Research funded with support from Minnesota’s corn farmers helps protect our lakes, rivers and streams.

Minnesota’s corn farmers support $4 million in third-party research projects annually that address important topics like protecting water quality, increasing yields and managing inputs such as fertilizer more efficiently and effectively.

A new “Research Summary” publication from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) and Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council (MCR&PC) will highlight more than 50 completed research projects. The summary will be mailed to all Minnesota corn farmers in the coming weeks.

“Because Minnesota corn farmers have committed to supporting this type of research, we’re farming smarter and we’re farming better than we ever have before,” said Bruce Peterson, a farmer in Northfield and MCGA President. “Our new ‘Research Summary’ not only contains valuable information beneficial to individual farmers, it demonstrates the commitment of all Minnesota corn farmers to become even better at what we do each and every day on our farms.”

All of the research projects highlighted were conducted through third-party institutions such as the University of Minnesota and other accredited universities or organizations. Most of the funding comes from Minnesota’s corn check-off, a voluntary, one-cent fee paid by corn farmers on every bushel sold to market.

Research projects are divided into five categories: agronomy and plant genetics, corn utilization, fuels and emissions, soil fertility and water quality; and examine a wide range of topics of importance to corn farmers.

For example, a completed project in the water quality section examined balancing production gains against the environmental impacts of nitrogen fertilizer management practices. A completed study in the fuels and emissions section found that using biofuels such as ethanol in our fuel supply drove consumer savings of nearly $8 billion in 2013. There are also several studies that provide valuable information on using dried distillers grains – a high-protein by-product of the ethanol-making process – in beef, pork and other livestock diets.

The Minnesota Corn “Research Summary” will appear in the mailbox of all Minnesota corn farmers sometime in the next couple of weeks. It will also be posted online at www.mncorn.org.

With over 7,100 members, MCGA is one of the largest grassroots ag organizations in the country. The MCR&PC oversees the efficient and effective investment of Minnesota’s corn check-off.