Key Topics
The 2026 NDSU Soybean Symposium featured the plenary theme “Communication in Science”, led by three keynote speakers recognized for their ability to connect cutting-edge technology with stakeholders.
Keep scrolling to learn more about our keynote speakers.
In addition, oral and poster sessions will highlight research across three main areas:
- Agronomy
- Plant Pathology
- New Uses
Purpose
The symposium strategically bridges multiple disciplines: soybean agronomy, breeding, and new uses research to foster collaboration, build exchanges and develop new networks for cutting edge soybean research. Researchers present their research - in plain language - to expand opportunities for collaboration.
Presenters
Submit an abstract of your soybean-related research for a chance to present, either as a poster or an oral presentation. Students are eligible to win a cash prize and contribute to the future of the soybean industry.
2026 Keynote Speakers
Sponsors
Soybean Symposium Planning Committee
Past Presentations
Fifth Annual
NDSU Soybean Symposium
March 20, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union
2025 NDSU Soybean Symposium Agenda Poster (Download)
2025 NDSU Soybean Symposium Book of Abstracts (Download)
Keynote Speakers
Daryl Ritchison – NDAWN Director and North Dakota State Climatologist
Barry McGraw – Founder and Chief Lab Officer, Airable Research Lab
Dr. George Graef - Professor and Nebraska Soybean Producers Presidential Chair
Fourth Annual
NDSU Soybean Symposium
March 27, 2024, NDSU Alumni Center
2024 NDSU Soybean Symposium Agenda
Keynote Speaker
Matt Herman - Chief Officer, Demand and Advocacy, Iowa Soybean Association
Third Annual
NDSU Soybean Symposium
March 30-31, 2023, NDSU Alumni Center
Keynote Speaker
Edwin J. Anderson, PhD Senior Director of Research, Iowa Soybean Association and Executive Director, North Central Soybean Research Program
Ed Anderson is an Iowa farm kid who earned his B.S. in Agricultural Biochemistry from Iowa State University and his PhD in Molecular Plant Virology / Plant Pathology at the University of Missouri. His passion for farming, basic and applied research, and the soybean industry drives him to pursue collaborative activities with the best and brightest for advancing farming, science, and technology.
Second Annual
NDSU Soybean Symposium
March 17, 2022, NDSU Memorial Union
2022 NDSU Soybean Symposium Presentations - Full Playlist
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Jianxin Ma, professor of agronomy at Purdue University, has received international recognition for his innovative research on plant comparative genomics and soybean genetics. His research at Purdue includes comparative and evolutionary genomics, genetic dissection of complex traits, and genetic diversity and germplasm enhancement. He has authored over a hundred publications in high-impact journals, including Science, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Genetics and Nature Plants and has served on the editorial board of several other scientific journals. In addition, Dr. Ma is the primary inventor on three patents and patent applications.
Keynote Presentation: Soybean Translational Genomics: from Basic Findings to Applications (recording not available)
General Session Presentations
Stephanie Sinner, North Dakota Soybean Council: Message from the North Dakota Soybean Council
Dr. Hans Kandel, NDSU Extension: Applied Soybean Research
Dr. Barney Geddes, NDSU Microbiological Sciences: Harnessing the soybean microbiome for increased economics and resilience
Dr. Joe Ikley, NDSU Extension: The War Against Weeds in Soybean
Dr. Carrie Miranda, NDSU Plant Sciences: Assessing and Maintaining Genetic Gains in the NDSU Soybean Breeding Program
Bryan Hanson, NDSU Langdon Research Extension Center: Update on Diseases
Bob Stupar, University of Minnesota Agronomy & Plant Genetics: Soybean Stem Architecture (recording not available)
Student Presentations
Caio Canella, University of Missouri: Identification and Confirmation of Natural Tolerance to Off-target Dicamba Damage in non-Xtend Soybeans
Cleiton Wartha, University of Minnesota: Potential of Historical Northern Uniform Soybean Tests Data for Genomics-Assisted Breeding Applications
Ibukunoluwa Ajayi-Banji, NDSU Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering: Green and Semi-green Soybean Color and Quality Changes during Drying (Laboratory and In-field) and under Different Storage Condition
Nick Dietz, University of Missouri: Geographic Distribution of the E1 Family of Genes and Their Effects on Reproductive Timing in Soybean
Kamal Newupane, NDSU Plant Pathology: Impacts of cover crops on hatching, penetration and development of soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines)
Inaugural
NDSU Soybean Symposium
March 24, 2021, Zoom webinar
2021 NDSU Soybean Symposium Presentations - Full Playlist
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Kristin Bilyeu is a research molecular biologist at the USDA/ARS Plant Genetics Research Unit and adjunct professor in the Division of Plant Sciences at the University of Missouri. Her research focus has been to increase the value of soybean by utilizing variant alleles of genes to improve seed composition, and ultimately plant performance. Her expertise is in the translation of basic research to applied challenges utilizing biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and genomics to increase the efficiency of plant breeding and development of improved soybean varieties. Dr. Bilyeu has an active field and laboratory research program that utilizes natural and induced genetic variation to determine the optimum allele combinations to improve soybean traits that provide value to crop production and nutritional enhancements to our food supply in the U.S. and developing countries.
Keynote Presentation: Applied Soybean Genomics
General Session Presentations
Kendall Nichols, North Dakota Soybean Council: Message from the North Dakota Soybean Council
Dr. Hans Kandel, NDSU Extension: Extension Focused Soybean Research
Dr. Guiping Yan, NDSU Plant Pathology: Virulence Phenotypes of Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) Populations and Resistance Responses of Soybeans to SCN
Dr. Carrie Miranda, NDSU Plant Sciences: Grain Carts Full of NDSU Soybean: The Future of the Soybean Breeding Program
Dr. Berlin Nelson, Jr., NDSU Plant Pathology: Diseases of Soybean in North Dakota
Dr. R. Jay Goos, NDSU Soil Science: Iron Deficiency Chlorosis
Dr. Aaron Lorenz, University of Minnesota Agronomy & Plant Genetics: University of Minnesota Soybean Breeding
2026 Soybean Symposium Student Competition Winners
2026 Soybean Symposium Gallery
Check out pictures from the 2026 Soybean Symposium.
Contact Information
If you have an questions, please contact us below. Additionally, requests for accommodations related to disability should be made to the event contact person at least two weeks in advance of the event.
Ana Carcedo, NDSU Extension Extension Agronomist / Broadleaf Crops
701-831-5796