North Dakota State University Extension and University of Minnesota Extension will host the annual Best of the Best in Wheat and Soybean Research Meetings at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Feb. 4, and at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Moorhead, Minnesota, on Feb. 5.

These meetings provide farmers and agriculture professionals with an overview of current research findings as well as practical advice on management decisions and farm finances.

“NDSU and UMN Extension are pleased to continue this long-running program to bring wheat and soybean growers the most current, research-backed information for their operations,” says Clair Keene, NDSU Extension small grains agronomist. “We have a great lineup of speakers this year, as well as hands-on breakout sessions that allow attendees to learn and ask questions in a small-group setting.”

Registration opens at 8 a.m. with coffee and refreshments, and the speaker program starts at 8:30. A free lunch is provided to all attendees, and the program ends at 3:15 p.m.

Speakers at the 2026 meetings include Clair Keene, NDSU small grain and corn agronomist, presenting on finding value in spring wheat varieties; Carrie Dottey, NDSU soybean breeder, discussing soybean variety development in North Dakota; and Jochum Wiersma, UMN small grains specialist, addressing fungicide use in wheat.

Jodi DeJong-Hughes, UMN Extension water quality educator, will talk about soil compaction and its impact on crops, and Lindsay Pease, UMN Extension specialist in nutrient and water management, will discuss the potential economic benefits of drainage and phosphorus fertilizer in wheat and soybean rotations.

Breakout sessions include early-season establishment of wheat yield potential with Jay Goos, NDSU professor emeritus; spray nozzle and carrier volume effects on pesticide application with Navjot Singh, graduate student at UMN; insect pest identification with Claire LaCanne, UMN Extension crops educator; and weed seedling identification with Eric Yu, UMN Extension crops educator.

Daryl Ritchison, NDAWN director and North Dakota state climatologist, will talk about the weather in a growing season recap of 2025 and provide a forecast for 2026. The final speaker of the day is Ron Haugen, NDSU farm management specialist, who will provide an overview of current farm programs and an update on tax issues affecting farmers.

The Best of the Best events are free to attend, but registration is highly encouraged to help with lunch planning. Registration information, as well as a full event agenda, is available at ndsu.ag/BoB-meetings26.

Certified crop advisers can earn continuing education units (CEUs) by attending.

The Best of the Best in Wheat and Soybean Research Meetings are made possible by sponsorship from the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, Minnesota Soybean, North Dakota Wheat Commission, North Dakota Soybean Council and the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Jan. 16, 2026

Source: Clair Keene, 701-571-5409, clair.keene@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu