IOWA
SOYBEAN Spring 2020
ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED: ECONOMICALLY DRIVEN
President Tim Bardole, Rippey | At Large President Elect Jeff Jorgenson, Sidney | D7 Treasurer Dave Walton, Wilton | D6
Spring 2020 | Vol. 32, No. 7
Secretary Robb Ewoldt, Blue Grass | D6 Executive Committee Randy Miller, Lacona | D8 Board of Directors Brent Swart, Spencer | D1 Chuck White, Spencer | D1 April Hemmes, Hampton | D2 Casey Schlichting, Clear Lake | D2 Rick Juchems, Plainfield | D3 Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg | D3 Marty Danzer, Carroll | D4 Jeff Frank, Auburn | D4 Tom Vincent, Perry | D5 Morey Hill, Madrid | D5 Bill Shipley, Nodaway | D7 Warren Bachman, Osceola | D8 Pat Swanson, Ottumwa | D9 Tom Adam, Harper | D9 Brent Renner, Klemme | At Large Steph Essick, Dickens | At Large Lindsay Greiner, Keota | At Large
8 Built Strong
American Soybean Association Board of Directors Morey Hill, Madrid Wayne Fredericks, Osage Brian Kemp, Sibley John Heisdorffer, Keota Steph Essick, Dickens Dave Walton, Wilton
Iowa Soybean Association lab trusted source of data.
United Soybean Board of Directors Lindsay Greiner, Keota Larry Marek, Riverside Tom Oswald, Cleghorn April Hemmes, Hampton Staff Credits Editor | Ann Clinton Senior Director of Information & Education | Aaron Putze, APR Creative Manager | Ashton Boles Photographer | Joseph L. Murphy Staff Writer | Bethany Baratta Staff Writer | Lauren Houska Staff Writer | Katie Johnson Sales Director | David Larson
Iowa Soybean Review is published eight times a year by: Iowa Soybean Association 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa 50023 (515) 251-8640 | iasoybeans.com E-mail: aclinton@iasoybeans.com For advertising information in the Iowa Soybean Review, please contact Larson Ent. LLC (515) 440-2810 or Dave@LarsonentLLC.com. Comments and statewide news articles should be sent to the above address. Advertising space reservations must be made by the first day of the month preceding publication. In consideration of the acceptance of the advertisement, the agency and the advertiser must, in respect of the contents of the advertisement, indemnify and save the publisher harmless against any expense arising from claims or actions against the publisher because of the publication of the content of the advertisement.
Farmers along Missouri River confident in levee repairs.
12 Science of
Water Monitoring
16 Choose U.S. Protein First
U.S. soy’s approach lifts all protein sectors.
20 Road Ready
Soy-based asphalt shows promise at test track.
On the Cover: Mark Jackson, an Iowa Soybean Association past president, plants soybeans into terminated rye cover crops at his Rose Hill farm.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEWÂŽ | 3
KIRK LEEDS Chief Executive Officer, Iowa Soybean Association kleeds@iasoybeans.com, Twitter @kirkleeds
Better data → better information → better decisions
I
hope this issue finds you and your family staying safe as you continue to plant another year’s crop. Now, more than ever, the world needs Iowa’s farmers to do what you always do – produce safe and abundant food to feed a hungry world. Here at the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) office, we are doing our best to make sure that our efforts to support farmers, represent their interests, provide insights and information, expand and increase demand for soybeans and soy products — all while continuing to provide timely and useful agronomic information — remains our focus. ISA remains “Driven To Deliver” even in these most uncertain times. Ten years ago, when ISA cut the ribbon on our new office building in Ankeny, we also opened our in-house certified water laboratory. As the only agriculture organization in the country with such a facility, we were excited for all that we would be able to gain from this investment. Ten years and more than 30,000 water samples later, what have we learned?
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First, having our own certified lab has allowed ISA to serve as a trusted source for water quality data and information instead of having to rely on third parties or data from groups that may not have the farmers’ best interests in mind. Our lab, and our dedicated staff, confidentially collect and analyze data from individual farm fields and drainage systems as another source of management information for individual farmers to consider. Additionally, when aggregated with data from other farmers, we have a much better understanding of the cumulative impact various changes in management practices have on soil health and water quality. This aggregated data also gives us a powerful tool to engage in conversations with legislators, regulators, media and the general public based on data as opposed to perceptions and opinions. Second, we have learned that improving water quality is a big challenge. We’ve learned that conservation practices like cover crops and bioreactors
work. We have learned that river and stream conditions are highly variable and that farmers do indeed make changes to their production and agronomic practices when they have data. We have learned that in some locations in Iowa our water is good and, in some areas, not as good. These insights have allowed us to focus work and resources to address areas of greatest need and to build collaborative approaches in these identified areas. Better data leads to better information, which ultimately leads to better decisions. In the years to come, ISA will continue to take advantage of our water lab as we work alongside farmers to meet the challenges of increased productivity while improving and enhancing water quality. I hope you enjoy reading this month’s Iowa Soybean Review and the updates on several water quality projects and initiatives underway. I encourage you to get involved and join us in these efforts.
