Iowa Soybean Review | March 2024

A Farmer's Approach to Conservation

Earn More For Your Acres!

Financial and Agronomic Support for New and Expanding Conservation Ag Practices

REDUCED TILLAGE | COVER CROPS | EXTENDED CROP ROTATIONS

Want to begin or expand a conservation practice on your operation to reduce erosion, improve soil health, and more? The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund® can help you earn more for your acres. And as a part of the Iowa Soybean Association, you can be sure that we put the interests of our farmers first.

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*Enrollment closes once we reach our acre goal for the year.

Riley Schnell, ISA member and participating SWOF Farmer

Executive

President

Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg | D3

President-Elect

Brent Swart, Spencer | D1

Secretary

Tom Adam, Harper | D9

Treasurer

Jeff Frank, Lake View | D4

At-Large Director

Brent Renner, Klemme | D2

Board of Directors

Paul Kassel, Spencer | D1

April Hemmes, Hampton | D2

Sam Showalter, Hampton | D2

Rick Juchems, Plainfield | D3

Marty Danzer, Carroll | D4

Corey Goodhue, Carlisle | D5

Dave Struthers, Collins | D5

Robb Ewoldt, Davenport | D6

Dave Walton, Wilton | D6

Scot Bailey, Anita | D7

Lee Brooke, Clarinda | D7

Warren Bachman, Osceola | D8

Randy Miller, Lacona | D8

Pat Swanson, Ottumwa | D9

Tim Bardole, Rippey | At-Large

Aimee Bissell, Bedford | At-Large

Sharon Chism, Huxley | At-Large

American Soybean Association

Board of Directors

Tom Adam, Harper

Steph Essick, Dickens

Morey Hill, Madrid

Randy Miller, Lacona

Pat Swanson, Ottumwa

Dave Walton, Wilton

United Soybean Board of Directors

Tim Bardole, Rippey

Robb Ewoldt, Davenport

April Hemmes, Hampton

Brent Renner, Klemme

Staff Credits

Bethany Baratta | Editor

Aaron Putze, APR | CO of Brand Mgmt and Engagement

Susan Langman | Creative Design Coordinator

Joclyn Bushman | Photographer

Jeff Hutton | Senior Writer

Kriss Nelson | Staff Writer

Joseph Hopper | Communications Specialist

Brock Johnston | Public Relations Manager

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 contact Bethany Baratta at (515) 334-1020 or bbaratta@iasoybeans.com

Comments and statewide news articles should be sent to the above address. Advertising space reservations must be made two months 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.

March

|

4 Executive Insights

Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) CEO Kirk Leeds sees dark clouds forming.

18 Environmental Leader

Improving soil health and enhancing water quality is a focus on Jim O’Connell’s farm.

24

Planting Primer

Four tips before you head to the fields to plant.

28

Growing Green

Farmer-led efforts are scaling the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund.

On the Cover:

Megan Holz, Iowa Soybean Association farmer member and general manager of Iowa Cover Crop, says cereal rye is a popular seed among her customers. In this issue, learn more about what other conservation efforts are in place on Iowa farms and what ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation research data shows regarding various practices.

Dark Clouds Forming

I’m generally an optimist when it comes to the future of the soybean industry in Iowa and in the United States. But several trends are testing my positive nature.

Global demand for protein continues to increase as incomes rise. When they are able, increasing numbers of consumers around the world want to eat more red meat, poultry and fish. Soy remains the preferred protein source in commercial feed for all three, so demand for soybean meal will continue to grow. Domestic (and global) demand for soybean oil as a feedstock for biodiesel, renewable diesel and potentially sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) also has the potential to dramatically increase the demand for vegetable oil on the oil side of the soybean complex.

With increased demand for both soybean meal and soybean oil, why would you not be optimistic about the future?

Amid this good news, I see potential dark clouds on the horizon. They include:

• Demand for biofuels partially exists because of government incentives and programs. When your future is determined by the government in the good times, it will also be impacted when government policies change and incentives are reduced. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision this past year to cap the Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) by design or default put a cap on the demand for biomass fuels for the next couple of years. Most biodiesel plants in Iowa are losing money or are barely covering their operating costs.

Executive Insights

Kirk Leeds, ISA Chief Executive Officer

kleeds@iasoybeans.com

• In a normal year, U.S. soybean crush capacity increases around 2-3% as plants upgrade or expand. Due to expectations for huge demand growth in soybean oil use in biofuels, anticipated growth is closer to 25% over the next two to three years. What happens when the expansion crush capacity expands faster than demand? Soybean crush margins fall, and farmers face lower soybean prices.

• The world is a mess, with wars in the Ukraine and Gaza. Trade routes through the Red Sea are being threatened by terrorists. The relationship between China and the United States has not been this strained since China opened to the West in the 1980s. The future of Taiwan as an independent country is in question if China uses force to unite the island with the mainland. Will the U.S. live up to its commitments to support Taiwan, and if so, will we see armed conflict between the U.S. and China? All these challenges and more increase the instability in the global marketplace. The U.S. exports more than 50% of the annual soybean crop, so global chaos is never a good thing.

• While we will see increased crush capacity in the U.S. with the resulting increase in soymeal production, the Chinese government has decreed its feed industry should reduce inclusion rates of soybean meal in feed rations from 14.5% to 12% to trim its dependence on imported soybeans. Recall that China is the top market for soybeans in the world.

• In late January, I accompanied several ISA farmer directors on a visit to the “new” soybean growth regions of NE Brazil. The increased competition from Brazilian farmers will not slow down anytime soon.

• While inflationary pressures have slowed to something less than 5%, the 30-plus percent increase we saw over the last few years are not being reversed. We are “only” expected to add 5% on top of the previous increases. The result is that increased input costs for farmers are not going away anytime soon so profit margins are going to remain small to non-existent.

