P.O. Box 104778 ¨ Jefferson City, MO  65110

Request for Proposals

September 2011

The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council is accepting proposals from individuals and/or institutions interested in conducting soybean research projects.  Proposals will be reviewed by the members of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council at their next scheduled meeting.

Proposal Guidelines:

Submission deadline is November 1, 2011.

Proposals are to be written in layman’s language.

Limited to no more than three (3) pages (excluding budget and required attachments), the application must include the following:

1.  Title (not to exceed 15 words; do not use scientific jargon—use common names for all organisms)

2. Name, address, telephone number and email address of principal investigator(s)

3. Missouri farmers face many challenges to their goal of profitable soybean production.  What specific challenge does this project propose to address?

4. If the proposal is accepted, the source of funds for this project will be farmer-generated soybean checkoff dollars.  Explain briefly why Missouri farmers should fund this proposed project.

5. Money used by Missouri farmers to conduct soybean research is an investment to improve soybean profitability.  Estimate the economic impact of funding for this proposed project.  Be as specific as possible.

6. All projects should include a strategy on how technology from the project can be commercialized and with whom.

7. When will Missouri soybean farmers receive the economic benefit of this research?  When will the final results be available to the industry?  Be as specific as possible.

8. Give specific starting and finishing dates for the proposed project.

9. State clear and precise goals.  What are your short-term objectives to reach these goals? Be specific in your response.

10. What procedure will you use to reach your short-term goals?

11. Briefly justify the proposed research.  If appropriate, include a brief literature review, but use only a few specific and recent citations.  Indicate your knowledge of current research being conducted on similar topics.

12. Literature cited (15 maximum citations)

13. Budget breakdown, by year, to include:  salaries & wages; fringe benefits; equipment; supplies, travel, and other identified expenses.  Professor salaries, indirect costs and tuition cannot be charged to the grant.

14. Please submit a short biographic sketch of all researchers involved.  Limit to one (1) page per principal investigator.

15. Does another individual or entity have rights or ownership to the information or processes expected to be developed as a result of this research?  If yes, that individual or entity must be acknowledged and the agreement specified.

A current and pending support form must accompany the proposal. This form must document principal investigator(s), in lead order; supporting agency and project number; total dollar amount; effective and expiration dates; percentage of time committed; and title of project.   Following are the instructions for completing this form:

1. Record information for active and pending projects, separated by category. (Concurrent submission of a proposal to other organizations will not prejudice its review.)

2.All current research to which principal investigator(s) and other senior personnel have committed a portion of their time must be listed, whether or not salary for the person involved is included in the budgets of the various projects.

3. Provide analogous information for all proposed research which is being considered or which will be submitted in the near future to other possible sponsors.

Note:  For all approved projects, funds will be released only after a signed contract is received.

If you have questions, please contact Dale Ludwig at the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, phone 573-635-3819, fax 573-635-5122 or email dludwig@mosoy.org.

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Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council

P.O. Box 104778

Jefferson City, MO 65110-4778

(573) 635-3819    (573) 635-5122 fax

Direction for Research Proposals

September 2011

1. Develop and commercialize competitive industrial uses for soybeans.  Two key terms are commercialization and competitive.  If they are not competitive, they can’t be commercialized.  If they are not commercialized and sell additional soybeans or add value, we can’t meet our goal of improving profitability for Missouri soybean farmers.

2. Aggressively protect and grow livestock feed markets for soybeans, soybean oil and meal.  The livestock market is our largest customer.  It’s a huge market and a lot of competitors would love to take part of it.  We can protect and grow this market with additional processing, developing additives that improve soybeans, soybean oil and meal’s value.  Longer term, we need to develop, most likely through biotechnology, new lines of soybeans with modified traits (modified amino acid profiles and fatty acid content).

3. Develop specific trait soybeans for specialized uses (i.e., identity-preserved soybeans).  This will be the answer to some of our long-term market growth and profit potential.  Not competing in the commodity market may be the best alternative for growth of the soybean industry and profits.  Therefore, developing soybeans and soy products that create increased value is essential.

4. Enable Missouri farmers to become low-cost producers of soybeans.  Any technology, process or practice that leads to reduced cost and improved yields with the net result of lowering total cost for production is desirable.

These new developments, however, need to be industry driven with a market in which we are competitive.  These markets need to be identified before a project is started.

All of the categories listed above may well require or speed processes by the use of biotechnology.  Biotechnology will play a role in many projects we do in the future.