unitedsoybean.org
HELPING YOU DELIVER ON DEMAND
Whether it’s improving soybean meal to outperform the competition or promoting the sustainability of U.S. soy, the soy checkoff has been working behind the scenes to help farmers satisfy their customers’ needs. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And for U.S. soybean farmers like you, the impact is invaluable. See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for farmers at unitedsoybean.org
USDA Offers Flexibility Amid Ongoing Pandemic BY BETHANY BARATTA
I
n the ongoing effort to keep farmers informed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) hosted a webinar featuring three high-ranking officials to explain the programs and processes in place to assist farmers during this time of uncertainty. Bill Northey, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation in the United States Department of Agriculture since 2018, summed it up best: “What crazy times we live in,” says the former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. “What a challenge for all our producers, the food system, consumers, everybody out there. It’s certainly been a challenge for us to figure out how best we respond.” Northey oversees the work done within the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Risk Management Agency. He says flexibility has been key during these times. The USDA has adjusted timelines and procedures to streamline the flow of information and goods. “We’ve looked internally at our own processes in where we can be more flexible,” Northey says. Flexible arrangements have been essential in the work of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, said Richard Fordyce, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator. The Agency is monitoring signup deadlines and utilizing newer technologies to be able to interact with farmers and get signatures for signups. “We’re looking at every program, every deadline and we’ll do what makes sense for producers, farmers and ranchers,” Fordyce says. Jeff Plagge, superintendent of the Iowa Division of Banking, says there are many questions about how farmers can benefit under the Coronavirus Aid,
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Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and its $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program. “The Program has been a little bit like changing a tire on the car as it’s rolling down the road,” Plagge says. “It’s coming together in pieces.” Program dollars are draining rapidly, Plagge notes. Since signup for the program began April 3, $247 billion has been awarded through more than 1 million loans. As of April 14, Plagge says 22,295 loans had been approved for $3.7 billion in Iowa. As of press time, more funding for the national program is being considered. He gave some guidance to farmers filling out loan applications through the program. "Self-employed farmers (i.e. those who report their net farm profit on IRA Form 1040 Schedule I and Schedule F) should use IRS Form 1040 Schedule F in lieu of Schedule C, and Schedule F line 34 net farm profit should be used to determine their loan amount in place of Schedule C line 31 net profit. The 2019 IRS Form 1040 Schedule 1 and Schedule F should be included with the loan application." No adjustments to the Schedule F can be made, Plagge says. In other
Bill Northey
words you can't add back depreciation or prepaid expenses to improve the net
income number.
Potential support ISA President Tim Bardole hoped he would fetch a better price by selling harvested bagged corn to the ethanol plant this spring. But ethanol prices have tanked, and plants are losing money—and not buying grain. It’s another situation stacked against farmers as they prepare to plant their fields. Bardole asked Northey if there was a plan to help farmers who are once again facing multiple headwinds. What are the chances of another Market Facilitation Payment? “Not that I’m pleading for help from the government because I hate help from the government, but I want to survive also, and I think there are a lot of farmers in that same position,” says Bardole, who farms near Rippey. The Market Facilitation Program began as a way to support farmers who felt the impact of the ongoing trade war and retaliations between the United States and China. But there could be funds available to support farmers, Northey says.
The webinar can be found at iasoybeans.com.
ISA Helps With Conservation Best Practices Manual
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onservation Learning Group (CLG), a think tank based at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and dedicated to addressing conservation and environmental challenges, has published the “Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual” to aid farmers in selecting conservation measures appropriate for their farms. The manual was developed in cooperation with the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance and Practical Farmers of Iowa, and with the support and input from multiple local, state and federal organizations. Designed primarily for farmers just starting out through three years of adopting conservation practices, the manual provides a broad range of information that could be beneficial to any producer. The manual is available for free download or in hard copy from the ISU Extension Store. “With all the different options for conservation practices, it can be challenging for farmers and their advisers to know where to start in selecting practices that will best fit their operations,” says Chris Hay, PhD, senior manager of production systems innovation with the ISA Research Center For Farming Innovation. “This manual assembles considerations for
the most commonly used practices into a series of easy-to-use visual decision aids to help in selecting practices they can use on their farm.” Covering in-field topics, including tillage management, cover crops and diverse rotations, and edge-of-field practices, such as wetlands, bioreactors, saturated buffers, controlled drainage and prairie strips, the manual provides detailed information regarding implementation and expected outcomes. In addition, it includes comprehensive graphical decision tools to aid farmers in determining the best approaches for each area on their farm. The manual was developed based on numerous meetings and working groups among stakeholders, researchers, agency representatives and communications specialists, who worked together to provide a comprehensive resource for farmers. The content was also presented to farmers at multiple events, prior to public release, to gather feedback on usability and the graphical decision tools included.