• All these clouds get darker due to the opposition by leaders in both political parties (and many Americans) to pursue any meaningful efforts to reduce trade barriers or secure new trade agreements. Without opportunities to gain access to customers around the world, we’ll see additional negative pressure on soybean prices.

What do these clouds mean for ISA and the farmers we serve? They remind us that there’s always more work to do to increase demand, lower costs of production, improve environmental performance, fight for great access to global markets and to advocate for government policies and programs that give our farmers a better chance to be successful.

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A Decade of Progress

Ten years after its founding, the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance reflects on partnerships and change.

BY JEFF HUTTON

Working together, finding common ground and making significant improvements to Iowa’s waterways is at the heart of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA).

In 2024, the organization is celebrating its 10th birthday. For a decade, the organization has made significant strides in its mission to increase the pace and scale of farmer-led efforts to improve water quality in Iowa.

A plethora of partners

IAWA Executive Director Sean McMahon says the past 10 years have proven successful because of IAWA’s ability to bring multiple stakeholders together — all of whom are committed to improving water quality.

“It’s really been all about partnerships,” says McMahon. The Iowa Soybean

Association (ISA), Iowa Corn and the Iowa Pork Producers Association formed IAWA.

The impetus for creating IAWA was the release of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS), which was implemented a year earlier. The strategy is a science- and technology-based approach to assess and reduce nutrients delivered to Iowa waterways and the Gulf of Mexico. It outlines opportunities for reducing nutrients in surface water from both point sources, such as municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities, and nonpoint sources, including agricultural operations and urban areas, in a scientific, reasonable and cost-effective manner.

The original stakeholders wanted to bring others to the table, generate

financial and technical assistance for Iowa farmers and find untapped resources and innovation to improve water quality.

Since then, IAWA has expanded its partnerships to include more than 100 organizations, all aligned around implementing the INRS, McMahon says.

“We’re building bridges between and among the public and private sectors, agriculture and conservation organizations, urban and rural partners, upstream and downstream communities and additional stakeholders from multiple sectors,” he adds.

Working together

Over the past decade, IAWA’s partnerships have connected farmers and landowners with education and costshare opportunities that have ultimately

NRCS Regional Conservationist Jon Hubbert and IAWA Executive Director Sean McMahon stands in front of a restored wetland in Hardin County.

helped reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loading into the state’s waterways.

“At the beginning, the founding members recognized we’re going to need different partners,” McMahon says.

“That led to the creation of the IAWA Advisory Council and IAWA Business Council, which are leveraged to convene stakeholders and project partners to strategize regarding overcoming barriers to scaling up conservation practices and how to best implement those solutions

in public-private partnership to improve Iowa’s water quality.”

IAWA’s Advisory Council is comprised of the leads of the relevant state and federal agencies working on improving water quality like the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), the U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa Economic Development Administration, municipalities like the Cities of Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, the Iowa League of Cities, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, every major agricultural commodity group in Iowa, along with the Farm Bureau, Conservation Districts of Iowa, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa State University and more.

There’s also been the support of the IAWA Business Council, which includes agribusinesses and other entities that have a stake in improving water quality including fertilizer companies, farm

equipment, seed companies, engineering firms, soil health advisors, independent consulting firms and the ag retail and renewable energy sectors.

At least twice a year, IAWA convenes both councils jointly to participate in discussions and efforts surrounding water quality.

“It’s really a great forum that brings together leaders across different sectors to align them around implementing the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy,” McMahon says.

One specific project IAWA co-leads is the Midwest Ag Water Quality Partnership, a $100 million project that has already improved conservation on more than 4 million acres of land. It’s focused on five priority watersheds: the North Raccoon, the Upper and Middle Cedar Rivers, South Skunk and Lake Red Rock.

“It’s been phenomenally successful at not only improving water quality, but also improving soil health and wildlife habitat,” McMahon says. “It also reduces nitrogen and phosphorus losses in Iowa

Continued on Pg. 10

The IAWA team facilitates events to inform farmers and the general public about the importance of on-farm water quality practices.

Sean McMahon, IAWA executive director

by 7 million pounds of nitrogen 250,000 pounds of phosphorus, annually.

The project is part of a farm bill program called the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which provides money and assistance to farmers to implement conservation.

Another RCCP project is the Iowa Systems Approach to Conservation Drainage (ISACD) which improves both farm profitability and sustainability on some of the most intensively drained farmland in Iowa. This project is also co-led by IAWA and IDALS.

The ISACD uses in-field practices like cover crops and no-till in tandem with edge-of-field practices like saturated buffers and bioreactors to improve water quality, reduce flood risk and greenhouse gas emissions and protect source water.

The ISACD is a $33 million dollar project with USDA-NRCS providing nearly one-third of the funding.

“Between those two projects, IAWA has brought in a lot of financial assistance to the state of Iowa that otherwise wouldn’t be available to Iowa farmers,” McMahon says.

Iowa Corn Growers

CEO Craig Floss agrees.

“IAWA is unparalleled when it comes to improving water quality in Iowa,” Floss says. “In just 10 years, the organization has secured more than $150 million of investment and resources to help farmers, landowners and a myriad of partners in making significant improvements to the state’s watersheds, lakes, ponds, streams and rivers.”

What’s ahead?

IAWA has helped lead the charge in improving Iowa’s water quality, highlighting the importance of conservation practices like cover crops, and increasing buy-in from multiple stakeholders. But there’s much more to be done.

For example, Iowa farmers implement cover crops on roughly 3 million acres of corn and soybean fields — a remarkable figure given that number was estimated at under 50,000 acres in 2010.

“Are we satisfied that we have nearly 3 million acres?” McMahon asks. “No, the ultimate goal is 12-17 million acres with cover crops. That’s roughly 50-70% of Iowa’s row crop acres.

“We know these conservation practices work, we just need to scale them up,” he says.

IAWA, however, is more than a messenger with changing ag practices.

“We’re also the catalyst in creating these projects and recruiting partners that can deliver big impacts through these projects that meaningfully address water quality challenges,” McMahon says.

