The goals of this proposal are two-fold. One: Provide our County Extension Agents with the financial resources to conduct Agent-driven, County-based activities to showcase the diverse and impactful applied soybean research that has been conducted across North Carolina. Once funded, these mini-proposals will allow for Agent-driven soybean research and Extension efforts at the County level. Two: Provide support for Agents who are participating in a collaboration between NC State Specialists, NCSPA, and the Agents to amplify field research efforts by running basic large-plot trials to compliment what was generated on the small-plot level (OFT). It will be of tremendous benefit for these Agents to have needed financial resources to execute these trials and will ultimately allow us to amplify our Extension impact for producers in North Carolina.

Background:
County mini-proposals were a grower-driven initiative in North Carolina to more strongly engage County Extension Agents in soybean related research and Extension activities. In 2021, 9 County Mini-Proposals were funded across the state for research and Extension activities related to soybean production. This support is imperative for our Agents ability to execute County-level activities and provides them an excellent opportunity to enhance their ability to serve their clientele.
The OFT network established by the NC State Soybean Extension Program and NCSPA began in 2020 with the goal to synergize small plot research with larger plot research being executed across the state. We have had 12-15 Agents participating annually and a lot of energy around continuing with these efforts. In 2020 and 2021, we focused on evaluating fungicidal seed treatments and a new topic will be selected for 2022 and 2023.

1. Provide County Extension Agents with the resources necessary to manage and execute soybean research at the County-level, thereby strengthening the County Extension Agent/Producer relationship
2. Synergize the efforts going on in small-plot research statewide with County-level programming to deliver robust, localized information to clientele across the state

EXPECTED opEND PRODUCTS:
County level-data generated and extended through multiple platforms including:
Electronic media
Field days
Grain Production Meetings
Collaborative publications between NC State Extension Specialists, NCSPA, and County Extension Agents.

Soybean researchers and Extension personnel in North Carolina have conducted diverse and impactful research on effectively producing soybeans across North Carolina or decades, much of which has been funded by the soybean check-off. The problem is many producers are not aware of all that has been learned and the impact of their check-off investment. County based activities would enhance Soybean Extension program visibility and would be consistent with our County Extension Agents educational priorities. Additionally, providing the County Extension Agent with the opportunity to manage on-farm research allows that Agent an opportunity to gain valuable research experience and deepen their relationship and impact with the participating producer. The requested funds not only provide Agents who want to have their own projects with resources, but also provide structure to execute collaborative research for those Agents who want to work in an on-farm network with NC State Extension Specialists. Agents have enjoyed participating in this OFT collaboration over the past two years where we have provided the Agents with a simple protocol to execute on-farm to compliment what is being done at the small-plot level, with 12-15 Agents participating annually.