Michigan Farm Cuts Feed Costs 20% With New Soybean Variety

When the Preston family planted 400 acres of unusual soybeans on their Michigan dairy farm, they knew they were taking a big risk. Those acres could have grown their regular corn and grain for the year.

But three days after feeding the new high-oleic soybeans to their 1,000 cows, something remarkable happened. Milk fat and protein levels climbed, making their milk more valuable almost overnight.

"There was a lot of relief that it was all coming together," says Brian Preston, who manages daily operations at the fourth-generation farm. Then the real surprise hit: their purchased feed costs dropped 20% per month.

"That's a once-in-a-generation change," Preston says.

The breakthrough didn't happen by accident. Michigan State University professor Adam Lock spent over a decade studying how dietary fats affect dairy cows, focusing on high-oleic soybeans rich in oleic acid.

Lock's research team discovered that roasting these soybeans before feeding could boost milk production even more. The work was funded by the USDA and Michigan agriculture partnerships, turning years of lab science into real farm savings.

Many dairy operations spend heavily on supplements to improve cow nutrition. Preston says the high-oleic soybeans, especially when roasted on-site, can replace much of that expensive purchased feed.

The Prestons weren't just lucky early adopters. Seed suppliers across Michigan ran completely out of high-oleic soybean seed last year because demand exploded from other farms wanting the same results.

The Ripple Effect

Michigan's 850 dairy farms and 436,000 dairy cows contribute $15.7 billion to the state economy. When one innovation can cut costs by 20% while improving milk quality, those benefits multiply fast across the industry.

The Preston family has worked with MSU and MSU Extension for over 30 years, but Brian calls this soybean collaboration different. "This could change our entire industry," he says.

"Seeing our research in action at farms like Preston Farms is incredibly fulfilling," Lock says. "It's a reminder that the work we do at MSU doesn't just live in journals, it lives in feed bunks, milk tanks and the day-to-day decisions of Michigan farmers."

While many universities scale back dairy research, MSU's new Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center will keep supporting work that helps real farmers solve real problems.

What started as 400 acres and a gamble is now reshaping how Michigan dairy farms think about what they grow and what they feed their cows.