“This manual will be an excellent tool for our conservation planners to utilize as they work with farmers to adopt these management practices,” says Kevin Kuhn, resource conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. “It’s our hope with this advice that they will be successful early in the adoption of these practices both agronomically and from a conservation standpoint.” CLG will continue to evaluate responses to the manual and update it with emerging information and data from research projects. This manual is a joint publication of Iowa State University and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under number 6000004181.
To learn more about Conservation Learning Group visit www. ConservationLearningGroup.org.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials have rebuilt many of the damaged levees along the Missouri River. 8 | SPRING 2020 | IASOYBEANS.COM
STRONG Farmers along Missouri River confident in levee repairs BY BETHANY BARATTA
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ne year ago, Jeff Jorgenson’s plan to grow soybeans and corn in his fields along the Missouri River was washed away by unprecedented flooding. Today, the Sidney farmer says he’s optimistic that rebuilt levees will provide protection and allow crops to grow this year. “We’re really gaining on getting this ground ready for planting in 2020,” says Jorgenson, president-elect for the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), during a break from moving dirt in a restored field. Since March 2019, Jorgenson has been involved in flood recovery and land restoration efforts. He’s hosted local, state and federal officials to explain the damages not only to the L-575 levee, which impacted him 6 miles away but also to provide solutions on how to fix it.
Progress Recently, conversations with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig have centered around the progress that’s been made. That was evident during a recent tour with Naig and staff from the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. “We relied on feedback from farmers on the ground throughout the whole recovery process,” Naig says. “Their input helped shape the state and federal response. We were able to allocate resources based on local needs so these farmers could get their land back into operation faster.” The tour included visits to several locations to demonstrate progress made on flood recovery. Perhaps the most interested visitor was the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency. It's in charge of setting crop insurance rates.
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Officials hope the repaired levees will prevent flooding of towns and farmland during this upcoming growing season and beyond.
The tour proved the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors successfully met the requirements of the RMA in its quest to rebuild the levees. This means farmers within the levee area will have access to crop insurance with the same available coverage and at the same rates as preflood levels. “Crop insurance is one of the most valuable risk management tools that we have, especially here in the river bottoms,” says John Askew, a farmer near Thurman and past ISA president. The RMA says it will consider premium rate determinations on a case-by-case basis if repair work is completed after the sales closing date or earliest planting date. Cropland behind levees that’s not repaired to prior specifications may carry the highest premium rate classification in the county for the 2020 crop year, the RMA notes. Askew, a levee sponsor near the L-594 levee, says he’s seen significant progress since work began there in earnest in December. In some areas, breaches were more than 500 feet across. Floodwaters inundated Askews’s farm and seed business. “On March 17, we watched our seed
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building get flooded,” says Askew, the sixth generation on his family’s farm. “We watched water come 15 feet from our house; water covered about one-third of our farm.” Water receded, then rose again. His fields were flooded three times last year. “After the March flood, I had all my crops planted and then ended up losing about 25% during the second flood,” he says. “After that, I planted all of those acres with cover crops and they all died because they got flooded the third time.” The Askews predict they lost 70% of their seed business. The levee Askew manages covers 12,000 acres and 22 homes. Only two homes in the district were unscathed during the flooding.
Cooperation, construction Favorable winter weather allowed progress to continue on the levees during the winter, says Todd Tobias, quality assurance for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Freezing temperatures helps stabilize roads near the levees by
which contractors could continue their work for the March RMA deadline. There were three major breeches on the L-594 levee have been repaired in the last year. From Jan. 6 until March 1, contractors have used 335,000 yards of sand and 135,000 yards of clay to make temporary repairs. Much of the materials were found nearby — in farmers’ fields. That reduced the cost of the project while also helping farmers clean up their fields in preparation for additional cleanup and, eventually, planting. “In that same time period, we also made sure all the places where the levees were topped and scours that were cut were built back up to standards,” Tobias says. “We also put 20,000 tons of rock on top of the levee so we have a good surface for flood fighting if necessary.” Both Jorgenson and Askew say their proximity to Interstate 29 and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad line was favorable as the corps determined priority areas.
“The reality is we have a railroad and an interstate system and we have to be able to use them,” Jorgenson says. “That in itself is a difference-maker. If it wasn’t for those two things, we probably wouldn’t be in as good of shape in getting things repaired the way they have.” The corps will also be slowing the discharge rate from the Gavins Point Dam from 35,000 cubic yards per second to 20,000 cubic yards per second. This should help mitigate flood risks, Askew says. “Change in flow rate means the corps is paying attention to what’s happening down here,” Askew says. “We never felt that they did before.” Tobias says design projects are underway to map out more permanent fixes to the levee this summer. He’s confident the change to the water flow rate upstream and the sand, clay and rock being used to fix the levee will get the corps through potential flood-fighting this year. “This spring and summer should be a normal spring and summer for us — if we did our job right,” Tobias says.
Eternal optimists As Jorgenson worked in his fields, leveling out scours made from water rushing over his fields for three months, he felt optimistic this year would be better than last. “I do not anticipate recordbreaking yields out here,” he says about his expected soybean and corn crop this year. “But it’s a really good start.” The work is far from over, he says. As of late March, some roads were still impassable, let alone ready for heavy equipment typically used for planting and harvesting. Askew, a trustee in a drainage district encompassing 34,000 acres in Fremont County, says the next step will be fixes to the drainage systems there. A part of that is relying on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assess the damage in hopes federal funding can help return the system to full functionality.
Askew says he’ll focus heavily on soil health this year. He’s optimistic his seed business will make a comeback in the years ahead. “We’re hopeful for a good year,” Askew says. “We’ll get everything planted and be fully confident in that levee system holding this year.” Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.
“I do not anticipate recordbreaking yields out here. but it's a really good start.” — JEFF JORGENSON
Jeff Jorgenson, ISA president-elect from Sidney, surveys a levee that was recently repaired. The levee broke during the Missouri River flood, causing flood waters to inundate area farms.
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Anthony Seeman and Corey McKinney draw samples of water from a tributary of the Middle Cedar River to test for nutrients, dissolved oxygen and suspended solids.
Science of Water Monitoring ISA Lab Trusted Source of Data BY CHRIS HAY AND ANTHONY SEEMAN
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he Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) has been monitoring water quality for over a decade. The monitoring program has evolved over time and includes rivers, streams, individual tile outlets and edge of field practices located throughout Iowa. Water samples are analyzed in ISA’s certified water laboratory. The lab serves as a trusted source of water quality data for soybean farmers. Data is provided to participating farmers to help inform their management decisions. When aggregated with data from other farmers, it’s used to gain insight into impacts of management on water quality to make recommendations for improvement for all farmers. ISA and its partners also use this data to target areas for planning and implementing water quality projects
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and to evaluate the effectiveness of installed practices. Monitoring with Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance, a consortium of ag retailers and support companies in the Des Moines and Raccoon river basins and ISA partner, showed that nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in the Boone and Raccoon Rivers in 2019 were some of the lowest since monitoring began. While low concentrations are good, they often occur with higher river flows, and the overall loss of nitrogen, measured as load (concentration multiplied by flow) is still high from the greater volume of water transporting nitrogen. In 2019, however, nitrate concentrations were low enough that nitrogen loads remained moderate despite higher than average river flows.
The interactions among soil, weather and management that influence nitrogen loss are complex. However, the 2019 results suggest that the cooler and wetter spring that delayed planting also delayed nitrogen mineralization into water-soluble nitrate that was available for loss early in the spring when nitrate concentrations are usually highest. The Miller Creek Water Quality Initiative (WQI) project is one of several WQI projects funded by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship within the Middle Cedar River watershed in eastern Iowa. It provides an example of the impact of ongoing conservation practice implementation on water quality in a smaller watershed.
The project focuses on reducing nutrients leaving farm fields through voluntary adoption of practices outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS). Water quality monitoring has been conducted with the project since April 2014. Sampling is focused on both streams and individual field tile outlets to monitor overall conditions in the watershed and give producers a look at the impact their management is having on water quality. Nitrate concentrations in Miller Creek have generally been declining since monitoring began in 2014, and the average nitrate concentration in 2019 was the lowest yet. Nitrogen yield (pounds of nitrogen lost per acre), however, has been more variable because of the impact of weather on nitrogen load and yield. Another positive sign is that the average nitrate concentrations of the individual tile outlets monitored over the life of the project have consistently declined. These results illustrate the interaction between nitrogen loss and weather. Nitrate concentration reductions are good, but they will sometimes be counteracted by greater flow in wetter years when it comes to overall nitrogen loss. The short time period for the project makes it difficult to draw strong conclusions. However, the results suggest that things are at least moving in the right direction. Denitrifying woodchip bioreactors are one example of the water quality practices in the INRS for reducing nitrogen loss. Bioreactors work by diverting water from a tile drainage system through a trench filled with woodchips before it outlets to a stream, ditch, or tile main. Microbes in the woodchips convert nitrate in the drainage water into nitrogen gas that is released back to the atmosphere, reducing the amount of nitrate in the drainage water.
The Iowa Soybean Association has been monitoring water for over a decade.
