So far, the study has produced no surprises. Roundup Ready soybeans, released last year by Monsanto, looked good where there were serious weed problems. Still, the seed's potential won't be known this year because of the limited number of varieties carrying the magic gene and the limited amount of seed available to farmers. I'm hearing both good and bad. The soybean agronomist noted that many of the university research and Extension projects are funded by grower checkoff funds granted by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.
Producers are very comfortable marketing their crop.
All that translates into an industry that's very sound. That's good news for the producers and processors and the state's economy. Another plus for Arkansas soybean growers is the Farm Bill, according to Trent Roberts, executive director of the Southwest Soybean Council. The bill will allow farmers in the Midwest to move out of soybeans. They want to grow corn.