Month in Iowa
August 2022Soybean
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Executive Committee
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 3 August 2022 | Vol. 34, No. 10 On the Cover: A soybean field in central Iowa in all its glory. This month we celebrate Soybean Month in Iowa and all the industry contributes to the state, nation, and the world. 6 Meet the AgronomistsISALearn how the team can help you be more productive. 12 Soybean Month in Iowa Soy is a major contributor to the state’s economy. 18 WorldConservationTour Iowa’s 2022 Nuffield Scholar Ruth McCabe reflects on conservation abroad. 28 Tool for the Trade ISA interactive tool helps compare farming practices, products and technologies. Iowa Soybean Review is published monthly by: Iowa Soybean Association 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa 50023 (515) 251-8640 | iasoybeans.com E-mail: bbaratta@iasoybeans.com For advertising information in the Iowa Soybean Review, please contact Bethany Baratta at (515) 334-1020 or bbaratta@iasoybeans.com. President Robb Ewoldt, Davenport | D6 President Elect Randy Miller, Lacona | D8 Treasurer Dave Walton, Wilton | D6 Secretary Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg | D3 At-Large Director Jeff Frank, Auburn | D4 Board of Directors Brent Swart, Spencer | D1 Chuck White, Spencer | D1 April Hemmes, Hampton | D2 Casey Schlichting, Clear Lake | D2 Rick Juchems, Plainfield | D3 Marty Danzer, Carroll | D4 Tom Vincent, Perry | D5 Morey Hill, Madrid | D5 Scot Bailey, Anita | D7 Lee Brooke, Clarinda | 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 Tim Bardole, Rippey | At Large American Soybean Association Board of Directors Morey Hill, Madrid Wayne Fredericks, Osage Brian Kemp, Sibley Jeff Jorgenson, Sidney Steph Essick, Dickens Dave Walton, Wilton United Soybean Board of Directors Lindsay Greiner, Keota Tim Bardole, Rippey April Hemmes, Hampton Staff Credits
Editor | Bethany Baratta Sr. Dir., Information & Education | Aaron Putze, APR Creative Manager | Ashton Boles
Photographer | Joclyn Bushman Writer | Joseph Hopper Writer | Jeff Hutton Writer | Kriss Nelson Public Relations Manager | Brock Johnston 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.
Celebrating the Soybean ExecutiveFamilyInsights
Kirk Leeds, ISA Chief Executive Officer kleeds@iasoybeans.com
4 | AUGUST 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
W elcome to Soybean Month in Iowa! It’s August, and this edition of the Iowa Soybean Review celebrates the industry’s importance and ways the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is driven to deliver opportunities and results for the farmers we serve. One example is increased production and demand for biodiesel. Recently, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the ISAbacked Biofuels Access Bill.
We mourn Tom’s passing and offer our deepest condolences to his wife Susanne and the entire Oswald family. We honor his memory and all who have served ISA by never taking a moment, day or the soybean industry’s future success for Celebratinggranted.Soybean Month in Iowa is a timely opportunity to reflect on the success of ISA programs and activities and the results we’ve accomplished. But most importantly, it’s a reminder to appreciate the many friends and colleagues we meet along the way and who make the soybean family just that … a family.
The governor has been a strong advocate of agriculture and the soybean industry, and I am grateful for her leadership and again proclaiming August as Soybean Month in Iowa. The designation brings awareness and credibility to the industry. It reinforces the many ways soybean production benefits Iowans – from protein for humans and feed for livestock, poultry and fish to renewable energy and a multitude of new uses, including soy-based asphalt. The proclamation signing is also a salute to the team of dedicated professionals who grow, transport, store, process and make soy-based oil and protein available to feed and fuel people here at home and abroad.Soy and its local and global relevance result from the visionary farmer leaders who’ve guided ISA. Decades of investments in research, new uses and infrastructure development (including the Port of Grays Harbor in the Pacific Northwest and improvements to our nation’s locks and dams) have stimulated production and demand. The combination boosts soybean prices, income potential for soybean farmers and quality of life for our customers.TomOswald was one of those dedicated champions who played a leading role in advancing the soybean industry’s influence and success. Earlier this summer, the long-time Iowa and national soybean leader passed away unexpectedly while doing what he loved most – farming. Tom’s death jolted our soybean family, much like the recent loss of two other prominent soy leaders and past ISA presidents: Dean Coleman and Bill Shipley. Our industry flourishes because of the products derived from soybeans. But foundational to our success are the thoughtful, dedicated and forever curious volunteer farmer leaders who invest untold hours to be stewards of the soybean checkoff and ambassadors for their fellow producers.
your soybeancooperativeprocessor www.agp.com brandt.ca 1-866-427-2638 The new Brandt DXT dual-auger grain cart delivers the capacity and speed to meet the demands of your fast-paced harvest season. HARVEST HAULER. LEAD THE FIELD. More Efficient The high-slope tank and high-capacity auger deliver unload speeds of 1,000 bushels per minute. More Versatile Choose from five model sizes, 22" or 24" auger, and right or left side unload to fit your operation. More Reliable High-quality components and low maintenance requirements ensure maximum uptime.
Anthony Martin, Alex Schaffer, Scott Nelson and Drew Clemmensen provide expertise to Iowa farmers.
“Our team of agronomists is key to helping answer farmers’ questions,” says Joe McClure, ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) co-director of on-farm research. “As agriculture continues to evolve and new cropping practices come into play, there are questions to answer, and our agronomists are on point to figure out those answers to make change successful.”ISAagronomists, McClure says, have a unique offering to Iowa’s soybean“Havingfarmers.ouragronomists coordinate with our farmer-members is critical because it comes from the point in the industry where we have the perfect position of unbiased information. We don’t have a product line; we have one thing in mind: the farmer,” he says. ISA’s agronomists bring a diverse collection of experiences ranging from various ISA tenures, and all have had industry and public sector experience. “Their experience comes together well as a team, and it’s experience our farmers may not have,” says McClure. “Working on trials, they can do the leg work, guide the farmer through the trials and help translate the data to bring real results.”
