Partial support from USB for the operations, administration, and communications and outreach of and by the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) were essential to the NCSRP in supporting farmer and key staff travel and meeting facilities for three board meetings, held in December (St Charles, MO), February (Orlando, FL), and August (State College, PA). During these important board meetings, NCSRP farmer Board members (Directors), state research staff, regional and national guests (e.g. Atlantic, South, Mid-South regions, USSRC, and USB), and funded researchers discussed Midwest regional, multi-state, and national soybean research results, data, and program progress, basic and applied research needs and priorities, and communications and outreach progress and strategies for broadly sharing important research findings that benefit farmers and the soybean industry in the short- and long-term. Importantly, state staff and the Board carefully considered research programming, priorities, and the annual research budget to develop a set of guideposts, strategies, and tactics for maintaining a relevant, robust, and high-impact research portfolio. The primary focus of the research, teaching, training, and Extension and outreach supported by the NCSRP is on soybean production and many factors contributing to supporting farmers in sustainably producing a high-yielding and high-quality soybean crop. Funded researchers submitted timely and meaningful research progress reports through the National Soybean Checkoff Research Database, and research results and information were published and promoted on the Soybean Research and Information Network (SRIN) website, the Crop Protection Network, via the Science for Success program, many field days, management guides, Extension bulletins, field and management guides, student theses and dissertations, and peer-reviewed journals and various text and annual review books and on-line publications.

USB funding to partially support the operations, administration, and communications of and by the NCSRP impacts the organization directly for meetings and communications, and outreach efforts, and indirectly by allowing more of the member state contributions to the NCSRP to be dedicated directly to funding the important research, teaching, and Extension being done in highly collaborative, multi-state, multi-disciplinary, and holistic ways to reduce research redundancy and bring the greatest return on investment to Midwest and US soybean farmers and to the broader soybean industry, especially those involved in agronomics, cropping systems, crop development, and crop protection. Soybean farmers have access to data and information that helps them in the short- and long-term to maximize yields and quality, while optimizing inputs and managing responses to environmental conditions, geography, and both biotic and abiotic stressors. Soybean farmers have opportunities to develop and articulate needs and priorities, access and interact directly with researchers, and gain knowledge about best new technologies, products, and management practices.