Oct. 15, 2025
By Liam Boylan-Pett
At first glance, the 400 acres of soybeans growing on the Preston family’s dairy farm in southern Michigan looks like a typical field. But these aren’t ordinary soybeans. They represent a breakthrough partnership with Michigan State University that’s saving the family tens of thousands of dollars a month in livestock feed costs — and it could change the dairy industry forever.
The soybean variety, according to federally funded research from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at MSU, is supposed to improve milk quality when fed to dairy cows. And in the spring of 2024, the team at the fourth-generation Preston Farms made the decision to dedicate nearly a third of its 1,500 acres to growing the crop.
Brian Preston, an MSU alum who manages the farm and its nearly 1,000 cattle, knew they were taking a chance. “Those 400 acres could have been our corn and our grain for the year,” he says.
Then the crop came in. After harvesting, the Prestons introduced the soybeans into the livestock’s diet. The results were almost immediate. Within three days, there was an increase in fat and protein yields in the cows’ milk, increasing its value significantly.
“There was a lot of relief,” Preston says, “that it was all coming together and that it paid off.” And soon, that relief turned to excitement and optimism.
“The first thing we noticed when we started feeding the soybeans,” Preston says, “was that our purchased feed costs dropped by 20% per month, and that was huge. That’s a once-in-a-generation change.”
What seems like a nearly overnight success was actually years in the making. Adam Lock, a professor in the MSU Department of Animal Science and interim chair of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, leads a team of researchers who have been studying dietary fats and their effects on dairy cows for over a decade. One promising avenue of this research has focused on high-oleic soybeans — a variety rich in oleic acid, a naturally occurring fatty acid found in both animal and vegetable fats and oils. The hope was that, if included in a cow’s diet, these soybeans could increase the yields of milk fat and protein — and also a farmer’s profits.
“Our work builds on over a decade of research in our lab exploring how dietary fats influence milk composition, cow health and farm economics,” Lock says. “High-oleic soybeans are a natural extension of our focus on practical, science-based feeding strategies.” Along with USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding, Lock’s research is supported by the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture, Michigan Milk Producers Association and United Soybean Board. “Public funding drives innovation, industry partnerships and real-world impact for our state’s agricultural sector,” he says.
Data collection and analysis confirmed the team's hypothesis. Further studies by his team revealed that roasting the soybeans before feeding could provide even greater benefits for milk production.
Many dairy farmers purchase costly dietary ingredients such as fat and amino acid supplements to optimize cow nutrition. Preston says adding high-oleic soybeans to his farm’s nutrition plan and roasting them on-site could replace most of those supplements. Preston Farms, one of the early adopters of high-oleic soybeans, is not the only farm taking notice. Lock says Michigan seed suppliers ran out of the soybean seed last year due to demand.
This public investment in dairy research doesn’t just benefit the Prestons. It also builds trust among the agricultural community and strengthens Michigan’s agricultural economy and ensures that science is translated into action.
“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. That kind of impact is what drives us.”
And at a time when many universities are disinvesting in dairy research, the new Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center at MSU promises that more impactful producer-focused research like Lock’s will continue to thrive.
In partnership with the federal government, Spartan researchers drive lifesaving breakthroughs and address society’s most pressing challenges.
The relationship between the Prestons and MSU — just like the family farm — extends generations. Many members of the Preston family went to MSU, dating all the way back to the 1940s when Brian Preston’s grandfather Stanley completed an MSU agricultural short course. According to Preston, the family farm has been working directly with MSU and MSU Extension for more than three decades. And while the relationship has been beneficial to the family, the recent work with the soybean crop has been incomparable.
Preston says high-oleic soybeans “could change our entire industry.”
People at MSU are pushing the envelope to help our industry move forward — and they are helping us be more profitable. And what it comes down to in the end is that MSU helps our business, which means we’re able to be here for another generation. — Glenn Preston
In a state like Michigan, which is home to more than 850 dairy farms and approximately 436,000 dairy cows, and where the dairy industry contributes $15.7 billion to the state’s economy, that is a big deal. It means Michigan residents have access to better quality dairy products, and dairy farmers across the state can optimize their resources and output. According to the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, fresh dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt — which travel from farm to processor to store within about 48 hours — are made in the state. Higher-quality dairy products from places like Preston Farms is a bonus for all Michiganders.
And to Glenn Preston, Brian’s uncle and owner of Preston Farms, having MSU as a partner is a big deal. “Through MSU Extension and working with Adam Lock, we have access to the best and brightest minds in the world,” he says. “People at MSU are pushing the envelope to help our industry move forward — and they are helping us be more profitable. And what it comes down to in the end is that MSU helps our business, which means we’re able to be here for another generation.”
With continued support for research, MSU will be there for that generation, too.
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