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BY KRISS NELSON
Meet the ISA Team of Agronomists
Driven to deliver unbiased agronomic advice and research results to Iowa’s soybean farmers U tilizing critical thinking, experience and science-based results, the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) field services program managers provide agronomic advice and conduct on-farm trials to help bring research and results to improve soybean yields, profitability and sustainability.
Each field service program manager is assigned to a region, and they collaborate to assist farmers throughout the “Whilestate. I might be the face for our in-field programming in southeast Iowa, I can pull resources and knowledge from the other regions or other RCFI staff,” says Anthony Martin, ISA senior field services program manager.McClure is excited to help the agronomy team expand. “We will be taking a more holistic approach to our trials, looking at the entire cropping system,” he says. “I want to see more of an impact in soybean fields. We are doing a great job in many areas, but we also need a greater focus on soybean agronomy.”
Anthony Martin, senior field services program Background:319-461-0759.amartin@iasoybeans.com,manager, I grew up on a farm near Crawfordsville in southeast Iowa. I graduated from ISU in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Ag Business and have worked for ISA for 10 years.
“Our team of agronomists is key to helping answer farmers’ questions. As agriculture continues to evolve and new cropping practices come into play, there are questions to answer, and our agronomists are on point to figure out those answers to make change successful.”
MartinAnthony
What region and counties of Iowa do you cover? Southeast Iowa, east of I-35 and south of Highway 30. What do you offer to Iowa soybean farmers? I enjoy working with farmers, relationshipsestablishingandseeing how our work can impact their operation or be used for the next generation of farmers to make decisions. I have 10 years of experience in the role, managing in-field projects and working with farmers to establish plots and trials that will be beneficial. Imagery work utilizing drone and additional reporting/ analyses for work farmers are doing outside our defined projects. Within your region, what are some of the best practicesmanagementortrials? Relay cropping, long-term cover crops, manure and cover crops, methods for establishing a cover crop, nitrogen rate, soybean population, droneapplied fungicide, tillage and biologicals. Other work includes soybean emergence testing, scouting and corn rootworm counts.
— Joe McClure, ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) co-director of on-farm research
What region and counties of Iowa do you cover? Northwest Iowa What do you offer to Iowa soybean farmers? One of my passions is working with farmers to help them achieve their profitability and stewardship goals. I have extensive experience and knowledge of soybean and corn production and soil healthpromoting systems. Also, I am very excited by the promise of data mining and turning the information into insights.
Within your region, what are some of the best management practices or trials? Measuring the fate of manure nitrogen from application throughout the growing season to better understand the nutrient cycling dynamics in crop production and creating a decision tool for farmers. Also, I am helping collect farmer soybean production data to develop a website where farmers can click on their local geography and see a table showing which soybean management practices have led to greater profitability based on production data from hundreds of fields in their area.
Scott Nelson, senior field services program
Background:515-729-8207snelson@iasoybeans.com,manager,
I grew up in cotton and lettuce country in southern Arizona. I was fascinated with crop production and studied agronomy and plant genetics at the University of Arizona. I moved to the Midwest and earned a Master of Science in Crop Production and Physiology from Iowa State University. I have spent 25 years in Iowa working in crop research and crop consulting with Pioneer and, most recently, six years at ISA.
NelsonScott
What do you offer to Iowa soybean farmers? I work with farmers to bring valuable and relevant research to their farming operations. This is done by implementing replicated strip trials to evaluate products and practices on farms. Under the farmer’s management systems, I help them better understand how to stay profitable while maintaining or improving the conservation footprint across their farming operation. Within your region, what are some of the best practicesmanagementortrials?
Alex Schaffer, field services program manager, aschaffer@ iasoybeans.com, 815-274-2998.
Background:515-339-4262.iasoybeans.com,dclemmensen@
I grew up in Urbandale, and my love of farming and agriculture came from spending time with my grandparents, who farmed north of Audubon. I graduated from Iowa State University with an Ag Studies degree in 1998. I primarily worked in ag retail in central Iowa before joining ISA in 2018.
Background: I grew up in northeast central Illinois in a small farming community. My dad has been the manager of an ag retail location for nearly 40 years, and most of my uncles are farmers, hence the affinity for agriculture. After high school, I attended the University of Illinois, majoring in crop sciences. I worked near Indianapolis for a private seed company doing small plot research. In 2018, my family and I relocated to Iowa, where I continued working in small plot seed research and just recently transitioned to ISA in May 2022. What region and counties of Iowa do you cover? Northeast Iowa, north of Highway 30 and east of I-35.
Drew Clemmensen, field services program manager,
SchafferAlex
Within your region, what are some of the best practicesmanagementortrials?
What region and counties of Iowa do you cover? Southwest Iowa, Highway 30 south and west of I-35.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 9
ClemmensenDrew
Relay cropping trials, longterm cover cropping trials, manure and cover cropping systems, fertility management trials, biologicals and other fertility-enhancing additives.
Early nitrogen applications on cover crops in corn, longterm cover crops and biological products applied both in-furrow and foliar.
What do you offer to Iowa soybean farmers? I am new to ISA, bringing 14 years of small plot research in the private seed industry. With this experience, I learned how to conduct research to produce meaningful results. Also, in my time in agriculture, I have realized how much I enjoy working with farmers and value relationships. My goal at ISA is to couple these two things: working with farmers to do research on their farms and producing meaningful results, which can add value to their operation.
(Photo: Kriss Nelson)
BY KRISS NELSON Two in One Relay crop trial update
Russ Olson studies the rye in his relay crop trial on his farm near Northwood.
“The hybrid is looking impressive. I am curious to see how it yields. It is much more uniform.”
