In 2018 we released the new variety TN 16-520R1 which is a glyphosate herbicide resistant conversion of our conventional variety ‘Ellis’ that has resistance to stem canker, resistance to southern root knot nematode, and field tolerance to frogeye leaf spot. Seed increases are currently underway to provide seed stock for production.

Each year the USA meets to discuss and vote on high yield check varieties for the year. For 2018 three of our new varieties were honored as checks: Ellis, TN13-5537R1, and TN11-5140. These become the benchmarks that other breeders strive to match or best for seed yield. Most checks in the USDA testing program are high yielding Monsanto varieties. It is gratifying that three Tennessee varieties were chosen as checks for 2018.

We plan to engage in further applied variety development research in 2019 at the East Tennessee Research & Education Center at Knoxville, the Highland Rim Research & Education Center at Springfield, the West Tennessee Research & Education Center at Jackson, and the Research & Education Center at Milan.

Soybean producers need excellent high yielding, disease resistant new varieties for profitable production. But it takes 7-10 years of plant breeding activity to produce a new variety. Every year we work on all steps of the process, so that new varieties are launched periodically.

Support for the University of Tennessee Soybean Breeding and Genetics Program is requested to pursue the development of high yielding varieties and breeding lines. Program objectives include:

1) Development of high yielding varieties and breeding lines for TN and the region
2) Incorporation of plant resistance to soybean diseases or environmental stresses to protect high yields
3) Development of herbicide resistant varieties and breeding lines for producers in TN and the region
4) Development of value-added soybeans (e.g. higher protein and oil combinations to satisfy the growing demand for 48% soybean protein)
5) Improving plant breeding methodologies, including use of DNA technologies for targeted genetic gains
6) Investigating genetic control of important traits and applying that knowledge to soybean improvement
7) Training graduate students in classical genetics and modern plant breeding

Updated November 15, 2019:

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During the past decade (2008-2017), approximately 233,590 acres were grown by farmers using UT AgResearch soybean varieties developed by our program. By estimating each year’s seed sales x that year’s yield x that year’s soybean commodity price, the impact of your investment in our new variety development efforts was >$95 million in revenue directly to producers.

Ag economists estimate that soybean commodity production results in about a 9-fold increase in revenue due to soybean barge and train shipment, silo and container storage, oil crushing and protein meal extraction plants and biodiesel processing plants. Thus the $95 million in revenue generated by seed sales and productive performance of our varieties translates to $855 million in realized economic impact for the past decade. Investment in Tennessee Soybean Breeding & Genetics brings strong returns on the dollar.

Tennessee soybean producers benefit from growing high yielding, new genetic materials developed by our program.