Blake Hollis of Lanehaven Farms installed a bioreactor in 2014 as part of the Miller Creek WQI project. Water quality monitoring of flow into and out of the bioreactor has been used to monitor the performance of the bioreactor over time. Average nitrate concentration reductions from the bioreactor have been 40% since it was installed. In 2019, nitrate concentrations were reduced by 51% on average. “Participating in the Miller Creek watershed project and ISA water monitoring project have certainly helped me gain a greater understanding of my footprint and need to engage in water quality improvement,” says Hollis. Results for the Hollis bioreactor show the impact that adoption of water quality practices can have at the scale of an individual field.
“Any time you change practices, there's a learning curve involved,” says Hollis. “Every operation is different, with various goals and constraints, so when it comes to conservation there is usually not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution.” Although it’s too early to know the long-term impacts of watershed projects like the Miller Creek WQI, the early results are encouraging and show some improvement in water quality. It will take much greater adoption of individual water quality practices and sustained efforts at the small watershed scale with projects like the WQIs to begin to reverse the long-term increase in nitrogen loads at a scale like the Raccoon River to meet the goals of the INRS. Data from the ISA water lab will continue to be important to target efforts and measure progress. For more details on the 2019 monitoring results, see the three-part “2019 Water Quality Summary” series in the ISA Newsroom. IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 13
A farmer examines the root structure of rye grass. Cover crops play an important role in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
Lessons Learned Farmers Share Lessons Learned at Cover Crops Boot Camp BY ZITA QUADE
D
iscussing cover crop success, while debating the challenges, was among the exercises undertaken by more than 100 farmers and industry leaders who gathered in Ames for a Cover Crops Boot Camp. The recent event was led by Sarah Carlson, Practical Farmers of Iowa, with extensive planning input from members of the Conservation Infrastructure Cover Crops Working Group and several partners, including the Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance. Two succinct farmers’ comments summed up much of the wisdom shared: “If you want to succeed at cover crops, you will,” notes one attendee. “If you want to fail at cover crops, you will.” Another attendee says, “Don’t be afraid to be different, be afraid to be the same.”
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Iowa farmers know cover crops play an important role in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy to improve soil health and improve water quality. To examine the latest cover crop science and practices being implemented, a variety of experiences were shared by farmers and specialists in soils, livestock, equipment and fertility. Presenters shared these overall lessons learned: • Cover crops require patience and adaptability, as numerous variables are at play and every season and field is different. Start small and incrementally work cover crops into an operation. Planting cereal rye ahead of soybeans is a good place to start. • Over time, a no-till or strip-till system with cover crops will lead to more forgiving and fertile soils.
• Cover crops help weatherproof the farm (e.g., increase water retention, hold soils in place and increase resilience). • Cover crops improve soil health by improving soil aggregate stability, increasing soil carbon and organic matter, providing living roots in the soil prior to row crops establishment in the spring and post-harvest in the fall when Iowa receives the most precipitation, and soils are most vulnerable to nitrate loss and erosion. They reduce compaction, improve porosity and infiltration rates, and serve as a food source for soil microbes, earthworms and other soil invertebrates. • Cattle feed costs can be reduced in the fall by grazing cover crops. Manure can reduce fertilizer input costs.
South-central Iowa farmer Mike Jackson teamed with Iowa State University Extension cropping systems specialist Mark Licht to discuss four keys to success with cover crops. Key takeaways included:
1
Mindset
• Cover crops call for a shift in mindset. Don’t give up on the first stumble; it takes effort to make things work. • Determine goals and set expectations – Looking for cover crop biomass for weed suppression? Feed value for grazing? Improved soil health? Jackson wants erosion control and nutrient stabilization. Last spring near Oskaloosa, he had 10 inches of rain in 10 days, and without cover crops, “the soil would have been halfway to New Orleans by now.” • Find a farmer-mentor with similar goals to talk to about this new system. Also, find and join some cover crop Facebook groups, alongside researching and reading. • Document actions to help plan effectively and make informed decisions for future management.
3 Fertilizer • Licht recommends putting nitrogen (N) on in the spring, and when the crop actually needs it. Optimally, total N needs are the same if there is a cover crop or not, it’s just rethinking N timing. You don’t want fall applications taken up by cover crops. • Jackson applies a lot of hog manure and uses a shallow vertical-tillage tool to incorporate it. His second trip in a field is with the corn planter and he puts 5-6 lbs. N in-furrow. The third trip is with a sprayer to burndown the cereal rye cover crop. He adds 5 lbs. N to help break the rye down. Total N is about 180 lbs.to achieve a 200 to 220 bu. corn yield average. • To ensure it’s not being overapplied, tissue and soil sampling, as well as some post-harvest stalk nitrate sampling, is conducted.