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Olson uses 10-inch, twin-row spacing to drill his cereal rye on 30-inch centers and plants soybeans into the 20-inch gap in the spring. Olson planted soybeans on May 7 into standing cereal rye that was planted last fall, later than he preferred. Although soybean emergence was slow, most likely due to cool soil temperatures, there have been timely rains, and the crops have developed a good stand. “We prefer to plant soybeans earlyto mid-April to give them a chance to grow ahead of the rye,” says Olson. “However, we may have stumbled onto something we might do in the future.”
— Russ Olson, ISA farmer-member Soybeans grow between the rows of cereal rye in an ISA relay cropping trial.
(Photo: Kriss Nelson)
The next article in this series will include harvest and trial results.
Editor’s note: This is the second story in a series following this relay cropping trial.
As the growing season progressed, Olson noticed it might be a blessing in disguise that his soybeans were planted later to avoid competition with the cereal rye by giving it a longer opportunity to get established this spring. “This is far from perfected science,” he says. Olson planted both open-pollinated cereal rye and hybrid cereal rye. “The hybrid is looking impressive,” he says. “I am curious to see how it yields. It is much more uniform.”
Alex Schaffer, ISA field services program manager, says Olson’s hybrid cereal rye crop is some of the best he has seen in the relay crop trial this year. The open-pollinated cereal rye is growing nicely, and he is excited to see the yield results. “It will be interesting from the comparison standpoint whether or not the soybeans respond differently under a high-yielding hybrid rye versus a lower-yielding, more common openpollinated rye,” he says.
Contact Kriss Nelson knelson@iasoybeans.com.at W ith the assistance of Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development and the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), Russ Olson is learning about rye as a relay crop through a replicated strip trial. Relay cropping involves seeding soybeans early in the growing season while the cereal rye is still in the vegetative growth stages. The soybeans grow with the rye, and when the rye reaches maturity, it is harvested above the canopy of soybeans. The soybeans then proceed to maturitygenerating two-grain crops. The replicated strip trials aim to learn enough about relay crop planting to lay the groundwork for easy widespread adoption for Iowa farmers.
• Promoting the many products and uses derived from soybeans through special programs and partnerships, including a soy-based asphalt project at the Central Iowa Expo Grounds in Boone;
Iowa is a national leader in soybean production due to the state’s dedicated agriculture providers. To boost productivity and ensure the quality of Iowa’s natural resources for future generations, Iowa soybean farmers continue to scale conservation practices to improve water quality and soil health. ISA has played a critical role in the progress toward Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy, working directly with farmers, partner organizations, municipalities and government agencies to increase acres utilizing in- and edge-of-field practices. These include cover crop adoption, prescriptive planting, controlled drainage, saturated buffers, bioreactors and management of manure, tillage and pests.
To mark the occasion, ISA is celebrating Soybean Month in Iowa by:
• Increasing awareness for on-farm practices yielding water quality and soil health improvements. To learn more, visit iasoybeans.com. Contact Brock Johnston bjohnston@iasoybeans.com.at
BY BROCK JOHNSTON
Soybean Month Celebrates the Crop’s Impact, Versatility Proclamation recognizes industry’s contributions to Iowa B olstered demand and a growing portfolio of uses prove homegrown soybeans are an economic, social and environmental driver for Iowa. The benefits of the powerhouse protein were reinforced through a proclamation signed this month by Governor Kim Reynolds. In August, Soybean Month in Iowa brings attention to the oilseed responsible for feeding and fueling the world. From clean-burning biodiesel and feed for livestock, poultry and dairy to candle wax, tofu and other industrial and food products, uses derived from soybeans are nearly “Soybeanendless.production and consumption, both in Iowa and across the country, are growing at a positive pace,” says Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) President Robb Ewoldt, who farms near Davenport. “Despite the ongoing challenges facing farmers, we’ve only scratched the surface of the crop’s potential as ISA and other organizations continue to research and expand usage opportunities for soybeans.” Despite ongoing challenges, Iowa farmers continue to play a critical role in soybean production success. The state’s 40,000 soybean farmers harvested a record 622 million bushels of soybeans in 2021 – roughly 14% of the nation’s total output.From tofu and soymilk, soy burgers and more, the variety of soy-based products offered in grocery retailers have also experienced massive growth. As consumer values trend toward health-minded, environmentally conscious foods, soy satisfies both needs and contains all essential amino acids required for a healthy diet. A recent United Nations report on global food security found up to 828 million people faced food insecurity in 2021. Due to soybean’s nutrient composition and adoption of sustainable farm management practices by Iowa soybean farmers, the crop is well positioned to help address the protein needs of a growing“Whetherpopulation.animal- or plant-based consumption, protein is an essential part of global nutrition,” says Ewoldt. “It’s rewarding to be part of an industry that provides a powerful source of nutrition to feed the world and boost economic growth.”
• Meeting with soybean farmers at district meetings throughout Iowa;
• Renewing ISA’s sponsorships of the Iowa State Fair trams and biodiesel-powered team buses for the University of Iowa and Iowa State University; and
• Celebrating significant events and sharing soybean research results across ISA social platforms;
12 | AUGUST 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
Moving Soy Forward. Moving You Forward. All soybean farmers, including you, created biodiesel, which supports 13% of the price per bushel of soybeans. How? By pooling your resources through your soy checkoff. Learn how your soy checkoff is bringing tangible returns back to you and your operation at iasoybeans.com Who went from 0 to 13% fast? YOU did. ©2022 United Soybean Board [61978 7/22] ( YOU )
The visionary pedigree of ISA is fostered by a thoughtful and passionate CEO and mutual trust between the association’s dedicated 22-farmer board of directors and staff. ISA relishes partnerships and doing what needs to be done regardless of who gets the credit. We’re also not hesitant to forge innovative partnerships and business models while leading disruption from within. Significant resources derived by soybean checkoff and non-checkoff sources combined with collaborations with multiple state and national soybean organizations allow for creating and implementing innovative programs and projects, generating opportunities and delivering results for soybean farmers in Iowa and throughout the country.”