Prepared by:

Dale R. Ludwig

Executive Director/CEO

Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council

“Our hearts and prayers certainly go out to all of those affected by the tornadoes and severe storms in Joplin and to those trying to get back on their feet following flooding throughout the southern portion of our state,” said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler.  “The proceeds from today’s events are just one example of the power in coming together within our communities, of Missourians helping Missourians in times of crisis.  This is certainly a case when the worst of Mother Nature brings out the best of human nature.”

The Missouri Soybean organizations in conjunction with The Department of Agriculture and Missouri Farmers Care are dedicated to the relief efforts in the Joplin area.  In the past few days several agriculture groups have organized fundraising events and volunteer opportunities to provide additional support for our fellow Missourians.

“In disasters like this it is hard to know what to do, but as Missouri farmers we can play a small part in assisting fellow Missourians when they are in need,” said Dale R. Ludwig, executive director/CEO of the Missouri Soybean Association.

Pictured below is Gary Alpers, Chairman of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council along with Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler presenting a check to Peggy Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Central Missouri Food Bank.

The Missouri Soybean Association would like to thank our elected representatives for their hard work and dedication this legislative session.  While 2011 presented several challenges for the agriculture community to overcome—we did it; thanks to your help.

As we came into the 96th General Assembly the weight of Proposition B, which was bankrolled by outside interest group, the Humane Society of the United State (HSUS) loomed over our heads.  However, with the banding together of agricultural commodities, agribusiness’s and dog breeder groups to form Missouri Farmers Care; we were ready to fight back.  Right out of the gate Senate and House Representatives filed bills that would repeal the unconstitutional language and provide a way to fund the investigation of unlicensed breeders.  With the support of Gov. Nixon, the Department of Agriculture and house and senate leadership we succeeded in this battle.  More notably, this was a stance of Missouri telling outside interest groups that we, as Missourians, dictate our laws and businesses. With the banding together of all Missouri groups’, agriculture and animal welfare, we formed a bond to work together for the greater good of Missouri’s future.

In addition, we also want to commend our elected officials and Gov. Nixon on protecting our Missouri farm families from nuisance lawsuits.  Senate Bill 187 places a cap on the size of monetary rewards in nuisance lawsuits brought against Missouri farms.  The legislation also protects farms from multiple, repetitive lawsuits stemming from a single incident.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Soybean Association (MSA) applauds the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) issuance of the final rule to implement the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) provided for in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

“The implementation of the Renewable Fuels Standard is the biggest thing to happen in the biodiesel industry since Missouri farmers first invested in biodiesel research in 1991,” said MSA Director Warren Stemme, who farms in Chesterfield, Mo.

The finalized RFS2 called for 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel in 2009, increasing gradually to a minimum of 1 billion gallons in 2012.  From 2012 through 2022, a minimum of 1 billion gallons of bioidiesel must be used domestically, and the EPA administrator is given the authority to increase the minimum volume requirement.  The ruling issued today sets the 2009/2010 combined biodiesel target at 1.15 billion gallons, which has to be reached by the end of the year.

To qualify as biomass-based diesel, fuels must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent compared to petroleum diesel.  Biodiesel is the only fuel available in commercial quantities in the United States that meets RFS2 requirements.  The methodology the EPA used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions shows that soy-based biodiesel reduces emissions by 57 percent compared to petroleum diesel fuel.

“Many Missouri farmers have put a lot of time, effort and money into the development of the biodiesel industry and we are happy to see the EPA agrees that biodiesel is part of the solution,” Stemme said.

MSA is a membership organization comprised of more than 1,700 farmers from across the state. The MSA works to communicate challenges facing soybean farmers to legislators at both the state and national level. MSA is directed by a volunteer board of 16 farmer leaders.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (April 7, 2010) – Agricultural organizations throughout the state have banded together in support of legislation to protect Missourians’ rights to raise animals.

Missourians for Animal Care, a diverse coalition representing farm and ranch families, veterinarians, pet breeders and agricultural input suppliers, is working with legislators to advance a constitutional amendment to present to voters defending the rights of animal owners in the state.

“Missourians for Animal Care was formed to provide unified support for our state’s family farmers and others to protect their rights to raise domesticated animals in a humane manner,” said Don Nikodim, executive vice-president of the Missouri Pork Association and chairman of the coalition.  “We believe this right is fundamental to the livelihood of thousands of Missourians who work to make their living by raising animals.”