• Jackson’s long-term goal is to leave his sixth-generation farm to his son, Mack, with better soils and a strong commitment to continued land improvement.
2 Equipment Setup How to deal with cover crop residue in the spring. • Licht says farmers need to pay additional attention to planter settings to succeed. This includes a sharper focus on toolbar down-pressure on the row-unit, seeding depth, and closing the seed furrow. • Jackson says that since they don’t strip-till, they keep planter components sharp and up to date. They use spiked closing wheels, working about two inches of the soil — all that’s needed when following cover crops. • Get off the tractor and check your planting depth. If there’s an inch of biomass on top of the soil, set the planter deeper.
4 Seeding Methods • Aerial and broadcast seeding allow for earlier application and more acres can be covered faster. The downside is a less uniform stand and poor establishment under dry conditions. • Drill seeding delivers better and more uniform stands in the right conditions for growth. • Seeding with a high clearance interseeder usually delivers more biomass due to earlier seeding, allowing more time for heat units to accumulate.
To learn more, visit IowaCI.org. Contact Zita Quade at zquade@iowaagwateralliance.com.
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Soy protein is an important component of diets around the world.
Choose U.S. Protein First U.S. soy’s approach lifts all protein sectors BY BETHANY BARATTA
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he world is projected to be home to 8.5 billion people in 2030. That’s an additional 1 billion people who will need essential nutrition, like protein. The U.S. soybean industry is leading the charge to put protein first. The United Soybean Board (USB) is spearheading the Choose U.S. Protein First campaign, a unique collaboration between major U.S. protein sector organizations to fulfill a growing demand for protein globally. A partnership with USB, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), American Soybean Association (ASA), World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and animal protein
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organizations, Choose U.S. Protein First reinforces the critical role U.S. soybeans play in global food security. The initiative launched last fall and is being embraced through programming and outreach efforts. “It takes protein to grow,” says Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) President Tim Bardole. “It is advantageous for the United States and producers everywhere to do everything we can to get protein into these growing countries for their stability.” Growth of plant-based protein and meat alternatives is anticipated to increase from $4.6 billion in 2018
to $85 billion in 2030, according to a study by the Swiss investment firm UBS. In addition, meat consumption continues to rise globally and will maintain that upward trajectory at least through 2030. “We firmly believe protein — particularly U.S. protein — can fuel the people, the animals and the economies of the world,” says Polly Ruhland, CEO of USB. She understands the competitive environment for the center of the plate, especially when it comes to protein. Ruhland is a former CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board.
It behooves all protein sectors to work together to increase protein demand worldwide, says Andy Fabin, USB director and Sustainability Target Area coordinator. He’s a soybean, corn, wheat and cattle farmer in Pennsylvania. “The first goal is to be able to sustainably meet future and current demand for protein here in the United States and around the world,” Fabin says.
Working collaboratively The Choose U.S. Protein First initiative emphasizes the importance of protein in the diet around the world, no matter the form. “There are a lot of places in the world that are short on protein,” Bardole says. “As a soybean and hog producer, it doesn’t matter to me what sort of protein fulfills that need. It’s about getting protein to the people who need it.”
There is a correlation between the growing economies and protein demand, Ruhland notes. As a result, some estimate an additional one-third or up to 50% more protein will be needed by 2050. That’s why it’s important for farmers all along the supply chain to continue to serve customers globally. “Collaboration between animaland plant-based proteins bolsters our ability to serve our shared global protein market,” Ruhland says. Todd Hanten, South Dakota farmer serving as a USB director and a representative in the USB Animal Nutrition Working Group, says as a soybean farmer and
livestock producer he was defensive about sharing the protein sector with plant-based proteins. But market development trips through USB and the U.S. Meat Export Federation made it all come together for him. “We have customers who want different products,” he says. “I can provide different products, and I have neighbors who can provide additional different products.” Hanten looks at global protein demand as one big pie. “If we grow that pie, even if my share of the pie gets smaller and the total protein pie gets larger, we all win,” he says.
“We firmly believe protein — particularly U.S. protein — can fuel the people, the animals and the economies of the world.” — POLLY RUHLAND, CEO OF USB
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Polly Ruhland
Fabin says the soybean industry is uniquely positioned to support all forms of protein. As a food, soybeans are processed into soymilk, tempeh and tofu. Soybeans are also a part of feed rations for aquaculture and swine. “Collaboration is a big part of what we’re trying to do,” Fabin says. “There’s plenty of room on the plate for multiple proteins; we’re not trying to take over other protein sectors.”