Aaron Putze, APR, senior director of Information & Education I became involved with the ISA through the Iowa Food & Family Project. I really enjoyed the opportunity to visit with consumers about what we are doing on our farm to keep their food safe and affordable. My interest grew as I participated in the ISA Experience Class. I was amazed to find out all ISA was doing on farms with research and that we had a water lab in the basement. It shows me how much ISA cares about farmers and the environment. It is obvious that ISA is driven to deliver profitability to farmers by helping increase yields and finding new uses and markets for Patsoybeans.”Swanson, Ottumwa, District 9 director
Setting the Standard
BY JEFF HUTTON
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ISA officials and directors detail the ISA difference in their own words We asked ISA senior team leaders and two board directors this question: How does the Iowa Soybean Association assist and maintain Iowa’s status as one of the premier soybean leaders in the nation and around the world? ISA embraces innovation and constantly scans the horizon for new and emerging challenges and opportunities. To maintain its relevance for Iowa’s farmers, ISA needs to make sure that we are constantly evolving to ensure that we are in the best possible position to help our farmers remain best in class. Fortunately, our farmer directors accept this challenge and Kirkresponsibility.”Leeds,CEO
Grant Kimberley, senior director of market development
While the food and agriculture systems are increasingly complex, ISA keeps it simple. There’s widespread recognition throughout the organization that we’re only as good and relevant as the sum of our parts and those we serve –Iowa’s soybean farmers.
ISA has long been a leader in the soybean industry. The vision of past and present leaders, both from the board and staff, have led to new research, new relationships, new uses and more demand for soybeans. ISA continues to lead in an evolving marketplace with surging soybean oil demand with renewable fuels and a growing carbon market with the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund. As we work with policymakers and commodity leaders from around the country and globally, ISA is highly regarded as a trailblazer for new ideas, innovative projects and DistrictBrentpartnerships.”strategicSwart,Spencer,1director
The function of ISA is to provide research, market development, communication and policy work. All these touch farmers’ lives, directly and indirectly. We’re helping farmers when it comes to growing soybeans efficiently, affordably and sustainably. We help increase production by providing research and the marketing that goes with it. We work to grow new markets, both international and domestic. We advocate on behalf of farmers at the policy level, both in Des Moines and Washington, D.C. We are active in developing partnerships up and down the value chain, including our sister organizations in other states, national organizations, as well as the crushers, exporters, biodiesel producers and livestock producers.”
ISA is recognized as a leader among agriculture organizations in wisely applying farmer checkoff dollars for the greatest return on investment in research, promotion, education and market development. Iowa soybean farmers can be sure their checkoff dollars are being leveraged with matching non-checkoff support to innovate production that is increasingly abundant, of the highest quality and done under ever-improving conservation practices for sustaining farmer and industry economics, soil and environmental health, and water quality. Iowa’s economy flourishes and all Iowans benefit as farmers continue to engage with ISA, adopt continuously improving cropping systems products, practices and infrastructure, and as existing and new market demands are met. Ed Anderson, Ph.D., senior director of research
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 15
Michael Dolch, director of public affairs
ISA is known for maintaining a farmer-focused approach, embracing inevitable change, and collaborating on innovative and sometimes uncomfortable solutions, which address the challenges facing American agriculture. To remain relevant in the quest for long-term farmer competitiveness and profitability, ISA must continue to steward farmer investment wisely, take prudent risks, remain agile and responsive, and most importantly, stay true to who we represent.”
By the numbers: Soy in Iowa BY JOSEPH HOPPER Producing More Than Ever Before I owa’s 40,000 soybean farmers smashed through the previous record for soybean production in the state last year, tallying up 621,860,000 bushels of soybeans when 2021 was complete. Looking at what’s in the ground for 2022, Iowa farmers planted an estimated 10.3 million acres of soybeans, up 200,000 acres from last year. Iowa continues to be No. 2 in the nation for soybean production and soybean export value. It ranks only behind Illinois, with whom it often trades places within a decade. Iowa is a close third for highest soybean yield in 2021 at 62/bpa, behind Nebraska at 63/bushels per acre (bpa) and Illinois at 64/bpa. These big numbers make a big difference in the real world. Iowa’s record-breaking 2021 soybean crop had a value of $8.08 billion. It’s not just dollars and cents; there’s industry too. According to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), in addition to the more than 40,000 soybean farms, there are 1,147 soybean processing jobs and 425 biodiesel jobs within the “Soybeansstate. and soybeanrelated industries contribute approximately 7% to Iowa’s GDP,” says Debi Durham, executive director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “From biofuels to animal feed, soybeans are integral to Iowa’s agriculture and manufacturing industries and ultimately the state’s overall economic prosperity.” Contact Joseph Hopper at jhopper@iasoybeans.com. IowaProductionSoybean(inbushels) 2021: 621,860,000 2020 : 505,980,000 2019: 501,600,000 2018: 550,480,000 2017: 566,580,000 2016: 566,400,000 2015: 553,700,000 2014: 498,270,000 2013: 420,875,000 2012: 418,950,000 2011: 475,345,000
YOU WE’LLworkthe work the CSIF IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FUNDED BY THE IOWA BEEF INDUSTRY COUNCIL, IOWA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION, IOWA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION, IOWA FARM BUREAU, IOWA PORK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION, IOWA POULTRY ASSOCIATION, IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION, IOWA TURKEY FEDERATION + MIDWEST DAIRY. SUPPORTFARMERS.com800.932.2436 YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW ALL THE RULES, YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW US. YOUR FARM. YOUR FAMILY. OUR FOCUS.
Dream Come True McCabe’s scholarship is geared toward exploring and understanding the drivers and support systems behind McCabe will continue her journey as Iowa’s 2022 Nuffield Scholar to Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia.
