Illinois Field & Bean - April 2024

6 Meeting Farmers Where They Are

Learn more about the ways ISA is meeting farmers where they are through agronomic programs, regionally-specific research and education, all designed to help them optimize and maximize soybean production.

12 Growing Audiences Across the Industry (and Beyond)

Engaging to Chicagoland consumers, cultivating relationships with legislators, and celebrating young farmer leaders are just a few of the ways soy from Illinois is winning over new audiences.

16 We're By Your Side - Statewide

Illinois Field & Bean is exploring the diverse needs, challenges and opportunities facing Illinois growers. From ensuring broadband is accessible to rural communities and enabling farmers to reliably connect to markets, to educating consumer audiences on the benefits of soy, we are by your side - statewide.

22 Building Strong Communities

Rural communities are central to our state's agriculture industry, and the stronger these communities grow, the stronger our state’s economy becomes. In turn, the 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois gain strength in their support network.

CHAIRMAN

Ron Kindred, Atlanta

District 9

VICE CHAIRMAN

Brad Daugherty, West Union

District 14

SECRETARY

Tim Scates, Carmi At-Large

TREASURER

Bryan Severs, Potomac

District 7

ASSISTANT SECRETARY-TREASURER

Dwayne Anderson, Lynn Center

District 3

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE

CHAIR

Steve Pitstick, Maple Park

District 2

MARKET DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

CHAIR

Brian Atteberry, Carmi District 16

SOYBEAN PRODUCTION COMMITTEE

CHAIR

Brady Holst, Plymouth

At-Large

DIRECTORS

Ryan Frieders, Waterman | District 1

Buck Hill, Grand Ridge | District 4

Mark Read, Putnam | District 5

Jim Martin, Pontiac | District 6

STAFF CREDITS

Publisher | Michael Whitmer

Managing Editor | Betsy Osman

Staff Contributor | Olivia Key

Staff Contributor | Brynna Sentel

OTHER ISA STAFF

Chief Executive Officer | John Lumpe

Director of Operations | Dustin Scott

Director of Market Development | Todd Main

Director of Finance | Kati Owen

David Niekamp, Coatsburg | District 8

Elliott Uphoff, Shelbyville | District 10

Matt Murray, Paxton | District 11

Brock Willard, Pittsfield | District 12

Heath Houck, Nokomis | District 13

Jeff Parker, Belleville | District 15

Nick Harre, Nashville | District 17

Rick Rubenacker, McLeansboro | District 18

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS

Betsey Emerick, Vandalia

Jeff O'Connor, Kankakee

David Wessel, Chandlerville

UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD (USB)

Dwayne Anderson, Lynn Center

Gary Berg, St. Elmo

Lynn Rohrscheib, Fairmount

David Wessel, Chandlerville

AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION (ASA)

Stan Born, Mahomet

Daryl Cates, Columbia Jered Hooker, Clinton

Jim Martin, Pontiac

Bill Raben, Ridgway

Rob Shaffer, El Paso

Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, Nebo

Bill Wykes, Yorkville

Director of Government Relations & Strategy | Andrew Larson

Director of Agronomy | Abigail Peterson

Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) is owner of Illinois Field & Bean, a publication for Illinois soybean farmers, designed and written to provide timely and useful industry information. Illinois Field & Bean is published by the Illinois Soybean Association, 1108 Trinity Lane, Bloomington, IL, 61704. For address corrections, contact Illinois Field & Bean at 1108 Trinity Lane, Bloomington, IL, 61704. Phone 309-663-7692.

Web address: www.ilsoy.org. Email: ilsoy@ilsoy.org.

Comments and statewide news articles should be sent to the above address. Advertising space reservations must be made by the first of the month preceding publication. In consideration of the acceptance of advertisement, the agency and the advertiser must, in respect of the contents of the advertisement, indemnify and save the publisher harmless against any expense arising from claims or actions against the publisher because of the publication of the content of the advertisement.

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Michael Whitmer

Publisher

Email: michael.whitmer@ilsoy.org

Casting Our Net Over Illinois Communities

Over 70,000 farms across our state operate on nearly 27 million acres, and no two of those acres are ever the same, just as no two of the 1,300 communities in Illinois are identical. The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) recognizes every Illinois farm and community is different, which is why we're on a mission to bridge the gap between urban and rural Illinois residents, meeting farmers and consumers where they are.

In this Illinois Field & Bean issue, you’ll get a glimpse into the projects and partnerships designed to create a statewide understanding of soybeans and their impact on Illinois’ economy, consumers and, of course, my fellow farmers. Each Illinois soybean farmer is top of mind as ISA works to fulfill our mission of upholding your interests through promotion, advocacy, research and education. This happens at regional agronomic events, via broadband expansion and bridge-bundling initiatives, through the Soy Envoy and Illinois 20 Under 40 programs, and beyond.

It's important for organizations such as ISA to recognize the relationship between livestock, grain and specialty crop farmers. So whether it's funding animal feed trials, advocating for essential infrastructure improvements, educating state and national legislators, providing tailored agronomic support, developing new markets or celebrating your achievements, ISA remains committed to enhancing the prosperity and success of the entire Illinois agricultural community.