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A global perspective As he’s traveled the world promoting the commodities he grows, Fabin says he’s gained a different view of protein consumption. “I’m a parent to four children and I’m lucky enough to put proteins on their plate every day, whether it’s pork, beef or chicken,” he says. “As I’ve traveled around the world promoting soybeans, I’ve learned this is not a luxury that is afforded to every parent in these developing countries.” Economic and religious affiliations play a part in preferred choices for protein, says Greg Tyler, the senior vice president of marketing for the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC). “Developing countries can’t
necessarily afford to have a choice in beef, pork, poultry or plant-based protein,” Tyler says. “Cheap protein sources are vital to those economies that are growing.” Eggs fill that protein gap for consumers looking for an economical protein source, he says. That’s one of the reasons why USAPEEC supports the Choose U.S. Protein First initiative.
Outreach efforts Bardole says the soybean industry’s work throughout the world explaining the benefits of protein isn’t just about selling more soybeans. It’s about lifting people up. “It’s about bringing the highprotein products that we produce to populations that are struggling so they can get stronger and better take care of themselves,” Bardole says.
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) staff is working throughout the world, helping consumers understand the benefits of protein to human health. One way is through the opening of the Soy Excellence Center. The first center opened in Cairo, Egypt, in September 2019. More centers are slated for Nigeria, Thailand and Mexico. The centers are designed to be a “one-stop-shop” for industry training, says Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO. Centers provide training, resources and education to all members of the soy value chain.
They also build and facilitate business relationships and links between local and international businesses. Sutter says identifying locations for the centers represents opportunities for future protein demand growth. Nigeria, for example, is an emerging market that could be a huge opportunity for U.S. soy in the future, Sutter adds. Nigeria’s population is projected to reach 264 million people by 2030. In 2016, Nigerian consumption of soy and soy-related products was 2.2 pounds per person per year. In comparison, consumers in 18 countries identified as expansion markets annually consumed about 121 pounds per person.
“If we can fully bridge this gap in soy consumption, Nigeria could become one of U.S. soy’s top three growth markets by 2030,” Sutter says. While helping customers around the world understand the importance of protein, the message about the quality and consistency of U.S. protein is also shared, Hanten says. “U.S. products are the best in the world,” he says. “They’re the most sustainable, efficiently produced, safest products that are available — no matter if its plant- or animal-based. If we can increase the demand of our protein products in the world, we all do better and prosper.” Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.
“It’s about bringing the highprotein products that we produce to populations that are struggling so they can get stronger and better take care of themselves.” — TIM BARDOLE, ISA PRESIDENT
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 19
Rolland Schnell, a Newton area farmer and past president of Iowa Soybean Association, pauses for a portrait at the NCAT Test Track in Auburn, Alabama.
Road Ready Soy-based asphalt shows promise at test track BY JOSEPH L. MURPHY
T
he success or failure of a project is often determined on the test track. Take the Daytona 500 as an example. Teams arrived weeks before the race for exhaustive testing before the big event. The race teams know a turn of the wrench can be the difference between the checkered flag and not even qualifying. In order to research the viability of soy-based, biopolymer asphalt, an Iowa farmer recently traveled to the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) in Auburn, Ala. Joining a group of engineers, scientists and consultants, the team found the new product is a success in every definition of the word. “Like biodiesel, this is another opportunity to have a value-added
20 | SPRING 2020 | IASOYBEANS.COM
product here at home,” says Rolland Schnell, farmer and former Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) director. “These types of products increase the profitability of raising soybeans and decrease the cost of animal production.” About a decade ago, ISA directors voted to use $125,000 as seed money matched by the United Soybean Board (USB) to build a pilot plant at Iowa State University (ISU) that experimented with the production of asphalt using biopolymers produced with soybean oil. After years of work, high oleic soybean oil was used as a binder to hold aggregates together and make asphalt. “I'm excited because when you start in a lab, you have a dream,” says Chris Williams, a professor in the department
of civil, construction and environmental engineering at ISU. His team has worked on developing the product since the beginning. "To see this dream being realized today is exciting. I truly believe this is going to create immense value for the people of Iowa and across the United States." The polymer offers a lower-cost, less volatile and cleaner alternative to the traditional petroleum-based binding agents used in asphalt. The soybean oil also increases the reuse rate on asphalt grindings from 17% to over 30%, according to USB data. “This is a project that was started several years ago, and now we have seen it taken from the theoretical to application,” Schnell says.
Track testing NCAT was established in 1986, as a partnership between Auburn University and the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) Research and Education Foundation. The goal was to provide practical research and development to meet the needs of maintaining America’s highway infrastructure. “What they do here is realistic in an accelerated, timely manner,” Williams says. “This partnership allows us to project our market opportunities to a much broader audience.” NCAT ensures the industry’s ability to provide pavements that are durable, sustainable, quiet, safe and economical. Industry sponsors fund research on the 1.7mile oval in 200-foot test sections. The real-world laboratory allows experimentation while avoiding the risk of failure on actual roadways. “There is a whole lot more to a blacktop road than I ever dreamt about,” Schnell says of his time at the test track. “By being at the track and seeing the results, it gives me confidence the soy-based asphalt is equal to or superior to other asphalt.” More than 4 million miles of paved roads in the U.S. require significant upkeep, opening the door to increased opportunities for high oleic soybean oil and soy-based asphalt for years to come. The initial, three-year test for the soy-based asphalt is expected to be finished this fall, according to Randy West, NCAT director. After the test, 10 million equivalent single axle loads (ESAL) will have passed over the asphalt test section. ESAL converts damage from wheel loads of various magnitudes and repetitions to damage from an equivalent number of “standard” or “equivalent” loads. “That is a way for us to normalize truck traffic to an 18,000-pound axle load,” West says.