Ruth McCabe is Iowa’s 2022 Nuffield Scholar W hat makes a bright future? Brilliant ideas. It’s the core concept behind the Nuffield Farming Scholarships.TheNuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), has continued to mint Nuffield Scholars since 1947. Scholars are future leaders of the agriculture, horticulture and rural industries who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world to research a specific topic to augment their brilliant ideas.
BY JOSEPH HOPPER
Conserv ation World Tour
Ruth McCabe is Heartland Co-op’s lead conservation agronomist, a position originally made possible by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant managed by ISA. She's also Iowa’s newest Nuffield Scholar. A native of Los Angeles, McCabe served in the U.S. Marine Corps before earning a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in crop physiology from Iowa StateAsUniversity.aseniorconservation agronomist, McCabe says her current job melds her passion for conservation and agronomy into one. After learning about the Nuffield Scholarship program from a Twitter post, McCabe credits an enthusiastic response from her leadership team for taking the scholarship journey full-speed ahead.
New Beginnings Being a Nuffield Scholar is full of new“Becausebeginnings.ofmy job in Iowa, our partnership with ISA as a conservation agronomist and what I do to inform policymakers, I’m excited about the themes I’m seeing and what I’m learning about conservation adoption,” McCabe says. “When I publish my report next summer, I want to get it in front of as many people as possible in Iowa. I’m seeing there are some things we could do differently, which could really increase conservation adoption. I’m going to be banging the drums next summer.”
McCabe is already deeply entrenched in her journey as Iowa’s 2022 Nuffield Scholar, attending the Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference in the U.K. and traveling to the East Coast and Canada. It’s just the She’sstart.
visited with grain producers and poultry farmers in the Delmarva Peninsula (Delaware, Maryland and Virginia), and visited with people who work in ag, government, and the state department of ag and natural resources, learning about various conservation programs.“Iasked the farmers that I met in the Chesapeake Bay how they are supported in conservation farming,” McCabe says. “I am very envious of their cost share and technical assistance programs. What they’re doing for conservation is impressive; it’s probably 70-100% no-till and cover crops. It’s wild.”
Worldwide Agronomist McCabe isn’t waiting to test her new knowledge; she’s still wearing her conservation agronomist hat on the journey.“My job didn’t stop because I was traveling,” McCabe says, laughing. “I’ve had people say, ‘How was your vacation?’ Don’t call it a vacation; I probably need a vacation from my ‘vacation’ because I was working two jobs for a moment there, and I still am.” Despite the fast pace, McCabe says she’s excited as she lives out a life dream and learns about conservation all over the world. The conclusion of her travels won’t be the end, however. “Once you’re accepted as a scholar, it’s really a lifelong thing because you are involved in the community going forward forever,” she says. “I have three scholars who want to visit with me over the summer and winter because they have certain topics to research. Many scholars ask Nuffield alumni, ‘can I crash at your place?’ The answer is almost always yes. Farmers want to help, too. You’ll never lack people to feed you and give you a place to sleep.”
Canadian Roadtrip
Contact Joseph Hopper at jhopper@iasoybeans.com.
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McCabe says learning about various conservation programs and systems worldwide better informs her position within Heartland Co-op.
The conservation agronomist’s journey into Canada came as an extensive road trip across the Canadian prairie provinces. Landing in Winnipeg, she traveled through Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta to meet with ag retailers, farmers and research farms before flying home from Calgary.
“It’s been a dream of mine to go to other countries and study agriculture,” she says. “I think anyone working in ag would say the same. I want to learn about conservation farming in other countries that grow grain to inform our conservation program at Heartland. There are other countries that make as much grain as the U.S. and use a lot of conservation practices.”
Once back in Iowa, McCabe led tours for her Australian and Irish Nuffield Scholar peers, visiting with Iowa farmers, examining saturated buffers and bioreactors, and meeting with ISA representatives. The next destinations for McCabe include Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia.
conservation practice adoption in other major grain-producing countries.
Once the report is completed, McCabe plans to make it widely available.“Iwant everyone to read it,” she says. “This research is something every Iowan should be able to access.”
20 | AUGUST 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM by Joclyn Bushman soy SNAPS Left: A piglet snorting around on fresh bedding. Below: July soybean progress in central Iowa. An agronomist checks on a nearby soybean field and a soybean leaf eaten by insects.
Below: A road roller glides across a newly sprayed road in Farm Progress grounds in Boone. The 2022 Farm Progress Show highlights soy-based asphalt, thanks to checkoff investment in soybean research by Iowa’s soybean growers. Gary Schutte rewards his dog pushing cattle out in the pasture near Castalia. Lonely pair of boots sits with a cattle comb at the Winneshiek County Fair.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 21
Left: A friendly lab meets farm visitors right out of their cars.
T oday’s consumers are more aware than ever of how food travels through the supply chain and the impact global and local disruptions can have on inventory and prices. Now two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers continue to adapt to the ever-changing food markets.“The majority of today’s consumers are two to three generations removed from farm life and may not have an understanding of why farmers do what they do,” says Brent Renner, Iowa Soybean Association at-large director and farmer near Klemme. “It’s important for farmers to understand consumers’ concerns, so they can improve farm practices and food production.”Through all these fluctuations, consumers still show positive views and perceptions of Iowa agriculture and farming practices. This is evident from the latest Iowa Food & Family Project (Iowa FFP) Consumer Pulse Survey.
Consumers Weigh in on Iowa AgricultureBYLYDIAZERBY
22 | AUGUST 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
The annual survey gauges Iowan’s grocery shopping habits and attitudes toward farmers and agriculture. Year-overyear findings not only give a pulse on perceptions but show how current events shape the behaviors or mindsets of Iowa groceryRennershoppers.adds,“Connecting consumers to local farmers is vital to building an understanding and appreciation of the roles both consumers and farmers play within the food system.”
Today’s consumers are savvier than ever and trust Iowa farmers to provide safe and healthy food.
