Indiana Corn & Soybean Post - Spring 2023

You’re where the rubber meets the road. And the engine. And the interior.

Indiana soybean farmers tout farm bill goals on Capitol Hill

In an effort to add farmers’ voices to 2023 Farm Bill debate, several Indiana soybean farmers traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to talk with federal lawmakers to influence this vital ag spending policy.

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StyroSoy product wins Student Soybean Innovation Competition

A biodegradable, compostable and non-toxic, soy-based foam, called StyroSoy, earned the $20,000 grand prize in the 29th annual Student Soybean Innovation Competition at Purdue University.

27 USMEF exports corn, soybeans through livestock and poultry

Executives with the U.S. Meat Export Federation visited the ICMC and ISA offices in April to talk about how Hoosier rowcrop farmers benefit from exports of beef, pork and poultry products.

34 Researchers explore best practices for herbicide-resistant weeds

Researchers across the country are working to help farmers improve weed management on their farms. Herbicides have proved effective, but several weed species are becoming resistant.

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About the cover: Springport, Ind., farmer Matthew Chapman, who served on the Indiana Soybean Alliance Board of Directors for nine years, is now a director on the United Soybean Board. At 39, Chapman farms in rural Henry County with his brother, Jacob. See the story on page 22.

Chairman Mike Koehne, Greensburg / D4

Vice Chairman Kevin Cox, Brazil / D3

Secretary Joseph Stoller, Bremen / D1

Treasurer

C.J. Chalfant, Hartford City / D2

Committee Chairs

Keevin Lemenager, Monrovia / D4

Carey McKibben, LaGrange / D2

Denise Scarborough, LaCrosse / D1

Directors

Allen Buchanan, Fowler / D1

Dylan Christopher, Brookston / D1

Kevin Kelley, Brookston / D1

Steve Phares, Albion / D2

Jenna Scott, Muncie / D2

Brian Warpup, Warren / D2

Mark Wenning, Cambridge City / D2

Derika Lynam-Spaetti, Richland / D3

Gary McDaniel, Boonville / D3

Jason Misiniec, Bicknell / D3

Larry Rusch, Vincennes / D3

Roger Bommer, Brookville / D4

Kevin Burbrink, Seymour / D4

Anngie Steinbarger, Edinburgh / D4

President Scott Smith, Windfall / D5

Vice President

Chris Cherry, New Palestine / D6

Secretary Sarah Delbecq, Auburn / D3

Staff Credits

Editor / Dave Blower Jr.

Writer / Ann Hinch

Writer / Emma Hopkins-O’Brien

Writer / Susan Hayhurst

Creative Director / Carol Johnson

Indiana Corn & Soybean Post® is published five times per year by the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Corn Growers Association.

For address corrections contact: Indiana Corn & Soybean Post® 8425 Keystone Crossing, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46240

Phone: 800-735-0195 or 317-614-0377

Email: dblower@indianasoybean.com

Treasurer Tyler Everett, Lebanon / D7

Directors

Tom Murphy, Chesterton / D1

Joe Tuholski, LaPorte / D2

Mike Beard, Frankfort / D4

J.R. Roesner, Ferdinand / D8

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Summer sales of E15 earns another victory for corn policy efforts

Scott Smith President Indiana Corn Growers Association

Among the hardest things to overcome is a bad reputation. People or products with a bad reputation often have to work twice as hard to regain trust from consumers or other folks they work with. That’s probably why a good first impression is so important.

For a variety of reasons, ethanol – or gasohol as it was called at the time – may not have made the best impression when it was launched. However, ethanol has made great strides in the decades since that time. Ethanol is among the fuels that powers the agricultural economy in Indiana.

Those of us who grow corn in Indiana and across the Midwest scored a tremendous victory on April 28 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to allow summer sales of E15, which is a blend of 15 percent ethanol with 85 percent gasoline. This decision not only helps farmers, but it’s also good for consumers and the environment.

This is the second consecutive year that the Biden Administration’s EPA has issued a waiver allowing summer sales of E15. There are probably several reasons the EPA approved this waiver again. The first reason could be that the economic conditions that were in place a year ago remain the same today. Gas prices remain high this year, and inflation makes everything cost more.

Last year, U.S. drivers saved about 23 cents per gallon. I expect they will see a similar benefit this year. ICGA and NCGA will continue to work for a permanent solution that would allow year-round E15 sales.

This low-cost, low-greenhouse-gas-emission fuel can be used in all cars across America without any loss in fuel efficiency. Ethanol is a climate-smart solution that is available today.

Still, ethanol suffers from its first impression. Here are a few myths and facts about ethanol:

• Myth: E15 gets much worse gas miles.

• Fact: A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy and Iowa State University found that using E15 in cars 2001 and newer showed no significant difference in miles per gallon compared to lower ethanol blends like E10 or regular gasoline.

• Myth: E15 isn’t safe for you car

• Fact: E15 is a safe, approved fuel blend that can be used in most cars 2001 and newer without any major issues.

• Myth: Ethanol means less farmland for fuel.

• Fact: Ethanol is only one of the many uses of corn. In Indiana, which is one of the leading producers of ethanol in the United States, more corn is used for food for humans and livestock than for ethanol. A byproduct of ethanol is a high-quality livestock feed source.

• Myth: Corn-based ethanol is worse than gasoline for the environment.

• Fact: One of the biggest advantages of ethanol is its reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. A report published in 2021 found that emissions from corn-based ethanol were 46 percent lower than regular gasoline.

As farmers, we already know some of these facts, but we need to do a better job of sharing this good news with our friends and neighbors. Once ethanol enjoys the reputation it deserves, that will make the work of advocating for fewer restrictions on its use much easier.

While we appreciate this year’s waiver allowing summer sales of E15, we would like EPA to step up with a permanent solution. Summer sales of E15 needs to be something more than the EPA’s version of the McDonalds’ McRib sandwich – something to pull out late spring every year to win votes from farmers and folks upset with gas prices. E15 needs to be recognized for the quality fuel that it is.

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Proposed OFF Act would take away benefits our checkoff provides

Keevin Lemenager Chair

ISA Membership and Policy Committee

No job is easy. All jobs have their own challenges and frustrations – otherwise we wouldn’t call it work. However, it is also true that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.

Right now, most of us who farm in Indiana are in the middle of getting this year’s crops in the ground. The long hours and expense of planting season can make a pleasant spring day seem stressful. Still, I wonder how many Hoosier farmers realize how fortunate they are.

Earlier this year, I was part of a group of farmers who traveled to Argentina to witness the conditions of one of our leading competitors of global soybean exports. Argentina is the third-largest exporter of soybeans in the world at more than 4.8 million metric tons per year. The country benefits from a favorable climate, has hardworking farmers and willing trade partners.

Yet, the overriding thought that I took from that trip was, Argentina would be a real threat to U.S. Soy exports if they could work together to coordinate international trade, or share research on production agriculture, or develop new soy-based products, or promote their soybeans to consumers. In other words, Argentina would be a stronger competitor if it had the services our soybean checkoff provides.

In Indiana, we have these benefits and more through the work of the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the United Soybean Board.

We have seen checkoff projects such as the development and commercialization of high oleic soybeans offer lucrative premiums to farmers. We’ve seen the checkoff invest and promote new products, such as the concrete durability enhancer PoreShield, among many other items. We’ve seen the checkoff secure profitable new trade markets in places such as Colombia, Korea, Vietnam and others. We’ve seen the checkoff create and

maintain customers for products such as biodiesel.

All of these efforts and more move piles and piles of soybeans throughout Indiana, the United States and the world. This work makes our crops more valuable, and it makes our farms more profitable.

Despite all of the good provided by our soybean checkoffs, there are those who seek to stop this progress. At this moment, there is a bipartisan group of senators backing something called the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act – or the OFF Act.

This bill is supported by liberal, Democratic Party members Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and also conservative Republican Party members Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). Who would’ve thought those lawmakers would agree on anything? On top of that, the states these senators represent produce very few soybeans. How could they possibly understand our industry? Let alone, checkoff programs.

Some lawmakers are mildly calling this bill the Checkoff Reform Act – but it does more than reform. It is a blatant attack on our efforts to work together to better the soybean industry by politicians who know nothing about our industry.

ISA will continue to work with our congressional delegation and others to protect checkoff programs. Farming is challenging enough. We certainly don’t need our Congress damaging our checkoff program at a time when we are realizing increased competition overseas. The bill would prevent the American Soybean Association (ASA) and USB from working together to help U.S. soybean farmers.

ASA and M&P strongly oppose this bill and have been working with leadership in both the House and Senate to educate congressional leaders on the countless benefits checkoff programs bring to farmers.

Soybean growers tell lawmakers: Keep hands OFF the checkoff

BY BLAIR SHIPP ASA State Policy Communications Coordinator

In February, a bipartisan group of legislators from both chambers reintroduced the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act. This proposed legislation aims to reform checkoff boards by prohibiting checkoffs, also referred to as research and promotion programs, from contracting with an organization that engages in lobbying, conflicts of interest, or anticompetitive activities that harm other commodities.

This bill would also require that checkoffs publish all budgets and disbursements of funds for the purposes of public inspection and submit to periodic audits by the USDA Inspector General. This would prevent the American Soybean Association and the U.S. Soybean Board/Our Soy Checkoff (USB) from working together on behalf of U.S. soybean farmers.

However, the strict compliance that the soy checkoff follows dispels the claims made by supporters of the OFF Act, as USB is prohibited from using resources to influence public policy. Funds collected or received by USB cannot be used in any manner for the purpose of influencing legislation or any policy or action of the U.S. government, any foreign or state government, or any political subdivision of those entities. With no public tax dollars involved, USB and its work are funded entirely through soybean checkoff assessments collected from farmers.

ASA strongly opposes this legislation and has been working with leadership in both the House and Senate to educate congressional leaders on the countless benefits checkoff programs bring to farmers. Soybean checkoff programs allow soybean farmers to invest in programs that enhance markets and the overall value of soybeans.

Producer checkoff programs are a valuable tool in building new demand and educating on issues that threaten the future of farming. For every dollar farmers invest in the soy checkoff, they receive a $12.34 return on investment through the results of USB promotion, research and education.

Every year, checkoff-supported research helps bring dozens of new soy products to market. U.S. companies now offer approximately 1,000 soy biobased products.

Due in part to research funded by the soy checkoff, the Goodyear® Tire & Rubber Company introduced tires featuring soybean oil in 2021. Goodyear has a stated goal of eliminating its dependence on petroleumbased oil by the year 2040, which bodes well for the future of this market. Building on this success, Skechers running shoes now use the same rubber technology found in Goodyear tires.

In April, ASA along with other major ag associations, submitted comments to lawmakers opposing the OFF Act while explaining the numerous benefits checkoffs provide to farmers.

In the letter to leaders of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, the groups maintain the OFF Act, “would set producers back decades in the work which has been done to promote our commodities and improve the businesses and livelihoods of our members. Checkoff

programs have made significant, measurable strides raising the level of demand for each of our respective products. Without these programs, demand and education outreach efforts would be adversely impacted to an immense degree.”

Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023

On April 26, the House passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, legislation to increase the debt limit through the spring of 2024, by a narrow vote of 217-215 after days of tense negotiations. The bill will now move to the Senate, where it is not expected to pass in its current form if brought up for a vote.

ASA continues to support Congress and the administration identifying a bipartisan solution that will prevent a debt default and hopes that this vote will help jumpstart formal negotiations.

