears that this has still not been enough to address this problem, let alone attempts to explore any new opportunities, such as the development of new soy-based/bio-based products for the future. Minnesota needs to be looking at how the state can improve soybeans even beyond just increasing crude protein. We need to be looking at how we can improve or enhance the building blocks of proteins, which are the essential amino acids. Due in part to the continuing improvements in animal genetics to produce better tasting and more nutritional meat and poultry products, it is imperative that Minnesota provides its animal agriculture sector with the best possible feed products.

The University of Minnesota is a natural place to employ a Functional Genomics position. The U of M has a new, $20 million, state-of-the-art Genomics laboratory under construction at their St. Paul campus that could house such a position. In discussions with U of M officials, space would be available at little or no cost to house such a position. Also, the U of M already has in place an excellent team of soybean researchers, like Dr. Jim Orf and Dr. David Somers as well as outstanding Extension personnel, like Dr. Seth Naeve, all of whom would make for a very synergistic team to tackle the opportunities and issues facing Minnesota soybean farmers.