ISA At-Large Director Brent Renner says connecting consumers and farmers is vital to building an appreciation of the roles consumers and farmers play within the food system.
Corinne Rowe explains rotational grazing during a Food U event.
More than 85% of shoppers in 2021 reported being familiar with Iowa FFP with 20% being “very familiar.”
The ag awareness initiative reaches more than 140,000 followers each month through its Fresh Pickings magazine, eNewsletter, website (www. iowafoodandfamily.com) and social media channels. Key Consumer Pulse Survey Insights
Overall, advocacy of Iowa FFP is strong, as 55% of respondents were very likely to speak positively about Iowa FFP, which has improved since 2020. Iowa FFP subscribers reported the strongest advocacy scores at 64% giving a score of 9 orWhen10. asked about the trustworthiness of Iowa FFP as a source of information, 85% of those familiar with the initiative rated it as “very” or “somewhat” trustworthy.IowaFFP invites Iowans to explore how food is grown around the state and meet the farmers who make it happen; 24/7, 365 days a year. The initiative works with a collaborative network of more than 35 food, farming and healthy living organizations who are proud of Iowa’s homegrown foods and hometown values.
Grocery Decision Making Criteria
• Approximately 84% of Iowa FFP subscribers and 78% of the general population feel that Iowa farmers are on the right track with providing safe foods to Iowa communities.
Lydia Zerby is ISA’s consumer insights and engagement manager. Contact her at lzerby@iasoybeans.com.
• Three-quarters of food-minded consumers give farmers an “excellent” or “good” rating for producing safe foods, contributing to the local economy and raising healthy animals with care.
In addition to the standard benchmarking questions, the survey included a series of open-ended questions related to concerns about food, go-to resources for trustworthy information on agriculture and the food industry, and factors that affect food purchasing. As Iowa FFP prepares to conduct the survey again in late 2022, it’s worthwhile to recap the most recent survey results. The Iowa FFP team is working with its partners to review previous benchmarking questions and identify new questions relevant to timely issues. The November 2021 survey of Iowa grocery shoppers had 698 responses and 43% were engaged with the Iowa FFP as monthly Fresh Pickings eNewsletter subscribers. Respondents’ age groups, income levels, education levels and geographic regions closely follow the state’sFlynnpopulation.Wright,an advertising agency in Des Moines, conducted the survey analysis from data collected through a business-to-consumer panel. A Resource for Consumers
• In terms of overall satisfaction with Iowa agriculture, 93% of shoppers connected with Iowa FFP are satisfied versus 85% of the general public, an 8% net difference.
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• Iowa FFP subscribers were more likely than non-subscribers to be “very satisfied” with Iowa agriculture, 43% versus 38%, respectively.
Perspectives on Iowa Farmer Performance
• When asked, “How likely are you to speak positively about the agriculture industry in Iowa,” approximately 53% of Iowa FFP subscribers and 41% of the general population reported being “very likely” (9-10 scores). Expedition Farm Country invites Iowans to meet farmers and learn firsthand how food is grown and raised across the state.
• “Excellent” and “good” ratings for farmer performance in protecting our air, soil and water has jumped from 50% to 75% over the past five years.
• Over half of respondents strongly agreed agriculture in Iowa is the best in the nation, in addition to trusting Iowa farmers to provide safe, quality food to distributors and communities they serve.
Front of package marketing is the least important criteria.
Views of Iowa Agriculture
• Food quality, price and nutritional value continue to carry the strongest level of importance for grocery decision making.
• 84% of those connected with Iowa FFP strongly or somewhat agree they think about how the food they eat is grown and raised.
BY KRISS NELSON Iowa City-based company manufactures fresh tofu J ake Gratzon and Matthew Mesaros, co-founders of Old Capitol Food Co., discovered a love for tofu. Bringing together that love for tofu and the urge to be entrepreneurial, Gratzon and Mesaros had the idea to start a food production company. They learned the process and art of making tofu. In 2014, the duo started Old Capitol Food Co. “I have always been a huge fan of tofu, and I knew how much better it was when it was fresh,” says Gratzon. “I wanted to bring that to my home state of Iowa.” He and Mesaros set out to find a way to make tofu in large quantities as large manufacturers did – but to do it better.“We are proud of how we make it,” says Gratzon. “We use the best ingredients possible, even though it is only three ingredients: water, soybeans and our coagulant. The fact we make and deliver it fresh is a much betterOldresult.”Capitol Food Co. uses a coagulant made from magnesium chloride, which makes the tofu taste sweeter and with a firmer texture. “We want to make sure we are producing best product we possibly can so chefs have a good experience with our tofu,” says Gratzon. Old Capitol Food Co.’s mission is: “We want to prepare the best food, using the best local ingredients.” With this mission, Gratzon says they strive to work with people also dedicated to producing fresh food with localSumaningredients.Hoque, owner/chef at HoQ, a farm-to-table restaurant in east Des Moines, purchases tofu from Old Capitol Foods Co. “It is some of the best I have had,” he says. “I have found you can make anything with it.” “We love working with places that are farm-to-table oriented like HoQ,” Gratzon says. “They approach their Jake Gratzon, co-founder of Old Capitol Food Company, holds some finished products inside their facility in Iowa City. (Photos by Joseph Hopper/Iowa Soybean Association)
Old Capitol Food Co.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 25 restaurant the same way we approach our production. We are dedicated to using local ingredients. That is the gold standard as far as I am concerned.”