After hours of closed-door negotiations with biofuels champions, Republican leadership agreed to make significant changes to the biofuels tax credit repeals originally included in this debt limit bill. Of note, the repeal of the Biodiesel Tax Credit (BTC) extension has been removed from the legislation. That means the extension of

the BTC through 2024, as included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), would remain in effect. Other tax credits important to the ethanol industry, including the Carbon Oxide Sequestration Credit and the Second-Generation Biofuel Credit, also have been saved from the chopping block.

The new tax credit programs created under the IRA are a bit more complicated. The amended legislation would allow biofuel producers that have already entered into written contracts or made significant investments based on future tax credits between Aug. 26, 2022, and April 19, 2023, to participate in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit and Clean Fuel Production Credit created through the IRA.

However, for all other producers, these tax credits would no longer be available if this bill were to become law. While these provisions provide some relief, prohibiting future utilization of these credits would prohibit additional growth in the industry.

President Biden is continuing to threaten a veto if this package were to pass the Senate.

Rather than endorsing or opposing the House package, ASA continues to support Congress and the Administration identifying a bipartisan solution that will prevent a debt default. We will continue to track any developments that may relate to biofuels tax policy.

So far, an exciting start to spring for America’s corn growers

BY KATHY REDING BERGREN Director of Public Policy and Renewable Fuels National Corn Growers Association

The month of March was marked by momentum from both the new Congress and our NCGA team. The reintroduction of bills that advance ethanol as an energy, climate and economic solution and our ongoing congressional education campaigns continue to keep NCGA an active voice when it comes to promoting renewable fuels.

We are advancing our ethanol policy priorities, but there is much more to be done. Here is the latest on our efforts and what is to come for NCGA.

Next Generation Fuels Act reintroduction

Recently, the U.S. Senate and House reintroduced legislation that has been a top advocacy priority for NCGA and state corn grower associations – the Next Generation Fuels Act. This bipartisan bill would establish a clean, highoctane standard for fuel to enable automakers to deploy advanced engines that improve vehicle fuel efficiency and cut emissions, taking advantage of higher ethanol blends. Our message to Congress is that the Next Generation Fuels Act will lower fuel prices, reduce emissions and maintain a wider range of future vehicle and fuel choices. Thank you to the leaders on this legislation for supporting our nation’s clean energy future and a level playing field in transportation.

Consumer Fuel and Retailer Choice Act reintroduction

In mid-March, bipartisan House and Senate members reintroduced

the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, legislation that would ensure permanent full market access to low-cost, low-emission E15 fuel, often marketed as Unleaded 88. We thank our leaders who led and supported the charge to put the Consumer Fuel and Retailer Choice Act back on the table.

While we continue to work with supporters in Congress on enacting this permanent solution, NCGA and state corn grower associations are also advocating for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use its existing authority to prevent a disruption in E15 availability this summer. The agency used this emergency authority successfully last year to increase the fuel supply, maintain access to lower cost fuel and reduce emissions with E15. With similar fuel market conditions expected this summer, we’re asking EPA to act again to keep E15 in the market while Congress works toward a permanent fix.

What NCGA is working on

NCGA continues to educate policymakers on the importance of ethanol as a long-term energy and climate solution. Through our ongoing advertising campaigns, we are meeting key audiences where they are at and calling on them to support expanded ethanol access. On Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, users are driven to our ethanol landing page and blog posts like this one to learn more about NCGA and our advocacy efforts. Through a Focus Index sponsored piece on POLITICO, we lay out the steps Congress can take to ensure Americans have greater access to ethanol’s benefits.

Even with the progress of the last few weeks, there is still much work to be done on these and other issues. To stay up to date on our efforts and do your part to support beneficial policies for biofuels, text COB to 52886.

Proud to serve in Congress, but prefer Washington County to Washington, D.C.

BY U.S. REP. ERIN HOUCHIN Republican, Indiana District 9

Though I enjoy being your representative in Congress, I do like Washington County much better than Washington, D.C. I prefer the beauty of our farmland, the pace of the lifestyle, and the work ethic born of a relationship with the land.

I’m proud to live in and represent an agricultural district, and I always keep that in mind when I work in D.C.

I am in-district in southern Indiana as often as possible. Not only am I personally enmeshed in the farming community, I meet regularly with our farmers. During recent weeks, I visited Rose Acre Farms in Seymour and Spreen Farms in Williams, where we discussed issues faced by these farmers every day.

I appreciate organizations like the Indiana Soybean Alliance for hosting discussions to keep me in touch with farmers’ needs.

The 2023 Farm Bill is on the top of everyone’s mind. The feedback I have received from farmers is that they want certainty. That means not only the predictability that comes with efficiently passing the legislation, but also provisions that help with managing risk.

I know that farmers face the whims of the weather and the volatility of markets. This is particularly difficult for young farmers who have more difficulty enduring setbacks. Please rest assured that I am working with Ag Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. G.T. Thompson (D-Ga.) to achieve certainty in the process and the outcome.

As you all know, the farm bill is expansive and will have many provisions that relate to the committees on which I currently serve. As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, I will examine the credit and loan titles of the farm bill and

any rural housing and development provisions. These are essential to how farmers manage finances and workforce issues.

In my position on the Education and Workforce Committee, I will also seek opportunities to impact workforce and agricultural education provisions to make sure our agricultural workforce is prepared to meet the challenges of the future. I also have an extensive background in broadband development, an infrastructure piece that I know is critical for farmers, particularly in southeastern Indiana. I will be seeking ways to improve access in this area.

As the farm bill moves through the process my priority is to provide certainty and opportunity to southern Indiana farmers. Indiana farms have a deep-rooted tradition of keeping our families fed and our nation strong.

I love being home in southern Indiana because of our beautiful farms and hardworking people. I promise to work tirelessly – just as you do every day – to ensure our farmers are prioritized and supported in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin represents Indiana’s Ninth District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected in November 2022, she is serving her first term in office.

Most farmers are concerned about programs in the next farm bill, according to U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Dist. 9), as she met with growers from her district recently.

U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Dist. 9) talks to a group of farmers recently while back in her southern Indiana district during Congress’ April recess.

M&P, ICGA host Coffee Shop Talks to connect farmers to lawmakers

BY STEVE HOWELL, Senior Director for Industry Affairs

Each year, the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership & Policy Committee (M&P) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) host Coffee Shop Talks with members of Indiana’s congressional delegation while Congress is on recess.

This is an opportunity for a small group of local farmers to meet with their own congressional representatives and senators to discuss issues facing soybean and corn farmers. This small-group approach is important as it gives more opportunity to delve deeper into the impact various national issues have on corn and soybean farmers.

This year, M&P and ICGA hosted two Coffee Shop Talks: one with U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Dist. 5) and another U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Dist. 9).

On March 14, ICGA and M&P staff organized a Talk with Rep. Spartz in Pendleton, Ind. with local farmers to highlight the need for adequate safety net programs within the 2023 Farm Bill and to discuss burdensome regulations like the EPA’s latest Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule.

M&P and ICGA met with Rep. Houchin on April 6 at the Rose Acre Corporate Headquarters in Jackson County, Ind. Area farmers highlighted many vital agricultural issues important including biofuels, trade infrastructure and the reauthorization of the farm bill.

The meeting at the Rose Acre facility provided a perfect backdrop to explain how corn and soybeans move as livestock feed and highlight the importance of infrastructure, ag labor and how the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program work to open new markets for commodities and, specifically, corn and soybeans through poultry product exports.

The Houchin Coffee Shop Talk was sponsored by First Farmers Bank and Trust.

Coffee Shop Talks, organized by ICGA and M&P, provide an opportunity to speak one-on-one with a member of Congress. Here, U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin speaks with two farmers from the Jackson County, Ind., area

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With ICGA President Scott Smith, at right, listening, U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Dist. 5) explains her goals in the upcoming farm bill debate in Congress. Rep. Spartz met with eastcentral Indiana farmers during a Coffee Shop Talk, organized by M&P and ICGA, in Pendleton, Ind., during Congress’ April recess.

Re-authorization of farm bill the primary mission for 2023

BY STEVE HOWELL, Senior Director for Industry Affairs

As many farmers are aware, the 2018 Farm Bill expires later this year – necessitating a re-authorization before Sept. 30.

There is a strong commitment from both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to have a bill completed this year. With a robust hearing schedule – both on Capitol Hill and at field hearings across the country –the commitment to deliver a farm bill on time seems to be sincere.

More important than an on-time farm bill is the need for policy that works for corn and soybean farmers. The farm bill’s purpose is to stabilize our nation’s food supply, and an important element of that stability is safety-net programs for farmers.

We have had many opportunities to highlight our priorities with our congressional delegation during the past year – Shop Talk meetings on Indiana farms last summer, DC Flyins which included staff and farmerleaders, Coffee Shop Talks in the district while lawmakers are back in Indiana, as well as the constant communication on priorities through email and phone calls.

This year, the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership & Policy Committee (M&P) joined forces with Indiana Farm Bureau to host Farm Bill Listening Sessions with Indiana’s congressional delegation during the April recess.

These Listening Sessions featured Sen. Mike Braun and U.S. Representatives Jim Baird, Frank Mrvan, Greg Pence, Erin Houchin and Rudy Yakym. Each meeting proved to be engaging and insightful for both the Members of Congress and the farmers in attendance.

Key programs within the farm bill that help stabilize the industry are crop insurance and Title I programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). Given the increased cost of planting and raising an acre of corn and an acre of soybeans, crop insurance is a must.

Few farms can obtain financing without some level of crop insurance coverage and, even if a farm is established well enough financially to not need an operating loan, farmers cannot afford to have the seed, fertilizer and other inputs left uncovered. The stakes are too high to not have our crops insured.

ARC and PLC reference prices were established under the 2018 Farm Bill. These levels, $8.40 per bushel for soybeans and $3.70 per bushel for corn, were based on market projections in 2018 and simply are not at a high enough level to reflect the reality of

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-Dist. 1) discusses various ag issues with ISA Board Director Denise Scarborough during a farm bill listening session organized by ICGA, ISA and Indiana Farm Bureau.

U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Dist. 9) talked with farmers at a farm bill listening session at a farm in Lawrence County, Ind.

U.S. Rep. Jim Baird (R-Dist. 4)

U.S. Rep. Greg Pence (R-Dist. 6)

higher prices and higher input costs. If these reference prices are not adjusted upward to reflect our new market realities, this safety net will not work.

Given the new realities of market prices and input costs, this “safety net” is lying on the concrete. Yes, it will catch us, but it’s really going to hurt and not provide much protection for corn and soybean farmers.

The Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD) are successful programs within the farm bill. MAP and FMD have provided the needed assistance from USDA to partner with commodity checkoff programs to open new foreign

Farmers, FFA students and industry stakeholders pose with U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Dist. 2) following a farm bill listening session.

markets for our products. This funding has been flat, however, for nearly 20 years. Additional investment in MAP and FMD is needed to continue this vital market development work.

Conservation programs, if funded through the farm bill or not, need to remain voluntary and incentive based. Not all conservation programs work on every farm, so participation decisions need to remain solely with the farmer.

There is a concern this approach may change to have more strings attached to other programs to require conservation programs and we are committed to preventing that approach.

Take action to help Hoosier farmers

Become a lifetime member of Indiana’s corn and soybean policy groups

The Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership & Policy Committee (M&P) represent our state’s farmers in the legislative halls in Indianapolis and Washington, D.C. These organizations need your membership to influence federal and state lawmakers. Indiana soybean and corn growers can now save money and eliminate the hassle of annual renewals by purchasing a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP to both ICGA and M&P. For only $1,700, you can be a member of both ICGA and M&P for life!

