2026 Soybean Symposium
When: March 4th, 2026
Where: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, Memorial Union North 201ABC
What: The symposium will bring together researchers and stakeholders across the soybean value chain to network, present research findings, and promote interdisciplinary collaborations. It will feature four leading experts in the areas of soybean molecular genetics, weed science, food science, and soybean breeding. Participants also have the opportunity to volunteer poster presentations and discuss their work during a poster session which will be coupled with a reception. This free symposium is open to researchers, students, industry, farmers, and other stakeholders interested in soybean.
Tentative Symposium Schedule
| 8:00–9:30 | Registration, coffee, poster setup |
| 9:30–9:35 | Welcome and Introduction |
| 9:35–9:45 | Opening Remarks Dr. Christopher R. Daubert, Vice Chancellor and Dean, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources-University of Missouri |
| 9:45–10:00 | TBD Casey Wasser, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Missouri Soybeans |
| 10:00–10:50 | Data Dumps and Decision Support: Applying AI (Augmented Intelligence) in Extension J. Mark Locklear, Web Developer/Project Manager, Extension Foundation |
| 10:50–10:55 | Soybean Cyst Nematode in Missouri: Where Are We Now? Jeff Barizon |
| 10:55–11:00 | Comparing Application Performance of a UAV and Ground Sprayer for Pre-emergent Herbicide Application in Soybean Jesse Yount |
| 11:00–11:10 | Break |
| 11:10–NOON | The Missing Link: Closing the Management-Environment Gap in Soybean Production Dr. Andre Reis, Assistant Professor, Soybean Farming Systems |
| NOON–12:05 | Gene Pyramiding GmSNAP15 and cqSCN-007 Enhances Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode Garret Hall |
| 12:05–12:10 | Genome-Wide Association Mapping to Identify a New Genomic Region Underlying Quantitative Resistance to Phytophthora Sojae in Soybean Jessica Argenta |
| 12:10–1:20 | Networking lunch (provided for registered participants) |
| 1:20–2:10 | The latest in markets and policies for soybeans Dr. Seth Meyer, Director of the Food & Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), University of Missouri |
| 2:10–2:15 | Differential regulation of flower and pod transpiration compared to vegetative tissue during abiotic stress in annual plants Ranjita Sinha |
| 2:15–2:20 | The Space Between: Can Inter-planted Soybeans Improve Weed Management due to Early Season Suppression? Zachary Ury |
| 2:20–2:30 | Break |
| 2:30–3:20 | John M. Poehlman lecture - New Opportunities in Soybean Breeding Dr. Katy Martin Rainey, Purdue University |
3:20–3:25 | Soybean pangenome resources for gene discovery and breeding Mohammad Khan |
| 3:25–3:30 | An integrated single-cell multiome atlas of the mature soybean nodule Viviana Ortiz |
| 3:30–5:30 | Poster Presentation, Competition and Reception Poster size will be 4' x 4'. Need not compete to present a poster. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be awarded. |