Old Capitol Tofu can be found throughout Iowa in other restaurants and select Hy-Vee stores, Gateway Market and other grocery stores, as well as university and college dining halls, including Luther College, Grinnell College, Cornell College, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. Bringing tofu to the dinner plate Gratzon says they use 1,500 bushels per year of Iowa-grown soybeans purchased through their soybean broker, Stonebridge Limited, from Cedar Falls. “We want to use tofu-quality soybeans with a higher protein content,” he says, adding there is an extensive range of possibilities for consuming tofu, just as there is a wide range of options for meat. “You don’t have to cook it; it’s a prepared food in the way it is made,” he says. “You can eat it right out of the bag. Our tofu has a subtly sweet quality. It’s firm and will not fall apart.”Gratzon likes to cut his tofu into slabs or steaks and marinate them overnight. Marinades include barbecue sauce, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, olive oil and “Thinnerseasonings.sauces tend to marinate the tofu better, but any marinade will do,” he says. “You can take the marinated tofu, not cook it any further, slice it up and put it on a salad. Or you can cook Beyondit.”marinating, Gratzon says tofu can be cooked in beef or chicken stock by cutting the tofu into steaks or cubes and boiling it in the broth for 10 to 20“Youminutes.endup with a juicy tofu,” he says. “Tofu in beef stock gives it a nice beefy flavor. You still get a lot of benefits from having a highly digestible protein.”
To make it even easier to bring tofu to the dinner plate, Old Capitol Food Co. is working on a product called “What the Fu,” a premade, flavored tofu.Linda Funk, executive director of The Soyfoods Council, says she highly recommends trying tofu, and it is great having a tofu company like Old Capitol Food Co. in our state. “The tofu they make is of the highest quality,” she says. “It is wonderful soybeans can be grown for food and feed in Iowa.”
Contact Kriss Nelson knelson@iasoybeans.com.at
The Old Capitol Food Company sign proudly greets visitors inside the lobby.
Old Capitol Food Company staff carefully guide Iowa-grown soybeans to their ultimate destination as ready to eat, delicious tofu.
Anew state-of-the-art turkey teaching and research facility at Iowa State University (ISU) will provide hands-on learning in modern production practices and further strengthen the state’s turkey industry.Situated south of campus and officially welcoming turkeys this summer, the Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility will serve as a classroom for students to immerse themselves in turkey production while advancing the state’s turkey industry. The facility is the first-ever dedicated turkey teaching and research facility. It’s also the first of its kind at a land grant university in the U.S. Pioneer in Poultry Research
The facility honors the late Stanley L. Balloun, a former ISU animal science professor and an international expert, pioneering researcher and leader in the science of turkey feed. Balloun received his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees from ISU.He is attributed with growing the demand and use of soybean meal in poultry feed. “Dad’s work, and others in animal science, paved the real turning point in poultry nutrition,” says Jim Balloun, Stanley’s son. Jim and his wife Julie provided the lead gift for the facility. “Through extension research, Dad and his colleagues established more precise meal acid requirements for growth in broilers and turkeys. They also created protein requirements for turkeys and showed that heating soybeans in a particular way improved the effectiveness of soybeans as part of the poultry diet,” JimBeforesays. Balloun’s extensive research, fish and meat meal were the primary components in poultry feed.
BY BETHANY BARATTA Facility honors pioneer in feed, poultry research
Iowa turkey farmers grew 161,000 turkeys when the feed research started in 1952. Today, Iowa ranks seventh in the nation for turkey production, raising approximately 12 million turkeys annually. Iowa’s turkey industry supports more than 38,000 jobs and is responsible for more than $10 billion annually in the state’s economic activity.
“The reason this facility began was because turkey farmers wanted to understand how to care for their turkeys even better,” Irwin says. “Farmers really had no place to ask questions and get good answers. So, farmers came together and invested money into this facility.”
Research Boost
Today, more than 950 million bushels of soybeans are included in poultry feed in theForU.S.perspective, Iowa produced nearly 622 million bushels of soybeans in 2021, a 140% increase from Iowa soybean production in the 1950s. Farmer-led Project
Tanner Volkmann, a recent ISU graduate, serves as the manager of the new facility. Volkmann was raised on a turkey farm near Jewell.
The Iowa Turkey Federation, headquartered in Ames; West Liberty Foods, headquartered in West Liberty; and Tyson Foods, headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, also invested in the Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility. Though backed by several funders, farmers were the driving force behind the facility, explains Gretta Irwin, executive director of the Iowa Turkey Federation.
The grower-finisher feed kitchen contains scales that will weigh, record, and deliver feed to individual feeders in grower-finisher rooms.
Growing Opportunities
Tanner Volkmann, manager of the new facility, says the hands-on learning the facility provides will attract top-tier students.
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“Protecting the health, safety and stability of Iowa’s turkey industry is essential to our state’s economic prosperity,” says ISU President Wendy Wintersteen. “Iowa State University is proud to be on the front lines with leading poultry genetics, breeding, nutrition and management.” All efforts support Iowa’s turkey industry, Irwin says. “With the addition of this new facility, the research at Iowa State will really be all-encompassing, focusing on turkeys and what consumers want,” Irwin adds.
Jim Balloun reflects on the work his dad did to further the science of turkey feed, which included greater soy utilization.
The facility will provide opportunities to study everything from animal behavior to feed quality, building from Stanley Balloun’s pioneering research efforts in understanding turkey diets. “It tremendously enhances not only the turkey industry here in Iowa but the United States as well,” Irwin says. “It’s a win-win-win for growers, students and our consumers.”
Expanded feed studies and a living classroom to train the next generation of turkey growers are just two examples of how the facility will contribute to the state’s robust turkey industry. “Iowa State will continue to stay on the cutting edge of research and innovation with the help of this facility,” Volkmann says. “It will give many students an opportunity they may not have gotten elsewhere. It will prepare them with the knowledge, skills and interest in the industry to go out in the workplace and be successful.”Irwinsays having a facility dedicated to furthering the turkey industry’s research priorities will benefit future turkey farmers. “Many generations of turkey farmers will engage with students and apply the research from this facility,” Irwin says. “We look forward to a long and active relationship with the university, students and faculty.”
The Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility offers continuing education, outreach, peerto-peer opportunities for professionals in the industry and observation areas where visitors, including students, can see firsthand examples of turkey production systems and learn about turkey production.