On March 4 by a margin of 96-52, the House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 86, which includes language to protect the right to raise animals in a humane manner.  The resolution has since been revised in the Senate, stating, “it shall be the right of citizens to raise domesticated animals in compliance with any applicable state laws or local regulations.”  The resolution also declares regulations regarding the welfare of domesticated animals would only be valid when approved by the General Assembly or promulgated by state agencies through administrative rule.

“We support practicality and common-sense-based rules and regulations when it comes to animal care,” said Jeff Windett, executive vice-president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and vice-chairman of the coalition. “Agriculture is the backbone of the state’s economy and this resolution will help us to ensure it maintains that position.”

If approved by the Senate, the constitutional amendment would go on the August or November election ballot and would need a simple majority to pass.

Missourians for Animal Care is composed of the following organizations: FCS Financial, MFA Incorporated, Missouri Agribusiness Association (MO-Ag), Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Dairy Association, Missouri Egg Producers, Missouri Equine Council, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Federation of Animal Owners, Missouri Livestock Marketing Association, Missouri Pet Breeders Association, Missouri Pork Association, Missouri Soybean Association, The Poultry Federation and Professional Pet Association.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri soybean farmers and biodiesel supporters salute Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine, today as it marks National Biodiesel Day.  The biodiesel industry chose Diesel’s birthday, the 18th of March, to honor Diesel for his foresight in recognizing the valuable role of vegetable oil-based fuel.  In a 1912 speech, Diesel said, “the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present time.”

Diesel’s vision has proved prophetic in recent years as the biodiesel industry has grown by leaps and bounds despite hitting a few snags along the way.  When Congress allowed the $1-per-gallon federal biodiesel tax credit to expire on December 31, 2009, the consequences were immediate.  Many biodiesel producers shut down their operations resulting in layoffs and a relative standstill in production.

Last week the U.S. Senate passed legislation that would retroactively extend the biodiesel tax credit through the remainder of 2010.  The House of Representatives has passed a similar bill that will have to be reconciled before the tax credit is reinstated.

“The federal biodiesel tax credit has helped us make soy-based biodiesel a reality and it is critically important that it be restored while the biodiesel industry continues to develop,” said Kelly Forck, president of the Missouri Soybean Association. “The biodiesel industry is still young and very much in its infancy.”

Forck said the tax credit helps biodiesel producers be more competitive with heavily subsidized petroleum-based fuels.

“What most people fail to realize is that almost all of the fuel in this country is subsidized in one way or another,” Forck said.  “Oil companies still receive tens of billions of dollars in subsidies from the U.S. government despite the record profits they brought in during 2007.  The biodiesel tax credit is really about leveling the playing field for a renewable fuel that has created jobs, is better for the environment and is produced in the United States.”

MSA is a membership organization comprised of more than 1,700 farmers from across the state. The MSA works to communicate challenges facing soybean farmers to legislators at both the state and national level. MSA is directed by a volunteer board of 16 farmer leaders.

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Contact: Matt Alsager (573) 635-3819

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo- The results are in for the Missouri Soybean Association’s 2010 annual highest yielding beans competition. Each year the excitement grows as we wait to see what our Missouri farmers are going to produce. This year was especially exciting; as Kip Cullers shattered the world record yield by producing an incredible 160.6 bushels per acre.

“Each year we encourage farmers to try new things to raise their management level to increase their yields,” said Dale R. Ludwig, executive director/CEO of the Missouri Soybean Association. “It is our hope that producers across the state learn from one another on ways to increase their yields each year.”

There are three contest categories: no-till, conventional and irrigated. The winner of this year’s no-till category was Glenda Hinkebein of Chaffee, Mo., with a yield of 94.3 bushels per acre using Asgrow 4730RR2 beans. The runner up for the no-till category was Frank Raasch of Norborne, Mo., with a yield of 92.0 bushels per acre using Pioneer 93M62.

Alesa Miller of Norborne, Mo., is the winner of the conventional category. Miller, knocking at the door to the 100 Bushel Club, reported a yield of 98.9 bushels per acre using Pioneer 93Y92. Charles Hinkebein of Chaffee, Mo., the runner-up for the conventional category, placed with a yield of 93.2 bushels per acre using Asgrow 4903.
The winner of the Missouri Soybean Association’s irrigated category, with a world record yield of 160.6 bushels per acre, was Kip Cullers of Purdy, Mo., using Pioneer 94Y71. Reed Burleson of Dexter, Mo., captured the runner-up spot with a yield of 79.6 bushels per acre using NK 39-A3.

The Missouri Soybean Association congratulates and thanks all who participated in this year’s contest. All samples are currently being tested for oil and protein content. Results will be announced once they have been tabulated.

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