Anyone interested in buying this membership, should contact Industry Affairs Outreach Manager Khyla Goodman by phone at 317-614-0377 or by email at kgoodman@indianasoybean.com. Or, you can go to our website, www.indianasoybean.com/memberships, to join!

Lifetime Members: Phil Ramsey Courtney Kingery Matthew Lucas Tyler Everett

Phil Ramsey

Shelbyville, Ind., farmer

“Farmers before me, spent time and money standing up for the agriculture industry. It’s my time to step up and support the effort of Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Growers Association to push for farmer friendly policies. Both at the state level and in Washington D.C. Together, our voice makes a difference.”

SAVE THE DATE! The Indiana Ag Policy Summit is scheduled for July 26 at the Howard County Fairgrounds in Greentown, Ind. This annual event, presented by the Indiana Soybean Alliance Membership & Policy Committee (M&P) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA), is for farmers and industry leaders to learn about agriculture policy and to network with others throughout the state. More details to come.

Indiana corn and soybean farmers tout farm bill priorities to federal lawmakers

BY DAVE BLOWER JR.

In an effort to add farmers’ voices to 2023 Farm Bill debate, several Indiana soybean and corn farmers traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to talk with federal lawmakers, their staffs and other industry leaders to influence this vital ag spending policy.

Ferdinand, Ind., farmer J.R. Roesner represented the interests of corn growers with Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and the staff of U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Dist. 9) during his visit. In addition to serving as a director on both the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Corn Growers Association boards, he is also a National Corn Board member with the National Corn Growers Association.

“Right now, there are many issues that need to be covered in Congress,” Roesner said. “Of course we talked about various farm bill programs such as crop insurance and trade promotion programs, but we also needed to talk about expanding demand for ethanol – such as year-round E15 – as well as the trade issue on biotech corn with Mexico.”

For the American Soybean Association (ASA), doing the talking and the walking around Capitol Hill were three Indiana delegates: Phil Ramsey of Shelbyville, Ind.; Elaine Gillis of Dunkirk, Ind.; and Mike Koehne of Greensburg, Ind. All three are also members of the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership & Policy Committee (M&P). They are part of ASA’s grassroots effort to create this year’s farm bill.

These delegates spoke directly to Sen. Braun, Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Dist. 2), Rep. Jim Banks (R-Dist. 3), Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Dist. 5) and Rep. Greg Pence (R. Dist. 6). The group also talked policy with Lauryn Adams, staff member of Rep. Jim Baird (R-Dist. 4), David Bean, staff

member of Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Dist. 8), and Brianna Tibbetts, staff member of Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Dist. 9). They met separately with Adam Batallio and Will Haines of Sen. Braun’s staff, as well.

Ramsey said ASA is promoting five key farm bill priorities:

• Maintaining the current crop insurance program

• Keeping farm safety net programs such as Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) in place

• Expanding investments to expand global trade of U.S. commodities

• Enhancing voluntary and incentive-based conservation programs

• Touting market opportunities for soybeans through research, rural development and nutrition

“We have five main points that start with protecting the crop insurance program, as is, and keeping the subsidies that go toward those policies in place,” Ramsey said.

“We talked a lot about the farm safety net for soybeans, PLC and ARC. We need to raise the target price and update our base acres. We had a lot of discussion trying to explain exactly what that is within the farm bill.”

More export destinations needed

The delegates added that U.S. farmers need a wider base of export destinations for U.S. crops.

“We need to invest more to promote U.S. commodities globally,” Ramsey explained. “We need to keep pushing in that direction. China has been taking about one-third of our soybeans, and we have a rocky relationship with China. We

Talking with U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Dist. 5) are, from left, ASA board members Elaine Gillis, Mike Koehne and Phil Ramsey.

Ferdinand, Ind., farmer J.R. Roesner, who is also a board member of the Indiana Corn Growers Association, talks with a member of the legislative staff of U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Dist. 9) during a visit to Washington, D.C. in March.

need to keep developing new markets around the world.”

The delegation advised the federal legislators that conservation programs are important, but they should be incentive-based and voluntary for farmers to participate.

“We really stressed that conservation programs need to be voluntary; we don’t want these programs tied to insurance or a program to be qualified for insurance,” Ramsey said. “We want to keep it all voluntary and separate because we’re talking about the whole country. There are a lot of differences between southern states and northern states and practices that are in place. It’s tough to set a blanket policy on conservation programs because farm operations vary so much.”

Lastly, ASA would like to see the federal government invest in new market opportunities through research, rural development and nutrition. “Soybeans are an amazing product and used in many food products and industrials products,” Ramsey said. “We want to continue to push forward for new uses for the soybeans we grow. It’s crucial part of market development and moving the pile.”

Steve Howell, the Senior Director of Industry Affairs for M&P, accompanied the Hoosier farmers while in Washington, D.C. He said the lawmakers they spoke with were generally optimistic about the farm bill getting adopted this year.

“The read we’ve gotten from committee leadership, both Republicans and Democrats in both the Senate and House, is that they’re committed to getting the farm bill done on time,” he said. “The farm bill is one of those few bills that is more bipartisan than other bills. There are going to be some differences of opinion, and it could get contentious given some of the reforms that may be put forward for the nutrition title. How severe that contention will be is yet to be seen, but I think the farm groups are in agreement that we want it done on time. We do have good policy in the farm bill.”

2018 Farm Bill expires in September

The existing farm bill will expire at the end of September.

Howell said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has expressed that he wants a farm bill signed before the end of this calendar year, which is why there have been so many committee meetings. One likely delay will be a discussion on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) because it comprises 85 percent of the farm bill budget. The other 15 percent of the bill covers farm production programs.

“Well, everybody we talked to seems to be optimistic that the farm bill can be done, or at least their goal is that it will be done before the end of the year,” Ramsey said. “It might not be September, but they think it would be by the calendar year. Speaker McCarthy has expressed that he wants a farm bill signed this year.”

Ramsey added that Indiana’s senators and representatives also asked the delegation for opinions about non-farm bill policies such as the Renewable Fuels Standard and the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS).

“Soy-based, renewable diesel fuel is among the top priorities of the American Soybean Association. We talked about the EPA’s Renewable Fuels Standard and soy-based fuels,” he said. “WOTUS was one of the first things they wanted to talk about besides the farm bill. We had a really good response from all of our congressional staff. Indiana is very fortunate with the caliber of staffers that each one of our congressmen and senators have.”

Ultimately, Howell said face-to-face meetings with state and federal officials is crucial to influencing new policies that will benefit farmers.

“That’s why farmers need to join the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership & Policy Committee as a duespaying member,” he said. “That’s how this work gets done. That’s how their voice is heard in Washington and in Indianapolis. We’ve got to carry that member voice out here that we need good policy, so we can continue to do the work

we love on our farms.”

Representing Indiana’s soybean farmers while on Capitol Hill were, from left, ISA Senior Director of Industry Affairs Steve Howell, Shelbyville, Ind., farmers Phil and Cindy Ramsey, Dunkirk, Ind., farmer Elaine Gillis and Greensburg, Ind., farmer Mike Koehne.

ICGA Senior Director of Industry Affairs Steve Howell, at left, along with NCGA National Corn Board member J.R. Roesner, at right, talked about the 2023 Farm Bill, expanding opportunities for ethanol and taking down trade barriers with U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) during a visit to Capitol Hill in March.

While some farmers are actual bus drivers, most are investing in schools in many other ways. As huge property and wheel tax contributors, farmers are ensuring those buses have somewhere to go, roads to travel on and fuels like biodiesel for their tanks. Farmers deliver the investment your backyard needs to prosper.

The Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance have collaborated to pull all the facts and figures together to show just how much value Farmers Deliver. From economic development to thoughtful zoning to support agriculture and all the ripple effects that come with it, this program is designed to engage Indiana county officials and economic development leaders in all the ways agriculture benefits their communities. Do you know someone who should receive this information? Visit farmersdeliver.com and fill out our contact form.

In honor of 50 years in agriculture Baugh presented with Hovde award

The 2022 Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service on Dec. 17 was presented to John Baugh, director of agricultural services and regulations for the Purdue University College of Agriculture, in recognition of a 50-year career dedicated to serving Indiana residents.

Baugh’s career began in 1972 when he took a job with Indiana Farm Bureau’s commodity and legislative departments lobbying for and promoting agriculture through livestock, carcass evaluation and meat programs. Since joining Purdue’s College of Agriculture in 1995, his work was also behind legislation involving hemp production, pesticide regulations, and research and Extension funding.

In his nomination letter, Mark LeBlanc, Indiana state chemist and seed commissioner, wrote that he has witnessed Baugh’s influence and impact at the Statehouse and with industry partners.

“His understanding of current laws and regulations paired with his willingness to listen to the needs of stakeholders across the state allows my office and others to build and

implement programs that are impactful,” LeBlanc said. “I do not think there is a community across the state that John has not visited or helped at some point in his career.”

In a letter supporting LeBlanc’s nomination, Willie Reed, dean of Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said Baugh consistently demonstrates an understanding and strong commitment to the land-grant mission and deeply cares about Indiana’s citizens.

“He emulates the same commitment to the well-being and progress of rural Indiana as President Hovde did over his 25 years as president of Purdue University,” Reed said. “I have yet to meet an individual at Purdue who knows Indiana as well as John.”

Baugh said receiving the award is humbling and noted his career achievements have been in part due to people from all over the state working together toward a common goal.

“This is a very prestigious award, and I am very honored to receive it,” Baugh said. “A fantastic bunch of folks have received this same award over the years, all serving Indiana well, and to be included in the same group of them is a great honor.”

Funded with Indiana corn checkoff dollars.

Opportunity knocks for farmers wanting to serve on Indiana corn checkoff board

BY DAVE BLOWER JR.

Hoosier farmers interested in directing Indiana’s corn checkoff investments may now petition to run for one of the five seats up for election this year. The Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) will host elections for Board of Director positions in Districts 3, 6 and 9 and also for two statewide, at-large seats.

“For many years, corn growers in Indiana have benefitted from the volunteer leadership of those who have served on the ICMC board,” said ICMC President Paul Hodgen, a Roachdale, Ind., farmer. “We rely on farmers to fill these leadership positions to help the Indiana corn industry remain strong and effective. New perspectives and ideas will help our corn research and promotion efforts.”

ICMC was established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2007 to promote the interests of corn growers in the state and to manage corn checkoff funds. Led by a board of 17 voting directors who guide corn checkoff funds on behalf of more than 20,000 Indiana corn farmers, ICMC aids corn farmers through its strategic initiatives of market development; environmental, social and economic sustainability; value creation and producer engagement.

Cooperative Extension Service offices in August. One seat is open in each of Districts 3, 6 and 9. Two statewide, at-large seats are also open. Here is the breakdown of each district:

• District 3 includes the counties of LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, DeKalb, Whitley, Allen, Huntington, Wells and Adams. Jerry Osterholt of Roanoke, Ind., represents this district.

• District 6 includes the counties of Blackford, Jay, Delaware, Henry, Randolph, Wayne, Fayette and Union. Ron Hensley of Daleville, Ind., represents this district.

Paul Hodgen ICMC President

• District 9 includes the counties of Franklin, Jennings, Jefferson, Ripley, Dearborn, Ohio, Clark, Switzerland and Scott. John Adam Jr. of Sellersburg, Ind., represents this district.

The two at-large incumbents are Tim Gauck of Greensburg, Ind., and Susan Brocksmith of Vincennes, Ind.