“With this being the only turkey facility of its kind at a major university in the country, Iowa State will continue to attract top-tier students who are interested in agriculture,” Volkmann says. “I expect the possibilities with this new endeavor to be endless.”
The Iowa Turkey Federation represents more than 130 turkey farmers in Iowa. It was formed in 1948 to advocate for enhancing the turkey industry and its members.
Jim and Julie Balloun cut the ribbon on the Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility near Ames. (Photos: Bethany Baratta)
Whitney Baxter, ISU Communications, contributed to this story. Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.
ISU President Wendy Wintersteen says the facility adds to the depth and breadth of ISU’s poultry science efforts.
BY KRISS NELSON
Peter Kyveryga and Suzanne Fey, of ISA’s analytics team, say the tool
new
New tool compares farming practices, products and technologies
brings together years of on-farm trial data.
Economic Viewer of On-Farm Studies
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Peter Kyveryga, ISA’s senior research scientist of analytics, says the tool enables viewers to simultaneously compare different practices, products and technologies in soybean and corn management based on economic summaries of more than 50 onfarm strip trial studies conducted by ISA from 2006-21. ISA has published results from each successful field trial in individual reports and made all reports available in a searchable, online database. This database grows annually as the RCFI team conducts and analyzes more trials. “Results from an individual trial conducted in a single year can be more valuable if it’s aggregated with others and includes information about the practice’s overall performance under different weather conditions and soil types with varying topographies,” says Suzanne Fey, ISA analyst. EVOS uses data generated by the Interactive Summaries of OnFarm Trials (ISOFAST) tool, where trial locations, weather, statistical analyses and field scouting summaries are available for many of ISA’s on-farm studies.
Wayne Fredericks, ISA farmermember from Osage, recently turned to the EVOS tool to help compare fungicide products. During his research, he used six different fungicide products. “Fungicides are products I usually don’t buy ahead. If the season looks like I need one, I will use the tool to help me decide,” says Fredericks. “It breaks it down to which product throughout the study shows your most economical return. It might not be the highest yield return, but based on the costs, shows the highest dollars in return, which I think is very helpful.”
Finally, EVOS has a tab at the top of the application window called “Study Information,” where PDF study reports from ISOFAST for each selected study can be viewed and downloaded. These reports contain detailed information about the study, including a map of general trial locations, graphs of in-season weather conditions, and graphs of individual and experimental unit treatment yield differences within each trial. Contact Kriss Nelson knelson@iasoybeans.com.at
Simple step-by-step instructions are embedded in the tool’s user interface –select a crop, choose a study category and pick the studies to compare on the lefthand side of the interface. Product costs and market prices can be customized in the interface at the top of the app. Changes to price, cost or study selections can be made at any time, and new outcomes are instantly updated.Users can operate a “slider widget” in the tool to explore the effect of various grain market prices on profitability and swipe over the default product, practice or technology cost per acre estimate to enter actual costs.
S uppose you are looking for a quick yield and economic summary of how well products and practices performed based on the results of Iowa farmers’ tests in real-world conditions. In this case, you may want to check out Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) recently developed online tool: Economic Viewer of On-Farm StudiesEVOS,(EVOS).which can be found by visiting ISA’s website, shares study results and allows users to see if products will pay for themselves in user-defined economic conditions.
Using EVOS for Economic Analysis
The local co-op provides these actual costs to calculate the yield response required to pay for the treatment, the probability of it generating a profitable outcome and the estimated average profit in dollars per acre that might be expected using the selected parameters. There are nine study categories (e.g., fungicide, insecticide and field management) each for corn and soybean in EVOS from 31 soybean studies and 26 corn studies.“Ifa farmer wants to change the fungicide they have previously used on soybeans (to avoid the development of resistance to that product), they can select fungicides from the study list with a different mode of action. Then, they can compare the effectiveness as experienced by other farmers to determine which type of fungicide may provide the best yield response or economic outcome for them to try this year,” says Kyveryga. As soon as a study selection is made, a table appears below the upper interface to list the count of trials in the study, economic calculations derived from the actual trial results, and the cost and price values selected by the user. Economic data is presented in terms of probabilities of economic yield response.
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T he school supply list is out, and Halloween decorations are making their way to store shelves. Before we know it, summer will come to an end. I’m trying to soak up these last few weeks of the season. I recently took the day off work to bask in the sunshine with my son; he’ll start kindergarten soon. Breakfast picnics have become a favorite this summer, and this morning’s picnic at the park was glorious. We had a twohour play date, followed by a water gun fight at the library parking lot as part of the summer reading program. As we sat on our beach towel, the sun dried us off and melted our ice cream bars. Turning the calendar to August means that the emerald fields of soybeans will soon turn a golden beige, and another harvest will be upon us. But August also means it’s Soybean Month in Iowa, a time set aside to recognize the vital role soybeans – and farmers – play in our state. As the stats show, soybeans and soybean-related industries in the state contribute nearly 7% to the state’s GDP. Last year, soybean farmers in Iowa produced nearly 622 million bushels, valued at more than $8 billion.Thismonth provides an opportunity to reflect on the various ways soy contributes to our everyday lives, from soy-based asphalt to biodiesel and soyfoods to skincare. At the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), we don’t limit the celebration to one month; we celebrate soy – and the farmers who grow it –every day. And we connect farmers to the industry and each other through various programs and opportunities. If you market more than 250 bushels of soybeans annually, you are connectedautomaticallywithISA.(But just because you receive the Iowa Soybean Review doesn’t mean you’re a member!) We’d like to get to know you – and we invite you to get to know us. So, give me a call at 515-3341020. I’d love to learn more about your farm and talk to you about opportunities to further your relationship with ISA. While we’re on the phone, we can double-check your membership status. Enjoy this last full month of summer; I hope you get a day off from your job to soak up the sun. Happy Soybean Month!
Route 2 Editor’s Note by Bethany bbaratta@iasoybeans.comBaratta
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 31 Sweet
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