Similarly, the relationship between rural agricultural production and urban processing and manufacturing is central to the Illinois economy. Although rural communities benefit directly from agricultural production, urban economies thrive on the processing and manufacturing sectors supported by production agriculture. ISA's initiatives contribute to strengthening this relationship, fostering growth across the state.

A strong agricultural economy not only raises crops and livestock but also creates employment opportunities, stimulates related industries and diversifies income sources. This builds stronger national and regional economies. The abundance and diversity of agricultural products also ensure a stable food supply, promoting food security and enhancing the well-being of communities.

ISA’s tailored approach to addressing community challenges and opportunities is just a small part of our overarching commitment to protect your bottom line. Our readers understand that the impact of agriculture extends into nearly every facet of each person's life. As you flip through these pages, I’m confident that you’ll find how these initiatives have made an impact on both you as an individual farmer and on your broader community.

STEVE PITSTICK | GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR | ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

JOHN LUMPE | CEO | ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

The Power of “Why?”

The word “Why?” might be one of the biggest words I know.

This three-letter word stands on its own and holds the key to building better understanding. It’s been used over the centuries by ancient philosophers, scientists, artists and political thinkers. Asking “Why?” can unearth wisdom and meaning. It can start popular movements, scientific discoveries, revolutions.

And here's the cool part: “Why?” isn’t just for rabble-rousers looking to upset the apple cart. It’s a useful tool for everyone involved at any level of the soybean business who wants to know more because knowledge is a dynamic river, always flowing, changing and gaining momentum as it goes.

As stewards of checkoff investments, the Illinois Soybean Association, our Board, staff, and farmer leaders remain mission-minded and ready to answer any questions that come our way. Because we have been trusted with farmers’ investments, we constantly measure the impact and payback from our programs. Before we receive questions from outside the ISA office, inside the building, months before any initiative takes shape, our efforts have been pressure-tested by our teammates asking ourselves, “Why?”

Why are we investing in that research project?

Why are we developing that new publication?

Why is our attention focused on exploring new opportunities for soybeans to crush the marketplace?

Why do we host in-person events that connect our soybean farmers with industry experts?

We welcome and encourage our farmer leaders and checkoff investors to be inquisitive when they have questions, want to know more information or want to become part of our broader strategies. Staying attuned to that process is one of the big reasons Illinois soy is providing solutions for all types of societal needs, including soy-based foods, sustainable fuels, livestock feed and renewable ingredients that replace petroleum-based components in construction, maintenance and household products.

Asking “Why?” ensures accountability and boosts our farmers’ return on checkoff investment. It kindles curiosities that push us to explore new opportunities. This simple question holds the potential to unravel complexities and illuminate paths toward deeper understanding of how our soybean system could and should work. It’s a promise that every Illinois soybean checkoff dollar invested is based on a larger research-informed strategy.

People talk a lot about the importance of transparency these days, but Illinois soybean farmers aren’t content with mere explanations. They show up day after day, ready to step into unchartered territories to fuel the fires of innovation and progress.

When the rest of the world catches up and begins to ask, "Why?" Illinois agriculture will confidently respond, "Why not?"

by Mace Thornton

Thanks to a mention in the classic American poem "Casey at the Bat," baseball fans think of this time of year as a season when “hope springs eternal.” Similarly, at this time of year, Illinois soybean farmers - whether they root for the Cubs, the Sox or the Cardinals - share similar hopes for their soybean crops.

Planting season, unless too wet, dry, hot or cold, carries great expectations among soybean farmers. Every field looks like a champion.

Even if Mother Nature decides to throw a curveball related to weather, pests or disease, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Agronomy Team has already leveled the field of play to ensure Illinois farmers have the critical agronomic information they need to compete. And throughout the year, the Agronomy Team’s ability to deliver updates and real-time agronomic insights further empowers farmers to drive in the winning run.

The Agronomy Team has all the bases covered through state and regional agronomy meetings, the ILSoyAdvisor website (www.ilsoyadvisor.com), newsletters, late-breaking updates, farm visits and surveys, and even urgent crop advice over the phone.

For farmers, assistance is never far away. Batting leadoff for the Agronomy Team is ISA Outreach Agronomist Stephanie Porter, CCA. She holds degrees in crop science and plant pathology from the University of Illinois (U of I) and is the staff member who often fields calls from farmers with specific agronomic concerns.

“I’ve made a lot of farmer contacts,” Stephanie says. “I may not be able to answer their questions all the time, but I’ll always be able to point them in the right direction.”

Stephanie is proud of the role she plays in delivering unbi-

ased, research-based information, in conjunction with ISA’s Kelsey Litchfield, who handles a good share of the agronomic communications duties.

“We work together on outreach and events,” Stephanie says. “It’s all about offering up good research-based information. It could be ISA-funded research, coordinated by Jennifer Jones, or through the experts we have around the state, including the ISA Soy Envoys.”

The Soy Envoy program features a group of six seasoned soybean agronomists and crop advisers who offer a steady stream of insights including area crop reports, articles, videos, audio interviews, Field Notes blog items on ILSoyAdvisor.com and social media posts.