To run for an ICMC director seat, Indiana corn farmers must be at least 18 years old, a registered Indiana voter and a resident in the appropriate district. All farmers who submit a valid petition by June 30, will be listed as a candidate on the election ballot. Voting will take place at Purdue

Farmers can download any necessary forms at www. incorn.org/elections or by sending an email to ICMC Board Leadership Manager Amber Myers at amyers@indianacorn. org or by calling 1-800-735-0195. Forms are also available at all Purdue County Extension offices.

Newly elected directors will begin a three-year term Oct. 1, 2023. ICMC directors can serve three consecutive full terms or a total of nine consecutive years. For more details about ICMC, go online to www.incorn.org

Young farmer has his eye on diversifying future assets

BY ANN HINCH

Closing out his column in last fall’s Indiana Corn & Soybean Post, then-ISA Membership & Policy Committee Chair Matthew Chapman wrote: “Remember that without big dreams, there are no big accomplishments.”

Accomplishing his own big dreams means that within 20 years he would ideally “be diversified in 20 different businesses,” farmrelated and not. It does seem possible that Chapman, 39, could achieve this empire given his job creation pace, so far.

At 15, he and younger brother, Jacob, started a baling business to sell hay to the horse track in nearby Anderson. They ran two crews each summer, and Chapman used his share of income to help pay for a degree

from Purdue University.

Upon the birth of his first child, Grace – now 8 – he realized he wanted to replace those working weekends with time for his family, so the brothers sold the business. Chapman plowed his portion back into a trucking business, which fits his schedule better and complements the farm operation he and Jacob were taking over from their parents, Tim and Brenda.

“Trucks can work in the rain – and you can’t bale hay in the rain,” he pointed out. He now employs seven full-time drivers and is assisted behind the scenes by his wife, Brianna, also an entrepreneur who recently sold her florist businesses. Chapman also owns rental homes and is a partner in

Matthew Chapman and his wife, Brianna, have three children: Grace, 8, June, 5, and Maeva, 2. They are raising their family on their farm in Springport, Ind.

rental storage units. Most notably he and Jacob have coowned and run the second-generation Chapman Brothers family farm for the last decade, where they grow corn, soybeans and wheat and raise pigs under contract for Country View Family Farms.

They sell the soybeans to a local processor that turns them into oil and meal for pigs, and their corn splits about half-and-half between local ethanol production and to an elevator with a rail spur shipping feed to the Southeast for poultry flocks.

The first generation

“Dad always had in his head that we would come back to the farm to run it,” Chapman said, describing how Tim built his own farm over a few decades.

Raised by a third-generation farmer in Henry County, Tim Chapman followed his father’s advice to do something different – earn an accounting degree and go to work for the USDA. In the wake of the farm crisis and foreclosures in the 1980s, Tim’s dad gave him additional advice: If he was still interested in farming, rent available acreage and go in on shares of equipment and supplies with other growers.

As older farmers passed on, Tim purchased parcels of land and grew his own operation. He had an advantage over many other farmers in that he understood USDA programs from the inside and knew how to apply their requirements to his farm.

Matthew Chapman mused that if his father had begun farming out of school, he likely would have suffered in the 1980s agricultural recession, as well.

In transitioning the farm to him and Jacob in 2014, Chapman said it took not only a lot of planning but grace and patience on their father’s part to take a pay cut “and bite his tongue” to not micro-manage when the brothers

imposed their own management style. Chapman refers to this as him “letting us do dangerous things carefully.

“I learn from making mistakes; sometimes, expensive ones,” he admitted.

One change the brothers have made is putting more effort into soybean preparation. He noted there has been a habit of careful prep work for corn planting compared to a more laidback attitude toward soybeans, which are seen as less profitable and more hardy. The market has changed, though, and there are now more premiums for beans. This year, for instance, the Chapmans are expanding their production of high-oleic soybeans.

Another effort he tried in 2021 wasn’t as successful. He seeded one winter wheat field with every other row missing and at soybean planting time, put beans into those empty rows. Chapman said he was copying another farmer successfully incorporating the planting with his manure application, the idea being that the taller wheat shields young soy plants from weather – and when wheat is harvested, the introduction of sunlight feeds bean photosynthesis at a crucial stage. Too, the remaining chaff helps soil hold water and reduces weed pressure.

The goal is to sacrifice some wheat yield for more beans than one gets in a bean-only field and protect soil health. At the time, Chapman realized his was an imperfect experiment because he did not have the specialized equipment the original grower had modified for himself.

“I kind of tried to cheat with some of the stuff I already had,” he said. “Didn’t work as good as I liked.”

Neither crop was spectacular since he found it impossible to harvest the wheat fully without cutting off the tops of bean plants with his standard equipment. He knows what he did wrong and might try again someday. Done well, this may be one method to ease other indecisive growers into using cover crops. For one, winter wheat is a familiar crop that has harvest value; second, if the crop “is a

U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) visited the Chapman farm in the summer of 2022 for a Shop Talk hosted by the Indiana Soybean Alliance Membership & Policy Committee and the Indiana Corn Growers Association.

Although he spends time planning and working with soybean checkoff boards, Chapman also finds time to work on the farm alongside his brother, Jacob.

disaster” or has to be sacrificed to preserve the soybeans, a farmer is not out a great deal of money, still gets the benefit of wheat as cover and it’s an easier crop to burndown than, say, annual ryegrass.

Board life

In the early 2010s, newlyweds Matthew and Brianna became involved with Young Farmers of the Indiana Farm Bureau Federation. Appointed to represent their district by then-IFBF president Don Villwock, Chapman said, “That was an awesome experience and got us our first taste at serving on a larger board, and kind of whetted my appetite for the (ISA) because a lot of my same team members from that committee are on the soybean board or have been in the past.”

They were candidates for the annual Young Farmers Achievement award a few years before finally winning in 2017.

He was first elected to the ISA board in 2013 as its youngest director at the time (going on to serve nine maximum years, including as its chairman 2021-22). He has since served in other groups, including on the board for the

Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), holding a state-appointed seat on the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council and (briefly) on the U.S. Meat Export Federation – and in late 2022, appointed to the United Soybean Board by the USDA.

He ran for the ISA to see how his checkoff money was being spent and, in his words, to diversify his pool of resource people. “I tell the new guys that this is an unpaid board,” Chapman said. “They pay us in food and desserts at the meetings. But if you’re not finding a way to make money off this board” through networking and learning from more experienced farmers – “then you’re doing it wrong.

“I gained so much; I receive more than I give, for sure. I wish everybody felt that way and participated that way.”

One boon of his time on the ISA and national boards has been trade missions to other countries. “When I travel, I like to travel with a purpose, to either learn something about my competitors or learn something about how the rest of the world handles problems or how they face them,” he explained.

He has visited Costa Rica, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Dubai, Malaysia, Colombia, Morocco and, just this spring, Argentina. While it’s one thing to read trade news, it’s another level to travel somewhere. Learning more on-site about religious customs that forbid pork consumption, for instance, helped him better understand the opportunity for poultry and eggs in those markets. Traveling with brokers, distributors and restauranteurs trained him how to look for specific customer needs and marketing practices.

Sometimes the lesson is logistics. At a warehouse with local officials in Dubai, Chapman saw how Polish distributors filled their shipping containers, compared to space left over in U.S. containers as a result of weight restrictions imposed at U.S. ports. The result was that Polish shippers could sell at a lower per-unit cost and with less

During his nine years on the ISA board, Chapman was frequently interviewed by media.

Matthew Chapman is willing to try new farming techniques, and he often shares his results with other farmers.

breakage. Learning such as this aids groups like the Soy Transportation Coalition to work on lobbying for regulation changes to give U.S. farmers advantages overseas.

“It’s just something your average everyday farmer doesn’t see or think about,” he noted – including him at one time.

And while he is mindful of competition when it comes to business, Chapman likes to see other farmers succeed and to help where possible. He and others on the SWCD back home, for instance, have tried to aid those in Henry County to find and apply for cost-sharing and other incentives to transition into conservation practices like cover-cropping.

Being able to market their operations and products as “climate-smart” or “carbon-sequestering” will be savvy for farmers at some point, he noted, and many would prefer to do this at a slower pace voluntarily than be forced quickly at some point via regulation. One of the best ways to make such methods attractive to a busy farmer is to help them find a way to implement at a low cost and gradually.

The road ahead

In addition to Grace, he and Brianna have June, 5, and Maeva, almost 2 years old. Harvest is his favorite time of the year because it’s a more relaxed pace and their daughters can be more involved. June is an animal lover, and her older sister has pigs in 4-H (“But I don’t know that that’s her favorite thing,” Chapman observed).

“Every chance I get, I hide the (TV) remote from them,” he said. “I want them outside all the time.” If any want to go into agriculture, that’s wonderful – but he is more concerned with enabling each to have a choice of career.

And, in keeping them as close as they’re willing to live when they grow up. “My goal is that I have been successful enough that whatever job or career or dream they choose, we have the ability to make that happen nearby.”

He admits being away from the farm for a while was good. His father convinced him to go to college “and come back when I was mature and ready to work.” He didn’t want to go – but now is glad he did, not just for the lifelong friends he met, including his wife, but that it gave him the chance to see how well Dad could run the farm without his help. He explained this was humbling and shifted his thinking about what he could bring to the family operation as an adult.

One dream Chapman has for diversifying into those future multiple business interests is building a local complex for medical imaging or dentistry (or perhaps one of each). For example, a dental complex could contain separate offices for different specialties and all ages of patients and employ multiple dentists who share staff and insurance billing resources. This would help young dentists without capital establish their own practices and be a way for one business to “keep a customer for life, hopefully.”

And medicine seems to be a recession-proof industry, which is attractive. “In today’s world we compete a lot with outside investors … and I’m determined I’m going to be my own investor,” he added.

Compared to farming, his experience in non-ag businesses has been easier. “When you can control so many moving parts, the risk is a lot less,” he said, ticking off some things a farmer cannot dictate: weather, market prices, energy and other input costs, rent. Whereas, “if I’m not paid the rate I want for my trucks, they sit in the driveway.”

If he wasn’t farming, whatever he had chosen, “I would have to be the boss, unfortunately,” Chapman quipped. “I have too much of my dad in me to work for somebody else.”

Matthew Chapman hopes to provide his children with the opportunity to chase their dreams. He said, if those dreams include the farm, he will support that, too.

“ My goal is that I have been successful enough that whatever job or career or dream they choose, we have the ability to make that happen nearby. ’’

From distributing over 20,000 boxes of soybean crayons to educating students at the Glass Barn, to partnerships with American Lung Association and Greater Indiana Clean Cities, ISA is invested in promoting the positive impact of soybeans to millions of consumers.

We're coloring an impactful soybean story. See how at Indianasoybean.com.

Biodegradable Styrofoam replacement wins Student Soybean Innovation Competition

BY DAVE BLOWER JR.

Abiodegradable, compostable and non-toxic, soy-based foam, called StyroSoy, earned the $20,000 grand prize in the 29th annual Student Soybean Innovation Competition during a program at the Purdue Memorial Union in West Lafayette, Ind., on March 28.

StyroSoy is an environmentally friendly, plastic-free alternative to polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, which is a product owned by Dow Chemical. StyroSoy is designed to make a variety of density packaging materials, cushions, foams and additional products for protecting valuable merchandise such as electronics, houseware and other consumer items during shipping to customers.

