2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): Develop cutting-edge analytical standards to provide a platform for essential activities to support soybean composition improvement in the U.S., including amino acids, fatty acids, protein, oil, and other important constituents. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): Using new wet chemical methods, improved near infrared calibrations will be performed and compared to calibrations by other near infrared (NIR) users. A wider range of soybean composition will be worked into the calibration. Soxhlet and nitrogen analyses from newly obtained equipment will be used in the calibration. Carbohydrate analyses will be performed on a large number of soybean samples and added to the current calibration. 3.Progress Report: Near InfraRed (NIR)calibrations and validation of the results were made using solvent extraction and pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for oil content. Carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen (CHN) combustion analysis validated the protein content. Validation confirmed the NIR was capable of performing well in the normal range of oil, protein, and moisture ranges typically found in soybeans. The NIR calibration will be suspect at the boundaries where other analytical methods will be required to complete the analysis. Currently all ARS submitted soybean samples have been completed. 4.Accomplishments 1. Evaluation of soybean properties. ARS scientists in the Bio-Oils Research Unit at the USDA-ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), Peoria, IL, are developing soybean varieties with improved traits for disease resistance and improved oil and protein quality. Chemical confirmation of trait improvements and preservation of desired chemical profiles were incorporated into breeding efforts. In this effort to confirm chemical trait improvement, 8,000 ARS samples submitted by soybean breeders have been analyzed and the results have led to improved varieties, and the associated benefits to producers, rural economies and the general public. These results were reported to the respective researchers.