“There’s a lot more we still need to do to implement the Iowa NRS, particularly when it comes to reducing nitrogen loss, but the progress made in the first decade of implementing the Iowa NRS — has been nothing short of incredible. IAWA and the Iowa Soybean Association, and hundreds of other partners, can be very proud of our accomplishments over the last ten years — what we call the Defining Decade of Iowa’s nutrient reduction strategy.”

McMahon says IAWA wants to reach those who have been reluctant to get involved in conservation practices on their farms or have never had any kind of conservation contract with the NRCS or IDALS.

“We understand there may be some fear of implementing regenerative farming practices, but there are resources and people in place that can reduce risk and even improve bottom lines,” he said. “For example, we’ve raised $1.2 million for conservation agronomists who work at ISA and ag retailers across the state. They can help farmers improve their profitability while improving water quality and more ag retailers are seeing the value in that.”

IAWA wants to continue communication efforts by sharing the good work that has been and continues to be done in the state, while also raising awareness and money for cost-share programming and the expansion of conservation agronomists throughout Iowa.

McMahon says he’s optimistic about the future.

“I’m very confident.” he says, “I believe we will keep accelerating these conservation practices with even more adoption and a greater reduction in nitrogen and phosphorous.”

Learn more about IAWA at iaagwater.org.

Contact Jeff Hutton at jhutton@iasoybeans.com

Craig Floss, Iowa Corn Growers CEO

FOUR TIPS FOR SPRING COVER CROP MANAGEMENT

BY KRISS NELSON

Spring cover crop management could have a direct impact on the success of your cash crop.

Follow these four spring cover crop management tips as you prepare for the 2024 growing season.

Key things to consider when terminating cover crops are method and timing. “Termination seems to be the biggest hurdle — especially for newer adopters,” says Joe Wuebker, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) conservation agronomist. “It is important to terminate as well as possible, knowing weather and other factors could impact your success.”

Chemical termination

With chemical termination, it is imperative to pay close attention to weather conditions and be ready to spray when conditions are prime.

“Spraying on a sunny day of 60-degree temperatures or higher with the following three days staying about 40 degrees would be optimal,” says Wuebker. “This can be difficult to hit sometimes, but it is a good guideline.”

When selecting the right herbicide, match the species to the chemical.

“Make sure you are picking something dependent on which type of cover crop species

you have,” says Wuebker. “Do not cut back on rates and use the proper conditioners or adjuvants to give it your best shot the first time out.”

Mechanical termination

Crimping not only eliminates a herbicide pass, but it also leaves a decent amount of biomass, assisting with weed suppression in your cover crop.

Evan Brehm, ISA conservation agronomist, advises crimping a grass species of cover crops, such as cereal rye, once it has reached anthesis.

“This is when the cereal rye sheds pollen, which is highly visual,” says Brehm. “This is important because cereal rye will have a higher likelihood of being able to be terminated with a crimper.”

If crimping cereal rye after planting soybeans, Brehm suggests doing so before the soybean’s V3 growth stage.

“If soybeans grow much further, they could be more susceptible to injury,” says Brehm.

Planting into cereal rye.

Much like termination, planting your cash crop into living cover crops, known as planting green, requires much consideration and planning.

Proper planter setup should involve considering down pressure, attachments for clearing trash, closing the trench properly and using a starter fertilizer.

Planting soybeans

Although planting soybeans into living cover crops can be done successfully, Brehm advises terminating the cover crop after three weeks of planting soybeans. After this time, the cover crop could tie up moisture, leaving it unavailable to the soybeans, and the cover crops could shade the growing soybeans from the sun.

Jim O’Connell, ISA farmer-member from Cedar Rapids, grows cover crops on every acre and plants green annually.

“I let the cover crops grow as tall as I can, depending on moisture, because I don’t want the soybeans to compete with the cover crops,” O’Connell says, adding he has planted soybeans into waist-high cereal rye.

So far, he has had no issues with soybeans germinating or uneven stands.

This method is saving O’Connell on herbicide passes.

“I have found the biomass from the cover crops suppresses weeds, and I have noticed some of those herbicide-resistant weeds do not like cereal rye,” says O’Connell. “I have several fields I am only having to spray once. I am cutting back a lot in herbicides.”

Green fields in the early spring are often targets for insects. Often, it can be migrating insects and their eggs that will hatch when the cash crop is in its early growth stages and is extremely vulnerable to insect pressure.

“Proper scouting should be done around cover crop termination, planting and also through the first stages of growth and throughout the spring — especially in corn,” says Wuebker.

O’Connell has learned it’s best to wait for morning dew to dry off the cover crops before planting. Although watching his neighbors go early in the morning may be challenging, he has learned not to sweat it. He says he has the time because he has no other pre-planting field preparation.

“It makes the gauge wheels and everything wet on the planter. You pick up dirt, affecting the planting depth,” says O’Connell. “Be patient and wait until it dries up.”

Planting corn

Planting corn into standing cover crops, such as cereal rye, requires more management.

“It’s all about managing nitrogen,” says Brehm. “Farmers planting green into corn may need to set up their planter to put a starter fertilizer down because this is when the corn needs a little bit of a boost – even with all of that cereal rye.”

Brehm also suggests that farmers allow a week to 10 days after planting corn to terminate the cover crop.

O’Connell says he will plant corn into 14- to 16-inch high cereal rye. Once the corn germinates, he will terminate the cover crops.

“I found this works well for me. I don’t have to worry about nitrogen leaching from the cover crop hurting the corn from the allelopathic effect,” O’Connell says. “Normally, if you terminate the cover crop before you plant, you need to wait 10 to 14 days before planting.”

O’Connell’s planter is armed with insecticide to help battle any potential early-season insect pressure.

“We apply insecticide at corn planting using an in-furrow foam treatment, and it works really well,” O’Connell says. Continued on Pg. 14

There isn’t much difference between corn and soybean management following cover crops versus traditional rotations, but Wuebker advises farmers to plan for the upcoming spring in the fall.