A biodegradable, compostable and non-toxic, soy-based foam, called StyroSoy, earned the $20,000 grand prize in the 29th annual Student Soybean Innovation Competition during a program at the Purdue Memorial Union in West Lafayette, Ind., on March 28. Posing with the check are, from left, Dr. Nathan Mosier, the Soybean Utilization Endowed Chair at Purdue’s College of Agriculture; ISA CEO Courtney Kingery; Team StyroSoy members Amy Tang, Alyssa Choi, Valeria Tellez Gallego and Louis Edwards Caceres-Martinez, ISA Board Director Denise Scarborough, ISA Chair Mike Koehne and AgriNovus CEO and President Mitch Frazier.

The four-member winning team consists of Louis Edwards Caceres-Martinez, of Bogota, Colombia, a PhD student at the School of Engineering Technology at Purdue University; Alyssa Choi, a Purdue sophomore studying biological engineering from Addison, Ill.; Valeria Tellez Gallego, a PhD student studying industrial and physical pharmacy from Bogota, Colombia; and Amy Tang, a Purdue sophomore from Sao Paulo, Brazil, studying biological engineering and pharmaceutical sciences.

The Student Soybean Innovation Competition is sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and Purdue Uni-

versity. To win, Purdue students must develop novel applications for soybeans that satisfy a market need. This is among the most popular events each year for Indiana’s soybean checkoff.

“The goal of the competition is to showcase the versatility of soybeans while tackling a need in agriculture or the general public,” said Denise Scarborough, a farmer from LaCrosse, Ind., and the chair of ISA’s Sustainability and Value Creation Committee. “ISA looks forward to working with Purdue students each year and seeing what unique products they create. The results of this event expand opportunities and markets for all Indiana soybean growers. The students who came up with StyroSoy created a safe and necessary product that we think many businesses will use.”

A biodegradable alternative

StyroSoy’s creators said their product could significantly reduce polystyrene (Styrofoam) final disposal, which currently encompasses 30 percent of U.S. landfills and does not decompose. The annual estimated cost in landfills due to polystyrene is calculated at $665 million. “Our product is an eco-friendly product that can replace polystyrene for packaging (and insulation) purposes,” said Choi, a StyroSoy co-creator.

“StyroSoy not only offers equivalent commercial performance versatility to polystyrene, but also, economic

Prior to the awards ceremony, many attendees were interested in the StyroSoy product. StyroSoy earned the most votes to also win the People’s Choice award. This $500 award is determined by votes of the more than 200 attendees prior to the awards ceremony.

Earning second place this year, and a $10,000 prize, were the creators of SoySafe, a soy-based replacement for construction-quality drywall that is fire resistant and environmentally friendly. Team SoySafe consists of three Purdue sophomores including Sarah Juffer, an animal science major from Fishers, Ind.; Charles Sebright, an agricultural and biological engineering major from East Berlin, Penn.; and Josh Stephenson, a biochemistry major from Muncie, Ind.

competitiveness with respect to other petroleum-based and alternative packaging products,” she added. “Replacing petroleum-based products is critical in the packaging industry given the unsustainability and catastrophic impacts on environment and human health associated with the use of polystyrene.”

Polystyrene is associated with the formation of

Finishing third, and earning a $5,000 prize, were the creators of SOYscara, which is a mascara that is composed of mainly soy materials. Team SOYscara consists of three Purdue students including freshman engineering major Jason Li of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sophomore biological engineering major Alison Dunbar of New Lenox, Ill. And sophomore biological engineering major Conway Zheng of Bethany, Okla.

microplastics and nanoplastics, which are harmful to the environment and human health. Microplastics from polystyrene are among the most frequently detected polymers in water sources. These plastics could be found in marine invertebrates that will later be transferred to fish, and finally, in people through seafood consumption.

The social cost associated with the polystyrene production

ISA Student Soybean Innovation Competition winners

YEAR

PRODUCT

TEAM MEMBERS

1995 Crayon Jocelyn Wong, Thomas Chang and Don Rode

1996 . . . . Fire starter . . . . . . . Amy Khal and Brian Beales

1997 Birthday candle Amy Khal, Rahul Nair and Adam Watkins

1998 Ski wax Ryan Howard and Faye Mulvaney

1999 Cereal Aaron Davis, Jon Gray and Laura Zimmer

2000 Gel (tie) Ryan Howard and Faye Mulvaney

2000 Cracker (tie) Amanda Zeltner, Melody Marshall and Markelle Grossman

2001 Heating fuel Matt Peter, Louis Cassens and Bekki Kennedy

2002 Marker Brian Costigan, Mindy Durack, Rylie Vance and Amanda Stewart

2003 No Contest

2004 Nail polish remover Ruth Hegarty and Courtney Howard

2005 Pectin jam Phil Dorroll, Courtney Howard and Ruth Hegarty Pinto

2006 No Contest

2007 No Contest

2008 Waffle bowl (tie) Brian Hunter, Clay Arnett and Todd Case

2008 Clay pigeons (tie) Benn Hall, John Mullen, David Conway and Adrien Boeh

2009 Cupcake liners Marcianne Colglazier, Victoria Horton, Erin Rosswurm and Anna Verseman

2010 Soy Tabs excipient Danielle Carpenter, Krista Eakins, Ryan Fox and Brittany Phillips

2011 . . . . . Denture cream . . . . . . Manaz Taleyarkhan, Ankit Gupta, Alvin Ang and David Barron

2012 Flexible circuit board Aniruddha Kelkar, Carmen Valverde-Paniagua and Anand Venkatesan

2013 Fiber insulation Anshu Gupta, John Grace and Solwoo Kim

2014 3D printer material Carmen Valverde-Paniagua, Nicole Devlin and Yanssen Tandy

2015 Air freshener Evan Anderson, Sean Anderson and Sara Richert

2016 . . . . Exfoliating bead . . . . . . Samuel Lewis, Steve Ferris, Alison Switzer and Ryan Pendergast

2017 Air filter Anderson Smith, Andrew Huang, Sushant Mehan and Samaneh Saadat

2018 Hydroseeding tech Terence Babb, Susan Hubbard, Jacob Semonis and Christopher Stichter

2019 Drinking straws Morgan Malm, Ruth Zhong and Natalie Stephenson

2020 Herbicide Alyson Chaney and Peyton Clark

2021 . . . Biostimulant . . . . . . . . . Cai Chen, Nathaniel Nauman and Emmanuel Alagbe

2022 Soy mulch Libby Plassard, Ethan Miller and Zuhal Cakir

2023 StyroSoy Alyssa Choi, Amy Tang, Valeria Tellez Gallego and Louis Edwards Caceres-Martinez

is estimated to be between $4.9 billion and $7 billion per year. Specifically, benzene and styrene are associated with the development of leukemia, and the estimated treatment costs reach $108 million per year.

“Our product offers a non-toxic alternative as it replaces materials that include benzene and styrene, carcinogenic compounds that threaten human lives,” Choi explained.

StyroSoy was also the winner of the People’s Choice award. This $500 award is determined by votes of the more than 200 attendees prior to the awards ceremony.

Many people involved

This year, 12 teams composed of 34 Purdue University students and 24 faculty advisors finished the competition. These students represent a variety of majors including agronomy, biological engineering, animal science, pharmacy and environmental and natural resource engineering. Each team works with two faculty advisors who provide technical and market research support.

This year’s judges included four ISA board members: Dylan Christopher of Brookston, Ind.; Jason Misiniec of Bicknell, Ind.; Brian Warpup of Warren, Ind.; and Anngie Steinbarger of Edinburgh, Ind. Also three industry experts served as judges including Andy Shafer with Shafer Consulting, Brit Walker with ADM and Mitch Frazier, CEO of Agrinovus Indiana.

The contest introduces Purdue students to the multifaceted uses and vast potential of soybeans while drawing on students’ creativity to develop products that utilize soy. Following the contest, ISA works to develop the products, evaluate their long-term feasibility and commercial viability.

“Indiana soybean checkoff funds are used to find new uses and new markets for our soybeans, which creates more demand and helps our farms to be more profitable and sustainable,” said ISA Chair Mike Koehne, a farmer from Greensburg, Ind. “This event allows ISA to create relationships with bright and innovative students and their mentors at Purdue. Some of the products from this contest will help us move more soybeans into the market.”

Previous contest winners include last year’s Team Smulch, which produced a soybean-based mulch and playground surface. In 2021, Team Biostimulant made a liquid biostimulant, designed to promote growth in crops grown in vertical farms. HerbiSoy, a non-toxic, soy-based herbicide, was the winner from 2020. And in 2019, drinking straws made from soybean plastic, called Stroy, won. The ever-popular soybean crayons and soy candles are past winners, as well.

Other winners

Earning second place this year, and a $10,000 prize, were the creators of SoySafe, a soy-based replacement for construction-quality drywall that is fire resistant and more environmentally friendly than gypsum-based drywall. SoySafe drywall is also cheaper and easier to produce than commonly used drywall products. Team SoySafe consists of three Purdue sophomores including Sarah Juffer, an animal science major from Fishers, Ind.; Charles Sebright, an agricultural and biological engineering major from East

Berlin, Penn.; and Josh Stephenson, a biochemistry major from Muncie, Ind.

All three were members who finished second in last year’s competition with a soy-based ink for markers that can be used on dry-erase boards called Brilliant Bean.

Finishing third, and earning a $5,000 prize, were the creators of SOYscara, which is a mascara that is composed of mainly soy materials. SOYscara is made from 99 percent natural, organic ingredients. The soy-based formula is a better option for personal wellness, and it is also more sustainably sourced than the materials that make up most of the affordable products on the shelf. Team SOYscara consists of three Purdue students including freshman engineering major Jason Li of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sophomore biological engineering major Alison Dunbar of New Lenox, Ill. And sophomore biological engineering major Conway Zheng of Bethany, Okla.

Indiana soybean farmers’ investment in finding new soybean innovations is not limited to the competition. The state soybean checkoff also funds the Soybean Utilization Endowed Chair at Purdue’s College of Agriculture, Dr. Nathan Mosier, to lead research into new uses for soybeans.

At present, ISA is working with companies in the concrete industry to market an innovative soy-based concrete durability enhancer developed through checkoff-funded research at Purdue University. This soy-based product, called PoreShield, is ideal for concrete roadway infrastructure where protecting the environment is a key requirement or consideration.

Go online to https://indianasoybean.com/checkoffinvestment/new-uses-innovation for more details on ISA’s investment in soybean innovation. To view the awards ceremony, go online to the ISA’s YouTube page at https://bit.ly/3TRlHD2

More than 200 farmers, students and industry stakeholders attended the 29th annual Student Soybean Innovation Competition during a program at the Purdue Memorial Union in West Lafayette, Ind., on March 28.

New uses for field corn wanted in in fourth Consider Corn Challenge

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is launching its fourth Consider Corn Challenge. This open-innovation contest invites participants to answer the call and submit proposals for new uses of field corn as a primary feedstock for producing novel sustainable chemicals and products with quantifiable market demand.

“Consumers have a genuine interest in biobased products; and corn is investing in solutions to meet that need,” said NCGA Market Development Action Team (MDAT) Chair and Colorado farmer Troy Schneider. “In order to continue drawing in the cutting-edge, gamechanging participation we have seen for the past three years, the prize pool for the fourth challenge has been increased to $250,000.”

Previous winners of the Consider Corn Challenge contests have scaled up to the next phase of development, received additional grant funding, entered into joint agreements and obtained registration for state biobased production incentives.

“The Consider Corn Challenge brought Låkril Technologies visibility and contact with multiple corn growers associations and industrial corporations,” said Chris Nicholas, co-founder and president of Låkril Technologies and a past winner of Consider Corn Challenge III. “Relationships developed from this interaction allowed us to scale out and expand our business.”

