Soybean Growers have Chance to Compete in yield Challenge

Jul 07, 2022

By Mr. Robert Nathan Gregory

For the first time, Mississippi’s top soybean growers can compete with their peers and win money for producing the highest yields.

The Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board (MSPB) has announced the launch of the “Grow It. Show It. Win It. Mississippi Soybean Yield Challenge.” Mississippi State University Extension agents will serve as yield contest officials.

“Growers from across the great state of Mississippi will have the opportunity to showcase their outstanding production practices in various soybean yield divisions,” said MSPB communications specialist Bailey Walhood. “The purpose of this challenge is to recognize and offer cash rewards to the top soybean growers in Mississippi and to pass along production information from the contest to soybean producers across the state.”

The four competition divisions include irrigated and nonirrigated categories in the Mississippi Delta region and outside that region. First place winners in each division receive $7,500, while second and third place finishers will win $3,500 and $1,000, respectively.

Source : msstate.edu

Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.