“Seeding mixes might be different based on which cash crop is being planted,” Wuebker says. “So the timing and your approach for termination and should be discussed in the fall before seeding.”

Spring nutrient management

Applying fertilizer with the planter or very close to planting might be ideal when corn is the cash crop.

“With all the plant material that is going to be out in the field, the carbon to nitrogen ratio gets thrown off, and we see higher amounts of nitrogen tie up in the soil,” says Wuebker. “Adding nitrogen makes it easier for the microbes

in the soil to do their job and also for the corn to be more productive in its early stages of growth.”

O’Connell says he has learned cereal rye does not tap into nitrogen until it is 18 inches tall.

“I try to terminate the cereal rye at 16 to 18 inches before it does that, so I can get the most benefit out of that cover crop growing,” says O’Connell. “I have also read you could get an additional 30 units of late-season nitrogen for your corn from the decaying cover crop.”

“We’re still learning,” O’Connell says. “It’s trial and error every year.”

ISA’s conservation agronomy team is available to help set you up for success this spring. Email ISA Conservation Agronomy Lead Mike Gilman at mgilman@iasoybeans.com or call 515-577-5600.

Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com

ISA Conservation Agronomist Evan Brehm and ISA farmer-member Jim O’Connell of Cedar Rapids.

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Top photo courtesy of SNI Global

BY KRISS NELSON

Myths are often cited as a rationale behind a farmer’s choice not to adopt conservation agriculture practices. Backed by data and experience, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) experts and farmers are dispelling those myths.

Alfalfa has a negative effect on water quality

There has been a misunderstanding that the perennial forage crop alfalfa is worse for water quality in terms of nitrate leaching when compared to corn and soybeans.

“There is no evidence to support this myth,” says Tony Seeman, ISA’s water lab service manager. “Alfalfa can be as profitable as conventional crops when added to a rotation because you reduce the number of inputs, including herbicides and fertilizers you are applying when you raise alfalfa. You could add alfalfa to improve water quality while not losing profit. It is a low-input system that could work and help diversify your farm.”

This scenario could work in an extended rotation, which, according to Iowa State University, is a rotation of corn, soybean and two to three years of alfalfa or legumegrass mixtures managed for hay harvest. Extended rotations reduce the application and loss of both nitrate-nitrogen and phosphorus.

According to the science assessment done as part of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, there is an average 42% reduction in nitrogen loss from an extended rotation using at least two years of alfalfa in a four-to-five-year rotation with corn and soybeans.

The bottom line is a perennial cover, whether alfalfa, pasture or having land dedicated to CRP, results in low nitrates leaching the field.

“Just having a perennial cover does a lot of good for helping to keep more nutrients in the ground,” says Rosie Roberts, ISA technical insights manager.

Golf courses are a significant source of nitrate runoff, not farms

Fingers often point to golf courses as a large contributor to poor water quality because of nutrient runoff.

According to a study funded by the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and carried out by the Iowa Geological Survey, golf courses and residential lawns in Iowa account for 2% of the nitrogen and phosphorus applied at a lower rate than crop fields.

“Yes, golf courses use fertilizers,” says Seeman. “But they only fertilize certain areas such as greens and tee boxes, a low percentage of the land a golf course takes up.”

Typically, a golf course uses 87-120 pounds per acre of fertilizer on a perennial ground cover that is not fallow most of the year.

Cumulative tile nitrate-N losses from different fields show losses from alfalfa and acres enrolled into Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are similar.

Cory VanderPloeg has started drone aerially applying cover crop seed in addition to drilling. For the last two years, he has planted cover crops on all of his 1,500 acres and has been no-tilling for three years. Photo submitted.

“This myth is busted. That amount of fertilizer is not intensive, and the number of golf courses in Iowa does not equal the number of acres put into cropland,” says Seeman. “You could stop fertilizing every golf course in Iowa, and you might reduce the nitrate export by less than 1%.”

Using cover crops contributes to phosphorus loss

The good outweighs the bad with this myth.

Results from a study done for the Great Lakes region have shown a spike of dissolved phosphorus related to phosphorus application timing and methods that erased the reductions from cover crops in total phosphorus.

An increase in dissolved phosphorus could result from the decomposing roots of the cover crop, so management of phosphorus application is critical.

“Like any practice, there are some tradeoffs,” says former ISA Conservation Design Specialist Chris Hay. “Cover crops should be combined with phosphorus management strategies, particularly for location and timing, to reduce the risk of dissolved phosphorus loss.”

Rye before corn does not work

Farmers have claimed the allelopathy of cereal rye hurts corn germination.

“Allelopathy means it secretes chemicals from its roots that will inhibit other seeds’ germination. Smaller seeds have the highest chance of being impacted and could have a low germination rate from allelopathy effect,” says Roberts. “The good thing about corn and soybeans is they’re big enough seeds to lessen the chance of allelopathic issues.”

Learning to manage fertilizer in the spring could be the key to success in raising corn after a cereal rye cover crop. Seeman says using a starter nitrogen fertilizer can give corn the head-start it needs while the cover crop is terminated.

“If you can learn to manage fertilizer or anything else that fluctuates in the spring, you can make raising corn in cereal rye work,” says Roberts. “Cereal rye holds nitrogen, making some levels of nutrient unavailable to the corn crop

as it is in the early stages of growth. Knowing you can add some starter nitrogen to make up for what the rye crop is holding could help with any potential yield losses by having a nitrogen-deficient early crop stage.”

I live too far north to make cover crops work

Cory VanderPloeg, ISA farmer-member from Paullina in O’Brien County, is leading by example that cover crops can be planted in northern Iowa. The fact he is achieving 250-bushel corn yields by planting corn into 6-inch rye is proof it works.

“I always hear, ‘I am too far north,’” VanderPloeg says. “But you have to make cover crop planting a priority. Before harvest or as soon as harvest is over, we are seeding our cover crops.”