If all 15 winners of the Consider Corn Challenge I, II and III reached full commercialization with products available in the marketplace, the potential for additional corn demand would be approximately 3.4 billion bushels.

“As corn farmers continue to press forward with advanced technology that allows them to do more with less, they are able to meet the growing needs for food, feed, fuel and new uses,” Schneider added. “This contest continues to help us think outside of the box and to meet the needs of our customers who are asking for sustainable, biobased products.”

One to six winners will be selected for the Consider Corn

Challenge IV, with a total prize of $250,000, split equally between winners. The submission deadline is June 30, at 5 p.m. CT; and winners will be announced at October’s Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) in San Francisco, Calif.

Success criteria

Scoring will be based on the entry’s ability to address and show alignment to NCGA’s evaluation criteria. An entry should enable or provide access to a new market for corn, with preference given to entries that focus on one or more of these five specific application areas:

• Novel mixes of PLA, PBS, and PLH or other combination or molecule for the purpose of timed degradable plastic. Shelf-life information should be included in submission details.

• Novel mixes of glucose-derived PHA and PBS or another biobased compostable with high tensile strength and environmental biodegradability. Entries compatible with ruminant digestion will score higher.

• Heavy duty fuels or drop in chemicals (e.g., sustainable aviation fuel; biodiesel derived from corn glucose derived directly from fermentation to lipids or catalysis from ethanol, bunker fuel, etc.)

• Carbon fiber application (biobased polyacrylonitrile)

• Other high value molecules or platform molecule that can demonstrate at least two derivatives with short term commercial application.

The approach uses components of the corn kernel – or corn-based ethanol – as primary feedstock. Entries will be evaluated based on volume of corn utilized.

A preference will be given to approaches that significantly drive the utilization of field corn. Preference will also be given to entries that have already demonstrated the proposed technology at laboratory scale, producing at least milligram quantities. Finally, a preference is given if there is a clear path to commercialization or if the entrant has demonstrated experience in taking a process or plan from lab scale to commercial scale.

One to six winners will be selected for the Consider Corn Challenge IV, with a total prize of $250,000, split equally between winners. The submission deadline is June 30, at 5 p.m.

Ideally, the entry team has available funding or support from potential commercialization partners.

Entry eligibility

All entries should address one of these five categories:

• Biobased materials from novel mixes of corn-derived plastics

• Compostable plastics with high tensile strength, such as netting or packaging materials

• Heavy duty fuels or drop in chemicals (e.g., sustainable aviation fuel; biodiesel derived from corn glucose, bunker fuel, etc)

• Carbon fiber

• Other high-value molecules

A previous entry submitter who did not win may submit again if they have made substantial improvements and progress towards commercialization or have identified new markets which may offer greater volumes of corn utilization. The following individuals are ineligible to submit:

• Submissions from individuals who do not own the represented intellectual property (IP) or who have not been authorized by the IP owner(s) to submit on their behalf are ineligible.

• A previous winner of the Consider Corn Challenge I or Consider Corn Challenge II or Consider Corn Challenge III may not submit a proposal that represents substantially the same approach that NCGA already recognized as a winner.

The following types of approaches are ineligible:

• Proposals which provide only incremental improvements for established commercial processes.

• Approaches that displace corn in a 1:1 fashion, for example a technology for converting corn to fuel ethanol that doesn’t dramatically improve economics.

Consider Corn Challenge is an open-innovation contest that invites participants to submit proposals for new uses of field corn as a primary feedstock for producing novel sustainable chemicals and products with quantifiable market demand.

• Proposals for new foods derived from corn.

• Proposals for sweet corn.

Submission requirements

Applicants must download, complete, and submit the Consider Corn Challenge IV (CCCIV) entry form by 5 p.m., Central time, on June 30. Applicants may upload supplemental documents with the submission. The non-confidential Challenge entry should use the CCCIV entry form and include the following:

• A clear, concise description of your proposed approach, including which of the five specific application areas the approach addresses and which feedstock the entry is based upon, and at what quantities.

• An indication of the technical maturity of the proposed approach to include supporting data and availability of samples.

• Describe the steps, activity, estimated budget and timeline to reach commercial scale.

• Discuss the intellectual property (IP) related to your approach and provide letter/s of support and prospects for matching funds to support commercialization, if available.

• Disclose any prior support the applicant has received from NCGA or other state corn associations.

• Describe the entry team’s background and related experience in commercializing new technology.

• Optionally, provide a private link to a short (2-5 minute) video presentation in which the team pitches its entry and capabilities.

Applicants who require assistance to submit an entry should contact NCGA at considercorn@ncga.com

To learn more, go online to ncga.com/ConsiderCorn

Make Moves with U.S. Soy

Our founding farmers took action 22 years ago to launch ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health so WISHH could grow new markets for U.S. Soy. Today, WISHH is working with strategic partners that use soy for food or feed in 28 countries across Asia and Latin America to sub-Saharan Africa.

Find out how WISHH’s three pillars of trade, development and food security cultivate new markets for U.S. Soy protein.

Trade. Development. Food Security.

USMEF: Red meat exports are moving large piles of soybeans, corn overseas

Indiana corn and soy growers have made significant progress in moving the pile through a comprehensive plan that has dramatically increased corn and soy usage. A key part of that plan is a continued commitment to promotion of red meat exports.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom and Senior Vice President for Industry Relations John Hinners recently traveled to Indianapolis to discuss marketing efforts with a broad spectrum of Indiana ag organizations. At the start of that meeting, Courtney Kingery, the CEO of the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council highlighted the investment the organizations have made in USMEF.

“In 2022, the combined impact of meat exports to Indiana corn and soybeans is valued at $345 million,” Kingery said. “Over the past three years, ISA and ICMC have invested $2.7 million to support U.S. meat promotion efforts in key markets. Indiana soybean and corn directors are investing in moving the pile and receiving strong return on that investment.”

economic impact of $13.87 billion for U.S. corn and $8.3 billion for U.S. soybeans, contributing more than $1 to the per-bushel value of corn and $1.94 to the value of soybeans. That’s moving the pile.

These strong returns have come through strong partnerships with Indiana producers, including investments in South Korea building new pork product demand, support of mobile grilling education and the American Pure Pork campaign in Mexico, promotion of chilled and value-added pork cuts in Japan as well as educational efforts in China, Colombia, Peru and Central America.

Porkstars is an event in Vietnam where top chefs from across the country compete to be named a Porkstar and have the chance to interact with leading chefs in the industry. The event not only promotes U.S. pork as a quality centerpiece for restaurants in Vietnam, but it promotes a broad variety of recipes and cooking styles – all made possible through support from Indiana.

EXPORTING INDIANA CORN THROUGH U.S. BEEF

EXPORTING INDIANA CORN THROUGH U.S. BEEF AND PORK

In 2022, the market value of beef and pork exports to Indiana Corn = $241.21 million

According to a study conducted by World Perspectives, 2022 pork exports accounted for 7.03 million bushels of Indiana soybean usage, contributing $111.55 per Indiana soybean acre.

million

In 2022, the market value of beef and pork exports to Indiana Corn = $241.21 million

AND PORK

And, of course, there is “Porkstars,” a prestige event in Vietnam where top chefs from across the country compete to be named a Porkstar and have the chance to interact with leading chefs in the industry. The event not only promotes U.S. pork as a quality centerpiece for restaurants in Vietnam, but it promotes a broad variety of recipes and cooking styles – all made possible through support from Indiana.

In 2022, the market value of beef and pork exports to Indiana DDGS = $61.83 million

In 2022 beef and pork exports contributed 15% of bushel value = $1.01 at an average price of $6.75 per bushel

In 2022 beef and pork exports contributed 15% of bushel value = $1.01 at an average price of $6.75 per bushel

On the corn side, red meat exports accounted for 35.73 million bushels for a per-acre value of $191.90. Beef and pork exports also consumed 3.42 million tons of DDGS with a value to Indiana of $61.8 million.

Nationally, U.S. beef and pork exports generated a total

U. S. beefandpork exportscontributed$191.90 per Indiana Corn acre at $1.01/bushel at a yield of 190 bushels/acre in 2022

U. S. beefandpork exportscontributed$191.90 per Indiana Corn acre at $1.01/bushel at a yield of

U. S. beefandpork exportscontributed$191.90 per Indiana Corn acre at $1.01/bushel at a yield of

Indiana corn and soy directors have been some of the strongest partners for U.S. red meat exports, not only through financial support, but also by sharing the quality story of U.S. product in markets around the globe. Indiana farmers have played a key role in making personal connections with beef and pork buyers in many parts of the world. It’s a partnership with USMEF that has worked well to move the pile and continues to diversify corn and soybean exports through red meat.

In 2022, the market value of beef and pork exports Indiana DDGS = $61.83 million

In 2022, the market value of beef and pork exports Indiana DDGS = $61.83 (corn consumed by beef and pork exports at average 253,408 tons

In 2022 beef and pork exports contributed 15% of bushel value = $1.01 at an average price of $6.75 per bushel

Beef and pork exports accounted for 3.42 million tons of U.S. DDGS in 2022

Beef and pork exports accounted for 3.42 million tons of U.S. DDGS

Beef and pork exports accounted for 3.42 million tons of U.S. DDGS in 2022

Indiana shipping soybeans and corn overseas through beef and pork exports

BY DAVE BLOWER JR.

Among the primary missions of the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) is developing new markets. Among the most reliable markets for Indiana’s corn and soybean farmers is one of their oldest customers – the state’s pork and beef industry.

“The ISA and ICMC boards invest in projects that move the pile and bring a strong return on investment back to Indiana corn and soybean farmers,” said Courtney Kingery, CEO for ICMC and ISA. “Livestock is the No. 1 customer for Indiana-grown corn and soybeans, and recent years have been record-setting for exports of U.S. pork and beef. This has provided a major benefit to Indiana’s corn and soybean growers.”

During the past three years, Indiana’s corn and soybean checkoff programs have invested $2.7 million to support U.S. meat promotion efforts in markets around the world. In 2022, Kingery said, the combined impact of meat exports to Hoosier soybean and corn farmers is valued at more than $340 million.

Corn and soybeans are an essential feed source for the state’s livestock.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is one of the checkoffs’ vital partners in exporting soybeans and corn through red meat exports. In April, USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations John Hinners and Director of Communications

John Herath visited the ISA-ICMC office to explain their progress in improving the value of corn and soybean crops. The USMEF develops new global markets for U.S. beef, pork and lamb exports. Nationally, in 2022 the market value of U.S. beef and pork exports to corn growers was $3.4 billion with more than 503.4 million bushels used. For soybean farmers, the 2022 market value of U.S. pork exports was $1.33 billion with more than 89.7 million bushels consumed. Hinners said livestock exports quickly add revenue to the bottom line of row-crop farmers. “Every time we export a ham, we export 15 pounds of soybean meal and more than 5 pounds of corn and

DDGs,” he explained.

USMEF’s work is paid through a variety of sources including funds from the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Emerging Market programs. In addition to membership dues and private contributions, USMEF also receives funding from beef, pork, lamb and corn and soybean checkoff programs.

“The competition in this world is real. Other countries can be aggressive,” said Hinners, who noted that Korea invested $14 million into a new beef export program. “When you have competition like that, you have to figure out how to ‘out-market’ them.”

Finding a competitive edge

Not every market is opened with the same strategy. Halstrom said some new customers are attracted by unique cuts of meat while others are encouraged by how U.S. farmers produce their crops and livestock.

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom told Indiana farmers recently that livestock exports bring significant value to corn and soybean farmers.

