History of Natto and Its Relatives (1405-2012 - SoyInfo Center

(1990), LS301 (1990), Magna (1967), Merrimax (1986),
Mokapu Summer (1969), Prize (1967), Verde (1967), Vinton
(1978), Vinton 81 (1981).
He also wrote a “n” to the left of the following varieties,
which he believes to be a small-seeded soybeans released
for natto or sprouts: Camp (1989), Canatto (1985), Chico
(1983), IL1 (1989), IL2 (1989) (Note: IL varieties are from
Illinois), Minnatto (1989), Nattawa (1981), Nattosan (1989),
SS201 (1989), SS202 (1989), Vance (1986).
At the end he wrote in the names of large-seeded
vegetable-type soybeans released from 1992 to 1997:
IA2012, IA2016, IA2020, IA2034, IA3001, IA3002, IA3006
(Note: IA varieties are from the Iowa and Puerto Rico AES),
Ohio FG1, Ohio FG2, Saturn. He also wrote in the names
of small-seeded natto- or sprout-type soybeans released
from 1992 to 1997: AC Pinson, Danatto, IA2005, IA2023,
IA2024, IA2035, IA3007, IA3008, IA4001, Mercury,
Micron, Pearl, TNS. Address: Univ. of Illinois, Urbana,
Illinois.
1436. Tanner, Jack W. 1993. The fi rst one hundred years
(Continued–Document part II). Paper presented at Soybeans
in Canada: Beyond 100 Years, a symposium organized by
the Ontario Soybean Growers’ Marketing Board. 6 p. Held
28-30 March 1993 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Regal
Constellation Hotel.
• Summary: Continued from page 3. “Honours of C.A.
Zavitz: First Degree Class of OAC, 1888. First Head of
Department of Field Husbandry, 1904. Published in Volume
1 of Agronomy Journal, 1907, 1908, 1909. First Canadian
Fellow of American Society of Agronomy, 1915. Doctor
of Science (Hon.), University of Toronto, 1916. Doctor
of Laws, University of Western Ontario, 1935. Inductee,
Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame, 1977.”
After Zavitz’s introduction in 1893, William Saunders
began soybean research at the Central Experimental Farm
(CEF) in Ottawa, Ontario. In 1923 Fred Dimmock started
the Harrow soybean program; when he moved to Ottawa,
Cass Owen took over the soybean research at Harrow. By the
end of the 1930s, six soybean varieties had been registered
in Canada: OAC 211 (1923), AK (Harrow) (1933, Harrow),
Mandarin (Ottawa) (1934, CEF), Kabott (1937, CEF),
Goldsoy (1938, OAC), and Pagoda (1939, CEF).
In 1932 some 7,781 acres of soybeans were reported in
Canada, increasing to 10,000–11,000 acres by 1940.
“The fi rst record of commercial soybean production
occurred in Essex and Kent counties in 1925. The fi rst
Ontario Department of Agriculture extension bulletin to
mention soybeans in 1932 listed its uses for hay, soiling
crop, pasture, ensilage, seed for oil and meal, and straw. The
crop was perceived by farmers as an excellent annual forage.
Beans for were shipped to the Dominion Linseed Oil mill
in Baden and to the fi rst soybean crushing plant in Chatham
which opened in 1934... Victory Soya Mills, constructed in
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HISTORY OF NATTO AND ITS RELATIVES 444
1944 in Toronto, played a key role in the development of
soybeans in Ontario. The company aggressively promoted
the crop in late 1940s and 1950s. The company produced
bulletins, conducted yield competitions, and produced
newspaper articles, movies and newsletters. It also provided
extension persons, Ivan Roberts and Ralph Chamberlain to
promote the crop. However, the crop was slow to expand out
of the traditional 5-country area of the southwest part of the
province.
“One of the most momentous occurrences in soybean
development dates back to 1936 when Cass Owen at the
Harrow Research Station made the original cross that
ultimately resulted in the variety Harosoy. Released in 1951,
Harosoy dominated the Canadian acreage for more than 35
years. It became the major variety in the U.S. and constituted
26% of the total U.S. acreage in 1966, including 42% of the
crop in Illinois, 48% in Indiana, 46% in Ohio and 58% of
Michigan’s crop. Subsequent varieties developed by Buzzell
at Harrow have continued to provide outstanding varieties to
the farmers of that area.
“Another milestone in the evolution of the soybean crop
in Ontario came in January 1949 with the establishment
of the Ontario Soya-Bean Growers’ Marketing Board.
Established initially to improve marketing procedures to
reduce price instability, the Board’s role now includes
negotiations with the trade, provision of market information
relating to the oilseed industry to its members, government
lobbying, market development both domestically
and internationally, creation of promotional material,
administration of government programs and support of
research. With regard to the latter, the Board has provided
approximately $1.3 million in research support in the past 10
years. The initial membership of the Board has grown from
1722 in 1949 to 17,272 in 1991.”
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, “much effort was
put forward towards expanding the soybean acreage into
the shorter season parts of the Province. While recognizing
that weed control, lack of decent nodulation and appropriate
equipment were deterrents, the major limitation was the
lack of decent varieties. Bluntly put, they were dogs. The
release of Maple Arrow by Harvey Voldeng from the Ottawa
program represented the break that was needed to move the
crop. The cross, between Harosoy and an early Swedish
line, 840-7-3, was made by Buzzell for Lorne Donovan, the
breeder at Ottawa who had preceded Voldeng. Dave Hume at
Guelph with major support from the OMAF Plant Industry
Branch mounted major research and extension programs for
expansion of the crop. The crop has since created its own
momentum, fueled by a whole series of outstanding early
varieties developed by Voldeng at Ottawa and Beversdorf at
Guelph.
“A few other names require mention. George Jones,
an early promoter of the crop, weed control wizard and
successful breeder, Baldur Stefansson in Manitoba who