Seeding times to specific species in northern areas of the state is important.

“Don’t set yourself up for failure, but rather set yourself up for success and set goals,” says Roberts. “If you want an overwintering cover crop, give it enough time to establish.”

Let ISA’s team of experts help you

“If you believe in some of these myths or need help with your conservation efforts, work with our conservation agronomists, research agronomists or a conservation champion in your area. Try some water monitoring or strip trials and see for yourself.” says Seeman. “Many participants in RCFI research are surprised to see the results of their trials.”

For more information, contact Tony Seeman at aseeman@iasoybeans.com.

Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com

Chris Hay, Rosie Roberts and Tony Seeman.

Jim O’Connell leads and inspires Iowa farmers.

BY JEFF HUTTON

“ Do you want your children to be able to farm?” asks Linn County farmer and Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) member Jim O’Connell. “If we don’t start doing things to help the environment, your sons or daughters may not have that opportunity.”

That viewpoint, along with years of integrating sustainable and environmentallysound practices on his farm, is the reason O’Connell was recently presented with ISA’s 2024 Environmental Leader Award.

The work continues

Through his work with ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation, O’Connell has implemented unique strategies to improve soil health and enhance water quality.

He is an advocate and leader when it comes to the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS), protecting against soil erosion and improving water quality while simultaneously bettering yields and bolstering his bottom line. He has been instrumental in the NRS by making changes to his farm.

Those practices have positively impacted the Cedar River Watershed. His work, along with other farmers in the area, is part of

O'Connell regularly shares information with farmers visiting his farm.

the Cedar River Source Water Partnership, designed to help protect water resources for the city of Cedar Rapids. He recently developed a wetland on his land to improve water quality.

“It not only helps me, but it helps everyone,” he says. “I want clean water, too.”

Wetlands, cover crops, bioreactors, saturated buffers and other edge-of-field practices are critical, O’Connell says.

While recognizing the challenges that come with transitioning from traditional farming to implementing conservation practices in his fields, O’Connell says these changes are imperative. “We need to break the cycle and say that it’s OK to no-till, strip-till and not work the ground up,” he says. “We need to change hearts and minds. Many farmers are intimidated by conservation because they don’t know where to start.”

Conservation practices are very much a leap into the unknown, but O’Connell says it’s a process that must be undertaken.

“We’re still learning,” he says. “It’s trial and error every year. It’s about taking baby steps.”

O’Connell’s foray into many of the conservation practices began more than a decade ago, first starting out with a few acres devoted to the use of cover crops.

He acknowledges the results and efforts may not yield the kind of results a farmer wants right away.

“People want instant gratification, but it takes time to see the results,” O’Connell says. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”

He says less chemical use, less soil erosion but strong, resilient yields are the results of years of conservation practices.

O’Connell says the work he has done in the fields does take time — something he says others have said to him they don’t have enough of.

“That’s the hard part and the challenge that we’re facing,” he says. “I’ve been doing this for 12 years. You’ve got to be willing to do the extra things to make it work.”

Making the time

He dismisses any notions that there isn’t enough time to initiate conservation practices that will have an impact in the fields.

When harvest is in full swing, O’Connell also coaches high school football at Cedar Rapids Xavier where he is the defensive coordinator. It’s more than a full schedule, but one that is worth the effort.

“Don’t tell me you don’t have time,” he says. “I don’t have help and I have 1,000 acres (of corn and soybeans), as well as a cattle operation. Don’t tell me that time is your problem.”

Praise from others

O’Connell’s conservation efforts are well known to those who know him, including his neighbor, Dan Voss.

Voss says O’Connell is more than worthy of the ISA Environmental Leader Award.

“I’m glad to see Jim receive this award,” he says. “He has always been forward thinking on conservation on the farm. I’ve leaned on him for some ideas on cover crops.”

Voss, who also has been recognized for his conservation practices, says he and O’Connell are showing others that cover crops, bioreactors, establishing wetlands and other practices are the future.

“If farmers are actually tilling in our area, they’re an outlier. No-till and strip-till are accepted practices around here.” Voss says. “How Jim does things is really making a difference.

“I’ve known him for many years and he’s very deserving of the accolades. He’s a shining example of how to continue these conservation practices. The public needs to know what he’s doing because conservation is not just an ag issue, it’s a societal issue.”

ISA Conservation Agronomist Evan Brehm agrees.

“Jim exemplifies what it means to be a good steward of the land,” says Brehm. “He finds a way to make it work profitably on his farm, but also what it takes to make the community and society better.”

Brehm says O’Connell’s recognition sends the right message to those in agriculture that you can help the environment while still protecting one’s bottom line.

“I’ve known Jim for years and have worked with him on edge-of-field practices, inputs, cover crops … he is deserving of this award.”

Leaving ‘a better product’

O’Connell says he is humbled and honored with the award and says his work will continue because it’s important for his farm, society and those who value clean water and a strong environment.

“I remember planting cover crops during one of those first years,” he says. “We had a 6-inch rain, and I noticed the waterway wasn’t cloudy or dirty. I have to believe the cover crops helped. I also had some of the best yields ever.

“The ground is given to us to care for and maintain,” O’Connell says. “I learned from my dad that if you use somebody else’s equipment, you better return it in better shape from when you borrowed it. I look at the ground the same way. I want my son to have a better product when he starts to farm.”

Contact Jeff Hutton at jhutton@iasoybeans.com

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IMulti-Year Cover Crop Project

Anthony Martin ISA Analyst

amartin@iasoybeans.com

mproved soil health, reduction in chemical and fertilizer needs, field workability and yield are all points of discussion with cover crops. For some farmers in Iowa, cover crops have been adopted and thrive as a management practice. Other farmers still have questions about the overall benefits and risks surrounding the practice.