John Hinners

“There is a lot of collaboration between Indiana agriculture and USMEF globally. We’re interested in meat exports and the largest customers of Indiana soybeans and corn is the livestock industry, so we gave an update on where we’re at globally on the trendline,” Halstrom said.

“On the beef side, we had a record in 2022. There was broad-based growth across a lot of markets, including places like China, Southeast Asia and Korea. On the pork side, we were down a little bit last year, mainly because of China, but 2022 was still the third-largest export year ever. Leading the way has been Latin America led by Mexico, Korea and Southeast Asia on the pork side. We’re off to a very good start for pork for 2023. Through the first two months we’re up about 8-9 percent and things are looking good going forward as well on the pork export front.”

EXPORTING INDIANA SOYBEANS THROUGH U.S. PORK

Two ISA board members are on USMEF’s Executive Committee. They are Coatesville, Ind., farmer Mark Legan, who represents oilseed producers, and Flat Rock, Ind. farmer Jim Douglas, who is the United Soybean Board representative.

market value of pork exports to Soybeans = $104.30 million pork exports at average annual soybean price) $14.83 per bushel

“We raise pigs,” said Legan, who also grows soybeans and corn. “In trying to move the entire carcass of the pigs, variety meats have added over $10 per head for every pig marketed in the U.S. and those are predominantly exported. On the grain side of our operation, meat exports bring a lot of value to Indiana grain farmers. If we didn’t have those exports, it would mean less money to Indiana grain farmers, and we would have a considerably smaller livestock footprint here in the state and U.S., as well.”

true marketing tool, today,” Halstrom said.

For the estimated total economic impact: In 2022 pork exports contributed 13% of bushel value = $1.94 at an average price of $14.83 per bushel

“One of the things that is really a buzz word in all of agriculture right now is sustainability, and Dan Halstrom reported that even some of our foreign customers are starting to ask about the carbon footprint of pork produced in the U.S. for example,” said Legan, adding that ramping up sustainability efforts gives U.S. producers a competitive advantage. “When we talk about sustainability, we don’t think about it going into export markets, but helping to differentiate our product from the Canadians or Europeans, for example, makes a difference.”

2022 pork exports accounted for 7.03 million bushels Indiana soybean usage

The “variety meats” that Legan mentioned are cuts of meat that are not commonly sold in the United States. These cuts add value to livestock without adversely affecting the cost of popular U.S. cuts.

“It’s about putting the right cut in the right market to maximize the value,” Haltstrom said. “It’s not about exporting more at the expense of the domestic market. It’s about finding that balance.”

Use by Cuts Exported

contributed

$111.55 per Indiana soybean acre

Hinners explained that some markets, like many European countries, find assurance in how U.S. farmers produce crops and livestock.

“We don’t market a lot of beef in Europe, but pound for pound, it is a very valuable market for U.S. beef,” he said.

Halstrom added, “Europe is one of the biggest naysayers of U.S. agriculture, so we’re trying to hit that hard.”

“Japan, Korea and Mexico, our mainstay markets, will always be important, but we have a strategic focus on trying to grow some of the less developed countries around the world,” said Haltstrom, who cited Colombia in South America and The Philippines in Southeast Asia as examples. “We’re really excited about the prospects of some of these new markets hold in the near- to mid-term timeframe.”

Marketing the sustainability story

The USMEF executives claimed adopting popular sustainability practices helps secure export markets. “It’s a

USMEF produced a video with German red meat buyers riding horses on a ranch and learning how U.S. beef is raised. Herath said communications like that video help begin valuable conversations with markets that had been closed to U.S. products.

“It’s important in those international markets for us to put a face on how important U.S. agriculture is to us,” Herath said.

Don Lamb, the director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, said sharing the good news of the state’s farmers is a priority. “The economic impact story of Indiana agriculture is very real, but we don’t always do a very good job of telling that story. That is going to be a focus for us,” Lamb said.

U.S. pork exports

ISA Board Director and Coatesville, Ind., farmer is also on the USMEF Executive Committee representing oilseed producers.

USSEC resources convey value of U.S. Soy to international customers

BY COLBY PINKSTONE Senior Director of Strategic Programs, U.S. Soybean Export Council

U.S. Soy exports set a record of $40.42 billion in value during the 2021-22 marketing year, which wrapped up last fall. Global customers purchased the secondhighest volume of U.S. Soy to date, 71.79 million metric tons of soy products. That includes roughly 20 percent of Indiana soybean production exported from the state. Soy is recognized worldwide as a nutritious, versatile ingredient with strong sustainability credentials, and demand for livestock and aquaculture feed is growing alongside global demand for vegetable oil.

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) works to differentiate the value of U.S. Soy in the animal protein, aquaculture, vegetable oil and soy food sectors. Through tools and programs, USSEC helps global customers understand the intrinsic value of soy grown by U.S. farmers. Not all soybeans are created

equal, and USSEC believes that U.S. Soy delivers more value. For customers, knowing more about the source and quality of soy on the front end will result in optimal return on investment and performance throughout the value chain.

Calculating value

The days of evaluating soy based solely on crude protein are a thing of the past. USSEC uses an arsenal of data and research to help crushers and refiners effectively evaluate soybeans from different sources to make value-based purchasing decisions. A series of calculators help various customers quantify the value of U.S. Soy compared to soy from other origins.

The Soybean Value Calculator allows crushers to combine their data with global research to estimate the true, quality-adjusted whole soybean crush margin by accounting for factors like co-product yields, soybean meal nutrient value, soybean oil refining costs and plant efficiencies. This tool, released by USSEC last year, combines two previously developed calculators.

For soybean meal, we work with

formulators, feed producers and nutritionists to evaluate the economic nutritional value of soybean meal of various origins. We help calculate value by using formulas representative of the regional feed manufacturers combined with feed formulation data and price information.

The results inform meal purchasing decisions helping U.S. Soy customers to deliver the highest-value, most consistent and economical product to their customers, whether they are supplying livestock, poultry, or aquaculture producers.

In the vegetable oil market, the quality and value of soybean oil depends on the quality of soybeans used and the refining process. USSEC’s Soy Oil Value Calculator allows crushers and refiners to make better decisions in their soybean and soybean oil purchases based on the refining differences of the origin of the oil. It looks at the rate and the variable cost of refining for soybean oil from the United States, Brazil and Argentina.

Calculations are based on almost 500 samples of crude degummed soybean oil collected in real-world conditions. The tool can show — in real-time — the economic advantages of choosing a particular soy oil. It analyzes soybean oil refining yield, revenue potential of refined soybean oil, cost of crude degummed soybean oil and refining costs.

For the soy food market, the online Specialty U.S. Soy Database facilitates decisions as food companies and foodgrade soybean buyers select U.S. Soy varieties by intended use in soy foods. In addition to sorting for uses like tofu, miso, soy milk, soy sauce and others, the database also shares protein level, quality, composition, and genetic characteristics.

It is the single largest source of information on the quality of more than 125 U.S. soybean varieties for use in soy foods. Food manufacturers importing food-grade soybeans from Indiana use it to determine specific varieties they want Indiana farmers to raise.

The goal of this suite of tools is to foster preference for U.S. Soy among customers worldwide. They tools capture the value U.S. farmers create as they continuously improve the efficiency and sustainability of a reliable soy supply.

Documenting sustainability

Many soy customers demand proof they are delivering sustainable nutrition and energy. U.S. Soy has the lowest

carbon footprint compared with soy of other origins. U.S. Soy farmers produce more while using fewer resources, implementing farming practices that reduce carbon footprint and helping to preserve forestland.

USSEC helps customers demonstrate this with the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) and the program’s transferable certificates. The SSAP verifies that soybeans and soy products produced in the United States comply with a system of sustainability and conservation laws and regulations.

SSAP is one of the largest sustainability verification programs in the agriculture industry and has proven to be a highly reliable measure of U.S. Soy farmers’ commitment in areas like biodiversity, sustainable production practices, public and labor health and continuous improvement of farming practices.

Global customers chose SSAP certificates for 59 percent of U.S. Soy exports in Marketing Year 2021-22. SSAP shipments in 2022 increased 33 percent compared to 2021.

For companies that verify their soy purchases with SSAP certificates can also use the trademarked Sustainable U.S. Soy logo on their products. This label is now featured on more than 850 products made from U.S. Soy around the world.

Through both calculating value and documenting sustainability, USSEC helps U.S. Soy farmers capture the value they create as they raise a reliable, sustainable supply of soy.

Make Moves with U.S. Soy

WISHH connects Trade, Development & Food Security in Cambodia where fish account for 61% of households' animal protein intake. We cultivate trade with Cambodian feed mills that are buying U.S. soybean meal for the growing aquaculture industry that WISHH is developing. Our trade and development work makes protein more available in the country where 45% of Cambodians live in moderate or severe food insecurity.

Find out how WISHH’s three pillars of trade, development and food security cultivate new markets for U.S. Soy protein.

Trade. Development. Food Security.

USGC Chairman Miller hits the road to promote U.S. ethanol and feed grains

BY U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL STAFF

Indiana farmer and U.S. Grains Council Chairman Josh Miller traveled to Seoul, South Korea in April to participate at the Seoul Mobility Show. Miller was present at the Council’s booth along with staff from the Council’s Korean office to share the benefits of U.S. bioethanol with show visitors, and local press, government and ethanol stakeholders in the country.

“Josh’s visit to the mobility show received great attention from major media as well as the organizers of the Seoul Mobility Show, and his interviews and meetings with the organizer and Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy not only helped the Korea office promote bioethanol, but also created an opportunity to discuss future cooperation with the Korean government,” said Haksoo Kim, USGC director in South Korea.

The USGC recently welcomed visitors to its booth at the Seoul Mobility Show in South Korea. Pictured are USGC Chairman Josh Miller, USGC Director in South Korea Haksoo Kim and Mark Dries, Agricultural Minister-Counselor for the Office of Agricultural Affairs in Korea, to discuss the Council’s role in promoting ethanol use in Korea.

the most realistic and effective carbon reduction solution today, and the Council’s staff worldwide is working to increase knowledge and usage of this versatile product.”

While at the show, Miller helped the Korean office with their promotion of U.S. ethanol and feed grains, particularly highlighting corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

Miller had the opportunity to meet with the new chairman of the Korea Feed Association and the Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and emphasized the need to introduce ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) polices to nearly 10 major Korean media outlets. Miller also met with the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Seoul officials to discuss Korea’s corn, DDGS and ethanol markets.

Additionally, staff used this year’s event to focus on urging the government’s pilot bioethanol supply project to proceed successfully according to the biofuel expansion plan announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in October 2022, while publicizing the necessity of introducing an ethanol RFS policy.

“I’m happy to have been able to support our Korea office and represent the Council at such an influential event for Korean importers and end-users,” Miller said. “Ethanol is

The Council’s Korean office is planning to expand its target not only to automobile ethanol but also to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) this year. In July, the Council will host a climate crisis and ethanol symposium jointly with FAS Seoul and the Automobile Journalists Association to urge the Korean government to introduce policies on SAF and automobile ethanol.

Subsequently, the Council will work to accelerate the introduction of ethanol and SAF policies by the Korean government through the Global Ethanol Summit in Washington, D.C., this year.