Researchers at NCAT are monitoring the performance of the product, looking for things like rutting and cracking. “Over the 15 months, it has performed perfectly, and we don't expect there to be any changes between now and the conclusion of the 10 million ESAL cycle," West says. The average life span of asphalt depends on traffic use and the environment. Still, data suggests the national average for asphalt pavement is about 15 to 20 years, according to NCAT. “The key benefit of the soybean polymer is about rutting resistance and it has some benefit in cracking,” West says. According to NCAT officials, cracking happens over the lifespan of the asphalt. Further testing outside of the current three-year test will be needed to determine the longevity of the soy-based asphalt. “The way it is performing on the test track is a reassurance and a verification that the new soybased binder for asphalt is going to be successful in many ways,” Schnell says. “Not only with cost but in endurance and flexibility. There is no reason why it won’t be implemented, we just need to get the wheel rolling.” Hearing from NCAT researchers and watching the soy-based asphalt withstand the loads of trucks testing the durability of the product, he adds, he felt proud. “This makes me feel confident that the soy future is bright,” Schnell says, while standing on the soy asphalt test section at the track. “This is not going to be an overnight deal where we see increased profitability. It may not be in my farming career, but the longterm profitability of soybeans is in good hands with things like this.”
Test samples of asphalt are cataloged and categorized during the testing process.
Randy West, NCAT director
A sign on the section of the test track where soy asphalt is being tested.
Contact Joe Murphy at jmurphy@iasoybeans.com. IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 21
SOYFOOD FACTS
Source: United Soybean Board. Soy Connections.
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The Last Word Editor’s Notes by Ann Clinton aclinton@iasoybeans.com
Corona Chronicles
I
’ve edited the pages of this magazine from my kitchen table in southwest Iowa. Typically, my family and I only get to spend our weekends and vacation time in our little farmhouse. During the week, we live, attend school and work in the city. However, my heart has never left the land where I was raised, and as often as possible, I return to this place. During this time of quarantine, I’ve worked remotely from the farm. I’ve communicated closely with the magazine’s designer, photographer and contributors via video conferencing. We’ve sent files back and forth, utilizing incredibly efficient technology. We’ve figured out how to do the work, even if our methods are a little different from normal. However, it’s a little ironic, I think. These days, I’m on the farm, connected remotely to the city. Usually, I’m in the city, connected remotely to the farm … to you. Massive worry about a worldwide pandemic aside, the change of venue has been good for me. For the first time in a very long time, I’ve been able to watch as area farmers prepare
for the planting season. There’s no sign of any work slowing down out in the fields. The term “essential workers” is really a no-brainer as it applies to farmers. Of course, you are going to do what needs to get done. As I continue to monitor the current and potential impacts of COVID-19 on the agricultural economy, I’m reminded of the true resilience of a farmer’s spirit. Despite all of the challenges; the 2020 crop will get in the ground. My dad called this morning, ribbing me about how he was going to join “millions of other Americans as they work-at-home today.” Then, as I stood in the window, I watched him drive north, pulling on anhydrous tank up the road. He honks as he drives by, and it’s strangely comforting. In the evenings, we like to run the country square. Most times, we never see a vehicle but, every once in a while, a pickup will roll by, careful not to kick up too much dust. If you’re not familiar with this part of the state, the hills down here are no joke. I’m confident they make me a better runner when I’m back in the
city. But more importantly, I KNOW they make me a better writer. I think about you readers when I’m out there on those gravel roads – one foot in front of the other, mile after mile. I can’t pretend to relate to your worries or farming considerations, but more than anything, I want to seek to understand. Being out here makes me feel naturally curious and appreciative of agriculture, and everything you are doing during this time. As always, I not only appreciate your emails and feedback, but I’ve grown to rely on them for understanding. You make me think deeper about issues and how they relate to your farming operation. And you humble me when I have to admit I’m a complete idiot as it relates to … well … a lot of things. That’s good. The moment I get comfortable with my position is when I know I need to push harder to serve you better. As your planters start rolling through the fields, I’ll be thinking about you and your families. May we be surprised by an uneventful growing season. Stay well, my friends.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 23
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