Quantifying results

Given these questions, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) team established a multi-year project in attempts to quantify some of the changes from continued use of cover crops in fields across the state. Today, we have 15 trial locations around the state that have continued with support from ISA. Our longest running trials will be entering their eighth year of the project in 2024. These trial sites consist of cover crops seeded in the same strips each fall, with uncovered check strips for comparison.

Improved yield stability

When looking at the yield differences, changes have been small and slow to show. No matter the cash crop, yields have

been variable especially in the first few years of cover crop implementation. From 108 sites years analyzed, yield differences for both corn and soybean hovered near even when looking at years in cover (Fig. 1), with soybeans seeing a slight increase in yield during the later years. Average responses in corn ranged from approximately -1.25 to 1.25 bu/acre and soybeans between approximately -1.5 to 1.5 bu/acre. When looking across years in cover, yield variability is minimized with continued use of a cover crop beyond three to four years, indicating improved yield stability. The important takeaway from this is that while we don’t see a significant yield increase, we don’t see significant losses either.

Soil health indicators

Soil health sampling was completed in 2022 and 2023 in accordance with the NRCS CEMA 216 standard with partial funding from USDA NRCS. In addition to the basic suite of soil measurements, this testing standard included organic carbon, aggregate stability, soil respiration, POX-C and ACE protein. Of these soil health test measurements, our results showed little or no change between the cover and no-cover strips across sites.

Fig. 1

Of the 19 sites sampled, five locations had positive significant differences based on the treatment (see Fig. 2). These positive changes were seen in aggregate stability, indicative of erosion resilience and water infiltration, and POX-C, indicative of available carbon. While it was encouraging to see these results, most fields sampled showed no change in these soil health indicators. It is important to note that many of the sites were already managed with no-till or minimal tillage that would promote soil health benefits on its own.

Soil health indicators

While biomass sampling was not done on a routine basis, our team used NDVI imagery collected from each site each year as a proxy for biomass accumulation. When these values were compared to calculated yield differences from the cover crop, we found that as the NDVI value increased (cover crop biomass increased) the yield differences in both cash crops trended down, with a greater impact on corn. Although goals for a cover crop are going to change from farmer to farmer, the data shows that our yields can be reduced with increased cover crop growth. In our experience, early cover crop termination or strip tillage

could be practices that help mitigate yield losses, especially in the first few years of the practice. Farmers did note, however, that having the increased biomass provided a blanket on the ground that allowed for additional days suitable for field work during wet times in late spring and early summer.

Get involved

Overall, the project has provided a wealth of information for our team to pull from, but it has also left unanswered questions that we hope to target in the coming years. ISA is leading a project called the Improved Cropping System. With support from Iowa State University, Iowa Corn Promotion Board and funding from USDA-NRCS, this project will continue to explore this group of long-term cover crop study locations. We hope to answer our additional questions and examine the benefits of a cover crop blend instead of a single species. Additional in-field measurements will include soil moisture sensing as a proxy for workability, weed counts to determine suppression, and additional soil health sampling incorporated every 2-3 years. Want to learn more about this cropping system? Contact us to be a part of the trial or to dive into the research further.

We can potentially explore it as a topic in a future issue. Better yet, we’ll connect you with your local expert so you can implement a trial on your farm.

Fig.

Consider these four planting tips to help achieve maximum yields this fall.

BY KRISS NELSON

Seed selection has been made. Now is the time to do everything possible to give that seed the best possible start this spring.

1. Planter Setup

“For the first day of planting, patience is the name of the game,” says Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) District 2 Director Sam Showalter. “It includes dozens of trips in and out of the cab and a lot of time on your hands and knees digging up plants to check depth, autoshutoff settings, populations and spacing.”

Every pre-plant checklist for the Showalter farm near Hampton begins after planting the previous year’s crop.

“We note any lingering issues that need addressing in the offseason; we give the planter a bath and a grease before we put it in storage for the rest of summer/winter,” says Showalter.

Every winter, Showalter pulls the planter

out of storage and revisits last spring’s notes. He’ll tackle as much of the routine maintenance as he can.

“When it leaves the shop in the winter, our goal is that it’s ready to head to the field,” he says. “Once we get to actual planting season, the checklist is manageable.”

2. Planting Conditions

Optimal planting conditions call for soil temperatures to be 50 degrees at the four-inch depth and trending warmer.

“If it’s early and the soil temp is still below that 50-degree mark and it’s dry, and there will not be rain for the next two weeks, I would probably hold off on planting,” says Drew Clemmensen, ISA Research Agronomist. “If there’s rain forecasted within the next week, especially in drought conditions, I feel more confident planting that seed.”

What happens to the seed if it is planted in cold soil and receives cold rain?

“When the seed takes on water and initiates mesocotyl growth and suddenly takes on cold water, the plant cells become more ridged and can burst, which can cause erratic growth

underground,” says Clemmensen.

Sometimes, the seed can correct itself and emerge, but that isn’t always the case.

“That plant has a challenge of getting out of the ground. If it gets far enough behind, it essentially becomes a weed and doesn’t produce as it should,” says Clemmensen. “There aren’t guidelines that fully explain what happens under certain temperatures or rainfall; sometimes it’s based on luck.”

3. Planting Depths

An even, timely emergence starts with a uniform planting depth with good seedto-soil contact.

Planting soybeans deeper than the 1½ inch depth can put the seed in more uniform soil temperatures.

“It gives us an opportunity for all the seeds to germinate and emerge uniformly,” Clemmensen says. “The topsoil also acts as a buffer to protect the seed from some of those spring temperature influxes.

For corn, Clemmensen says literature advises a planting depth of 1½-1¾ inches, but he suggests planting deeper, at two inches.

A successful harvest begins at planting.

Sam Showalter, Iowa Soybean Association District 2 director

“A deeper planting depth allows brace roots to form and be more productive than at a shallower seeding depth,” he says. “Err on the side of planting deeper; I have even seen better stands at a fourinch planting depth versus some of those planted shallower.”

Get out of the tractor and check what is happening behind you.