2023-24 USGC candidates confirmed

The USGC’s Nominating Committee has met to confirm candidates for Officer and two At-Large positions that will be open at the upcoming Board of Delegates Meeting in July 2023. The committee reviewed the requirements for both the Officer and At-Large positions as stated in the Council’s bylaws and confirmed that all candidates met the qualifications. The following slate of candidates will be presented for voting at the upcoming Board of Delegates meeting:

Officer (Election of the Secretary/Treasurer)

David Ring, Indiana Corn Marketing Council

Mark Wilson, Illinois Corn Marketing Board

At-large (2 at-large positions will be open):

Jay Fischer, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council

Mark Mueller, Iowa Corn Growers Association

Jim O’Connor, Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council

Please contact Helen Elmore at helmore@grains.org for more information.

High oleic soybean oil demand makes a difference in price

High oleic soybean oil expands uses for U.S.-grown soybeans, which gives soybean farmers more demand for their products. Mike Beard chose to devote a portion of his soybean acres to high oleic soybean varieties because he’s excited about growing demand for the oil.

“More uses for our oil means a more valuable market for our soybeans,” said Beard, a soy checkoff farmer-leader from Frankfort, Ind. “We have the opportunity to gain back some of the 4 billion pounds of oil demand that we lost to alternative oil sources when the government required trans-fat labeling.”

The United Soybean Board has promoted high oleic soybeans to Midwest farmers as a premium product.

High oleic soybean oil is used in commercial kitchens and bakeries because it is heat-tolerant and shelf-stable without modification. Therefore, it can be used without creating trans fats. It’s also lower in saturated fats than other similar oils.

Restaurants like using soybean oil for frying because it doesn’t break down like other oils and it has the neutral flavor cooks want. Companies that make products like Nestle’s Coffee-Mate choose the oil to increase stability without adding trans fats. The same features that make high oleic a good choice for restaurants – heat tolerance and stability – make it attractive for industrial applications, too.

“There are high expectations for high oleic in the industrial market,” Beard said. “High oleic soybean oil can replace petroleum in lubricants and synthetic motor oil. That could be quite a market for high oleic.”

To meet the growing demand for high oleic soybean oil, more farmers have to choose to plant high oleic soybean varieties. Beard says the outlook for farmers is good, too.

“You know, not all soybeans yield exactly the same, and high oleic yields right along with the upper tier of production from commodity beans,” he said. “I had the opportunity to purchase high-yielding varieties in my desired maturity group at planting, and I’m excited about the possibilities that high oleic soybeans afford us as an industry.”

A main benefit for high oleic soybeans for farmers is the added premium for growing them. During the last two years, premiums have been $1.25 per bushel. For the 2023

crop, they are around $2.20 per bushel.

High oleic soybean acres topped 800,000 in 2022 but are expected to climb to 1.2 million in 2023. Farmers can capitalize on this demand by securing contracts soon. Farmers can learn how to secure contracts for high oleic soybean production and the premiums that come with them by visiting www.unitedsoybean.org

“This is a great opportunity for farmers to add value to their land,” said John Motter, USB Past Chair and an Ohio farmer who started growing high oleic soybeans in 2011. “It’s an attractive way for a farmer to make additional revenue, ensuring reliability to meet customer demand and furthering the reputation of U.S. Soy.”

Frankfort, Ind., farmer Mike Beard considers several factors before deciding what crops to grow each spring.

NEW USES, NEW VALUE

The Indiana corn checkoff backs research to find new corn uses. From fuel and bio-based chemicals to corn plastic — we're finding new corn uses to increase corn value

Learn more about new uses for corn at incorn.org

Multi-state researchers explore best practices for herbicide-resistant weeds

BY CAROL BROWN

Researchers across the country are working to help farmers improve weed management on their farms. Herbicides have proved effective, but several weed species are becoming resistant, and for some producers, it is not desirable to apply a lot of chemicals to their fields. The search continues to find the best management practices for control, especially for pesky weeds such as waterhemp and Palmer amaranth.

Weed management is a long-standing research topic that the United Soybean Board has supported for decades — but weeds keep evolving, necessitating the study of eradicating weeds to evolve as well. Bryan Young, a weed science professor at Purdue University, has worked in pursuit of reducing weed pressure in crop fields for years.

Young oversees a current USB multi-state project that explores best management practices for herbicide-resistant weeds in a soybean production system. The project contains several objectives, each pointing to the goal of sustainability through chemical and non-chemical weed management approaches, while also maintaining the utility of herbicides through improved herbicide stewardship.

“I define herbicide stewardship as a twofold management effort: herbicide resistance as well as herbicide off-target movement,” Young explained. “We want to help mitigate the possible evolution or the spread of new herbicide-resistant

weed species. It also encompasses making sure that once herbicide is applied, it stays where you intended to apply it.”

Young and his research team have divided the project into studies involving herbicide management and studies that explore non-chemical weed control methods including cover crops and mechanical devices. The project is divided into eight components across 16 states. The studies vary by geography to examine how location plays a part in the results.

“We tried to make sure the geography is appropriate for certain practices or whether the geography would have a large influence,” Young says. “We have projects in dry locations and in environments that have more moisture; others are in cooler environments. These geographies all have different effects on how weeds are managed.”

One component of the research focuses on weed seed control during harvest through mechanical seed destruction. Researchers in six states are testing the effectiveness of seed mills, which are attachments to the combine that grind up weed seeds before they are spread across the field with the crop chaff.

“Earlier, these harvest weed control instruments weren’t easy to find or buy. Now they are becoming a bit more mainstream,” commented Young. “But they are expensive. We are also studying the economics of their use to see what

Coatesville, Ind., farmer Mark Legan plants soybeans into a cover crop in April on his farm in rural Putnam County.

Funded with Indiana corn checkoff dollars.

kind of return-on-investment farmers may have against other means of weed control.”

Another component of this research is using cover crop biomass for weed suppression. Rodrigo Werle, assistant professor and weed specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his team are leading this component. They are researching the efficacy of planting green into a cereal rye cover crop through a project being conducted in 12 states.

“From a weed suppression standpoint, it’s about cereal rye cover crop biomass accumulation in the spring to reduce weed emergence and growth,” Werle said. “One way to allow for more cover crop biomass accumulation is through planting green, which is planting soybeans directly into the living cover crop then terminating the cover crop afterward.”

From this research, Werle and his team identified some issues with this strategy that are important for farmers to know. In some plots, although the weed suppression was good, they found some reduction in soybean stands and yield. Results also showed that the cereal rye cover crop didn’t completely eliminate the need for herbicide use. Farmers who are using cover crops for weed suppression may have some trade-offs to consider.

“Our overall results showed that using a cover crop can help the herbicide program become more robust,” Young said. “Instead of just getting 90 percent suppression of waterhemp and Palmer amaranth, we could get a 97-98 percent control when a cover crop was used in combination with an effective herbicide program.”

Another component of this research project explores the effectiveness of using harvest chaff lines for weed control.

“Chaff lining is taking the chaff that comes out of the combine and funneling it into a narrow strip,” explained Young. “This leaves a sort of windrowed line where most of the weed seeds should be. Hopefully, through the winter months there will be some degradation of those weed seeds from the mulching effect.”

Mulching of the chaff lines utilizes moisture, temperature and microorganisms to break down the chaff and weed seeds. There will still be viable weed seeds come spring, but the bulk of them should be in the chaff lines, allowing herbicide spraying to be more targeted. This could reduce the amount of herbicide applied, which also reduces costs. This component of the research project is being conducted in Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, and Wisconsin to test the idea in both warmer and colder geographies. Results are still being analyzed on this portion of the project.

The project also includes components that study interseeded winter wheat in soybeans, rainfall activation of residual herbicides, soil residual activity of metribuzin, and herbicide off-target movement and monitoring surface temperature inversions.

Results of all these studies will be finalized for public outreach. Some of these topics already have information on the USB Take Action website, and more will be added as results are finalized.

Institutions involved in this USB project:

University of Arkansas

Southern Illinois University

University of Illinois

Iowa State University

Purdue University

Kansas State University

University of Kentucky

Louisiana State University

Michigan State University

Mississippi State University

University of Missouri

University of Nebraska

North Dakota State University

Ohio State University

Penn State University

University of Tennessee

The Seed Terminator is an attachment that pulverizes weed seeds as they exit the combine. (Photo courtesy Mizzou Weed Science)

University of Wisconsin graduate student Jose Nunes plants soybeans into living cereal rye cover crop. The planting green practice allows for the most cover crop biomass to grow, which will suppress weed growth in between soybean rows. (Photo courtesy Rodrigo Werle)

THE WAY TO ADDED VALUE

Innovating new uses for soybeans opens new markets, which in turn builds more value. ISA is actively working to drive commercial awareness of a new soy products including new PoreShield technology, which is a soy-based concrete durability enhancer. When applied to the roads, PoreShield uses 200 bushels of soybeans per 2-lane mile of highway joint.

See how we're protecting infrastructure with soybeans at Indianasoybean.com.

Key considerations before starting the cover crop journey

Asuccessful crop year begins in the soil. Changing practices on the farm is never easy, and before setting forth on a cover crop journey, there are some key considerations to ensure your approach to cover crop implementation is set up for success.

Maintaining vegetative cover whenever possible supports soil health and prevents soil movement, providing many of those positive environmental benefits you may seek. Planting cover crops offers improvements in soil erosion and water quality. Cover crop management can allow you to adapt to your seasonal weather conditions, aid in crop protection, and increase soil health.

In addition to soil health benefits, cover crops can be a key management strategy to leverage the new opportunities available through emerging sustainability marketplaces. Every farm is different, so before diving right into planting cover crops, you may want to consider the following:

• Farm Management Strategy — Do you have a farm management challenge that can be solved with cover crops? Cover crops can help reduce compaction by getting air and water deeper into the soil through their roots. What about weed pressure? Cover crops can reduce weed pressure by acting as mulch that suppresses weeds and disrupts conditions for weed seed germination.

• Start Small — Increase the scale of your cover crop practice as you get more comfortable. To start, pick a field that is easy to monitor or an area that needs improvement and focus your cover crop planting there.

• Make Informed Decisions — Conduct research and talk with reliable sources before introducing cover crops into your farm management plan. Field days are a great opportunity to speak with a variety of experts in the field or talk to other farmers using cover crops. Great resources also include universities, agronomists and online forums.

• Expenses — Consider additional expenses, including seed selection and labor.

• Timing — Be timely with planting and scout early and often.

• Results — You may not see immediate results from planting cover crops because they are primarily planted for long-term benefits to the soil. There will be challenges and opportunities to try different methods to figure out what will benefit the farm most in the long term.

Planting cover crops is a cost-effective tool to increase on-farm sustainability and build upon soil resiliency for increased crop production.

As more consumers base purchasing decisions on a product’s sustainability, buyers across supply chains are increasingly sourcing sustainable ingredients that meet consumer preferences. Cover crops are one example of how you can demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement.

Farmers for Soil Health is a partnership between many commodity organizations — the soy checkoff, Pork Checkoff and National Corn Growers Association — to create a farmer-led initiative that advances the use of soil health practices, meets sustainability goals and improves farmer profitability. Today, cover crops are only used on about 6 percent of U.S. cropland. Farmers for Soil Health hopes to improve soil health by encouraging farmers to expand adoption of cover crops to 30 million acres by 2030.

Farmers for Soil Health will support state commodity groups as they provide technical assistance to farmers as they plant and maintain cover crops. Farmers for Soil Health will also establish a new financial assistance program to incentivize cover crop adoption on over 1.3 million acres of crop fields in corn and soybean production in 20 states.

To learn more about the Farmers for Soil Health cover crop initiative, visit FarmersForSoilHealth.com.

REMEMBER, HE CREATED YOU FOR THIS.

Don’t be afraid. Just believe. Mark 5:36