Checkoff Research Powering Progress
by Luke Haggerty
Minnesota Corn Research & District Field Manager
This season has tested Minnesota farmers’ resilience. Yet even in a challenging year, new ideas, technology, and farmer-driven research are paving the way for stronger, more sustainable farms, new uses, and greater efficiencies ahead. Your checkoff dollars are working to keep nutrients in the field, improve profitability, and open doors to new markets for Minnesota corn.
From soil to sky, farmer-funded research continues to deliver new solutions that strengthen farming today and open opportunities for the next generation.
At the University of Minnesota, Dr. Dan Kaiser and Dr. Fabian Fernandez have refined nitrogen rate guidelines to help farmers apply fertilizer more efficiently—with the goal of maximizing profitability. Their work, supported by the Minnesota corn checkoff, adds new data from the 2022–2024 growing seasons to the state’s long-term dataset, resulting in updated recommendations and new tools, including the revised Fertilizing Corn in Minnesota publication and the Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator. Together, these resources help farmers make informed decisions that boost both economic and environmental performance across Minnesota’s corn acres.
Meanwhile, Dr. Paul Dauenhauer and his team are developing a catalytic process that could convert every corn molecule into methanol, unlocking new pathways for jet fuel, diesel, and plastics. This breakthrough could deliver up to 50% more fuel from each bushel and help existing ethanol plants transition toward sustainable aviation fuel production.
In another area of innovation, Dr. Marc Hillmyer is tackling a challenge that blends productivity with stewardship by creating biodegradable fertilizer coatings that control nutrient release without leaving microplastic residues. “We are excited to continue our work on innocuous degradable fertilizer coatings,” Hillmyer said. “This addresses a key concern of plastic and microplastic waste with incumbent technologies.” This slow nitrogen-release technology could feed crops throughout the entire growing season, helping farmers get more from every pound of fertilizer.
Together, these projects showcase how Minnesota corn checkoff investments are helping farmers lead the way—driving progress that’s good for the land, good for the economy, and good for the future of agriculture.
As the 2025 season comes to a close, our farmer-led Discovery & Development Team will begin reviewing research proposals, seeking projects that are close to commercialization, make substantial use of corn, and deliver practical tools farmers can use right here in Minnesota to stay competitive and profitable.
Thank you for making this work possible. Stay tuned for updates on the 2026 research proposals; the next wave of innovation starts with you.