“We all get into that ‘I have to keep this planter running’ mentality. We set the planter, and we go. The monitor tells you the spacing and depth are right, but get out and physically check as you go across the field,” he says. “Soil types change, field conditions change, and that can affect seeding placement.”

4. Seeding Rates

General recommendations for soybean seeding rates are planting 120,000 to 140,000 seeds per acre, aiming for a final plant stand of 100,000 to 120,000 per acre.

Preliminary results from 2023 seeding rate trials show a 2-2.5 bushel to the acre yield boost from planting 170,000 or 140,000 seeds per bushel versus 80,000 seeds per bushel.

Results in trials comparing 110,000 seeds per acre to 170,000 seeds per acre and 110,000 seeds per acre to 140,000 seeds per acre show little difference in yield.

Variable-rate seeding is another option as farmers head to the fields. This technology can adjust the seeding rate to accommodate field conditions. ISA’s Soybean Variable Rate Planting Simulator Tool, located on the ISA website, helps farmers understand how adjusting seeding rates could yield profitable outcomes.

ISA Spatial Data Analyst

Josh McDanel says the tool uses three years of historical soybean yields, seed costs and expected yield responses to simulate different variable planting

rate scenarios to maximize return and minimize cost.

“We are going to continue these trials in 2024 and we hope to get enough data from these to implement what we learn from them into the soybean variable rate seeding simulator,” McDanel says.

Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com

Scan Here to learn more!

A Pre-plant Checklist

Replace worn bearings and bushings

Determine wear in disk openers and gauge wheels to minimize variability

Gauge wheels

“We are just looking for worn-out tires,” says Showalter. “The impact of no-tilling soybeans is the leftover stover from the previous corn crop is harder on tires. Eventually, we’ll see cracks; stalks will get caught inside, catch different wires or hoses, and just cause problems.”

Disk openers

Disk openers are measured and checked for consistency for every row.

“These are what sets the depth of seeding when we are planting,” says Showalter. “Over time, these disks wear and get smaller, and there is a threshold where they need replaced.”

Bulk planters

Drew Clemmensen, ISA research agronomist, says understanding how your bulk planter can change from fully loaded to almost empty and what adjustments need to be made. Monitoring equipment should make these adjustments — but you do not know for sure unless you get out and check.

Level the planter

The planter should be parallel to the ground. “All the benefits of precision attachments go out the window if the toolbar is not level,” says Clemmensen.

“In my opinion, planting is the most important task in the entire crop year,” says Showalter. “If the planter is not functioning properly, in adequate conditions, we are not doing our part to have a successful crop.”

BY KRISS NELSON

Editor’s note: This story first appeared on the Iowa Food & Family Project (IFFP) blog. Learn more at iowafoodandfamily.com.

“ Farmers are interested in improving their farms and leaving them better for the next generation,” says Chuck White, a Clay County farmer and past Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) director. “This is Iowa’s most important natural resource, and we want to protect and improve it.”

Megan Holz, general manager of Iowa Cover Crop, a full-service cover crop business in Jefferson, is not only in the business of selling cover crops but understands the importance of this conservation practice on her family’s farmland.

“As a mother, I see using cover crops as a long-term investment to preserve my land for my children,” says Holz, an ISA farmer member. “I might not see all the benefits in my lifetime, but I know it’s the right thing to do.”

More than just a cover

Cover crops offer various benefits to Iowa farmland, slowing down soil erosion, weed control and improving soil health.

“It’s very cool that, as farmers, we are in a profession where we can sequester carbon and make food and fuel more sustainable through our actions,” says Holz.

White began raising cover crops in 2013 as an alternative way to improve his farm’s soil health.

“I started using cover crops to help keep nutrients sequestered in the field,” Chuck says. “But we found out there are other soil health benefits that go along with that. There’s better soil structure, moisture retention and weed

Megan Holz

Chuck White

suppression. Cover crops have been a good way to improve our farms.”

Chuck’s son, Patrick, has seen firsthand those advantages since he started farming.

“I have seen how our fields transformed over the last decade,” says Patrick. “We have more earthworms and better soil structure. Looking to the future, we want to continue to have higher productive soils, and this is where cover crops are helping to improve soil health.”

How can giving the soil a blanket of cover crops in the fall help with weeds in the next growing season?

“When cover crops overwinter and come back up in the spring, they suppress weeds from growing,” Megan says. She adds that the biomass left from the cover crops terminated in the spring provides another blanket for the soil.

Cover crops prevent soil erosion by acting like a shield against wind and rain and improving overall soil health.

“Cover crops help to keep our essential soil in place,” explains Holz. “They help enhance soil nutrients, making it more fertile by adding to the organic matter and improving soil health in the long-term.”

“Soil health can bridge the gap between rural areas and cities,” says Patrick. “Cover crops help to take nutrients out of water systems, sequester carbons and more.”

A variety of options

There are several cover crop species farmers use to help blanket their soil.

Iowa Cover Crop's top selling product is cereal rye, Holz says.

“Cereal rye is very easy to establish and provides a good cover,” she points out. “It is something you put out there and know it will grow. Not only is it the biggest seller in our company, but it is what most Iowa farmers use.”

Other popular cover crop species include oats, turnips, clover, triticale and hairy vetch.

Some cover crops can be used as livestock feed; others, like turnips, can help break up soil compaction.

Chuck and Patrick have been using a blend of cover crops on their farm. Besides the popular cereal rye, they have added radishes, oats and hairy vetch.

The oats, Chuck notes, will winterkill, so that helps to relieve any competition of growth in the spring with the newly planted corn.

He planted hairy vetch with the hopes that the plants will fix nitrogen, allowing them to reduce the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

It can be trial and error for Iowa farmers to find the right mix of cover crops for their farm.

“We have a long way to go,” admits Patrick. “We don’t have it all figured out, but we are making headway.”

As they work to find the right mix, the Whites realize the possibilities are endless.

“We will put forth the effort to move forward with our cover crops to improve soil health,” says Chuck. “We are really excited about where we are headed.”

Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

Native American proverb

Farmer-led efforts are rapidly scaling the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund.

BY BROCK JOHNSTON

In a time of shrinking soybean margins and increased market competition, farmers are placing a growing emphasis on partnership to drive value and enhance the environment for future generations.

The result? An opportunity that positions farmers as leaders of a climate solution, providing financial incentives for the environmental benefits produced on acres across the Midwest and beyond — and it’s growing fast.

Farmer ambition, combined with public funding and growing corporate commitments to reduce the environmental

impact of their supply chains, has rocketed the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund® (SWOF) toward explosive growth in recent years.

Managed by AgOutcomes, a subsidiary of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), SWOF leverages markets for ecosystem services like carbon, water and biodiversity. This is done through partnerships that allow farmers to operate profitably and sustainably while helping beneficiaries — often food and beverage companies — achieve their sustainability goals.

Growing impact

In September of 2022, SWOF was awarded approximately $95 million through the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative. This funding, combined with approximately $60 million in corporate commitments from the likes of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and other household names, allowed SWOF to quickly scale and expand opportunities to farmers across 12 Midwest states in 2023. These funds are used for farmer enrollment and technical assistance, and help SWOF measure, report and verify environmental outcomes.

In addition to the organization’s Climate-Smart work, SWOF has continued to add and expand other partnerships.

In 2023, SWOF enrolled over 300,000 acres of farmland across 14 states, including Iowa. From these efforts, SWOF provided more than $10 million in direct payments to farmers for their positive environmental outcomes.

Joe Winchell, a field program lead with SWOF, says a variety of factors are leading to the program’s growth and continued interest from farmers.

“We’re the only organization in our field that’s associated with a commodity organization. That really sticks out to people — especially farmers — knowing that we’re here to specifically serve their needs.”

Producers in all of Iowa’s 99 counties are eligible to enroll acres in the program. With few other factors limiting farmer

participation, SWOF participants must propose and be willing to adopt at least one new conservation practice to enroll acres. SWOF is not prescriptive about the conservation practice(s) a farmer chooses to implement. Typically, farmers are utilizing cover crops, no-till, reduced tillage or extended crop rotations.

Farmer payments are uniquely based on the environmental outcomes produced from their practice changes, rather than a flat acre rate for specific practice implemented. And, because SWOF provides compensation to farmers for water quality improvements in addition to carbon (CO2e) outcomes, they often pay farmers more when compared to other outcome-based programs.

“In Iowa, we’ve seen huge program growth in the last few years,” says Winchell. “SWOF now has three field program representatives across the state, which gives us a larger footprint and more resources on the ground to help farmers.”

Partnered approach

Environmental outcomes generated by farmers participating in SWOF are transferred to partners seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water quality and increase overall agricultural sustainability within key supply sheds, watersheds or geographic areas.

“We have a great group of partners whose business operations utilize the crops produced by farmers with acres enrolled in SWOF,” says Winchell. “Their supply chains — selling or manufacturing products — are often derived from many of the commodities grown on Iowa farms.”

These items are used to produce the food products and beverages we consume every day, including soy oil and

Continued on Pg. 30

541,000 ACRES enrolled across 14 states

462,000 METRIC TONS OF GREENHOUSE GASSES sequestered

6,064,000 LBS. OF NITROGEN prevented from leaving enrolled fields

352,000 LBS. OF PHOSPHORUS prevented from leaving enrolled fields

Joe Winchell, SWOF field program lead

derivatives like lecithin, high fructose corn syrup and meal derived from corn, dairy products and much more.

This “inset” approach allows SWOF’s corporate partners to support positive environmental outcomes from farmer's within their supply chains, instead of buying outcomes from a project or industry they don’t operate in — also known as “offsetting”.

For Riley Schnell, an ISA farmer-member and SWOF participant from Sully, maximizing his operation’s profitability and stewardship goals are working hand-in-hand.

“This is very important for me. My grandfather is passing this farm on to me. We started farming together 50/50 two years ago as I prepared to take over. This next year will be my first-time running things completely on my own.”

Schnell, who recently took over managing his family’s farm from his grandfather Rolland, a former ISA president, began collaborating with SWOF in 2021 to implement cover

“I would say just try it. Have the courage to try it, even if it’s only on a couple acres like we did.”

Riley Schnell, ISA farmer-member and SWOF participant from Sully

crops. Since then, he’s expanded efforts in the program to include reduced tillage on the remainder of his acres and utilizes a corn, rye and soybean relay cropping rotation.

In 2023, Schnell generated 838 metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions and removals from the atmosphere and prevented 16,555 lbs. of nitrogen and 903 lbs. of phosphorus from leaving his fields.

“I’m still a young farmer. I’m only in my third year with this, but I would say just try it. Have the courage to try it, even if it’s only on a couple acres like we did.”

And with a goal of one million enrolled acres in 2025, SWOF is well positioned to partner with a growing number of Iowa farmers like Riley to advance a climate solution. Enrollment for 2024 is now open in Iowa.

To learn more, visit theoutcomesfund.com.

Contact Brock Johnston at bjohnston@iasyobeans.com

HOW THE ENROLLMENT AND PAYMENT PROCESS WORKS

Step 1:

ACCESS THE WEB PORTAL to create an account, map field boundaries and enter baseline and future cropping system information. SWOF representatives are available to assist with this process.

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

REVIEW THE PROPOSED PAYMENT OFFERING emailed to you within a few days after data submission and decide if you wish to continue and participate.

E-SIGN the one-year contract and confirm your SWOF participation. Payments are made in two installments: 50% is paid prior to verification, and 50% is paid afterward.

RECEIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE from SWOF field program representatives as needed to implement conservation practices.

RECEIVE THE REMAINING 50% of payment after your farm’s environmental outcomes are measured and verified. In 2023, participating farmers received an average payment of $33 per acre.

Harvesting cover crops. Photo submitted.

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