Once a year, timely research topics also are presented during the ISA Soybean Summit—the organization’s premier statewide agronomy event. But there

Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

are also half-day “Better Beans” events across the state that are regional in focus. Plans are taking shape to have a series of “Field Talks” events this year, at locations around the state such as the Farm Progress Show site in conjunction with Richland Community College, at Rend Lake College, and Heartland Community College.

In addition, a number of less formal and more localized “Tailgate Talks” with ISA leaders and Soy Envoys are being planned for this growing season. “A lot of good information will come out of those that might be more relevant or timely to farmers in the area,” Stephanie says.

According to Stephanie, farmers often have a wide range of questions on issues such as the importance of sulfur in soybean production, nutrient management issues, soybean cyst nematode control or the resurgence of red crown rot disease. Although interaction with Illinois soybean farmers

is the favorite aspect of her job, Stephanie is excited about starting an ISA Crop Report this year from the viewpoint of agronomists, Soy Envoys and Extension personnel.

Kris Ehler, Sales Agronomist for Ehler Brothers Co., in Thomasboro, was among the six Soy Envoys appointed to the group last year. Although a new group of six has been announced, Kris said he volunteered to continue serving in an advisory capacity.

“This is actually my second time being an Envoy,” he said. “I got into soybeans through pushing soybean yields, things like early planting and the kind of yield advantage that brings growers.”

In addition to being a regular contributor to the ILSoyAdvisor website, Kris, who could be called the designated hitter for high-yielding soybeans, shares

(See Meeting Farmers Where They Are, page 8)

Through state and regional agronomy meetings, ILSoyAdvisor.com, tailored newsletters, late-breaking updates, farm visits, surveys and even urgent crop advice over the phone, the ISA Agronomy Team has all your bases covered.

Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

Meeting Farmers Where They Are

(continued from page 7)

information over several of his social media channels, including a Facebook page titled, “The Pursuit of 100+ Bushel Soybeans.”

“I started doing research on early planted soybeans in 2009,” he says. “Everybody was planting corn first, taking two weeks off and then coming back to plant beans in the middle of May to late May. Planting early was a 10-bu. advantage in 2009, and I just never looked back. We’ve done a flip-flop,

and now we have some county averages knocking on the door of 70 bu. an acre.”

Serving as a Soy Envoy has given Kris the platform to help other farmers considering planting soybeans earlier for the possibility of higher yields.

“I want to get that information out and broadly distributed,” he says, “not just in Illinois but in other states. I think ISA is the benchmark for other states as far as distribution of agronomic information to growers. To be a part of that, it just adds fuel to my fire.”

Research about growing better soybeans is also the force that drives ISA Director Brady Holst, Chair of the ISA Soybean Production Committee. Holst, a U of I grad, raises corn, soybeans and wheat near Augusta.

Prior to farming, he served as a design engineer for an ag technology company, so he is familiar with the broad scope of agriculture.

Brady provides farmer leadership for numerous production research areas, including encouraging continued outreach and supporting the Agronomy Team. He also serves as a farmer liaison with university researchers and reviews the yearly findings of ISA’s farmer-focused production concern survey.

“We take that information back to our researchers and tell them what farmers are talking about. It bridges the gap because there are times when you can lose the connection between ag and researchers at universities,” Brady says. “It’s

good to be in the middle to facilitate communication.”

He appreciates the Agronomy Team's efforts to translate complex findings into actionable insights at the farm level, supported by a goal of “empowering farmers with knowledge that enhances their productivity and sustainability.” Brady is excited about a number of emerging technologies related to soybean production such as CRISPR gene editing to identify novel traits that, for example, might confer resistance to pests such as soybean cyst nematodes.

Brady is also excited about farmers being part of ISA’s new farm trialing network.

“Illinois is such a big state,” he says. “As you talk to farmers in different regions, they

Field Talks and Tailgate Talks are hosted in locations across the state to provide Illinois soybean farmers with regional agronomic insights to drive profitability and sustainability.

always talk about how their region’s different. So doing a farm trialing network is good because it will hit all corners of the state. There’s always going to be a field trial close enough that would be similar to your fields.”

ISA Research Agronomist, Jennifer Jones, CCA, is the teammate who leads much of the engagement with scientists and institutions on the research side. But when it comes to helping coordinate soybean production research, she takes her signs directly from Illinois soybean farmers.

“We’re very passionate about improving farmer access to unbiased information,” she says. “That’s part of my role, but it’s also determining that we are

meeting their needs to the best of our ability with the funding available through the checkoff.”

A good share of that information comes through ISA’s farmer-centric production concerns survey, which is in its third year. The survey was revamped this year in an effort to not only identify but also understand the production concerns of growers and crop advisers.

According to Jennifer, a graduate of the U of I with a master's degree from Purdue, weed management and herbicide resistant weeds topped concerns in the latest survey. As a result, she says, farmers approved funding for a research project with Aaron Hager at the U of I, who is studying herbicide resistance in waterhemp.

Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

“That project actually came to life because this was a hot topic,” she says. “We take what we get from the survey and coordinate with researchers in the state to address the needs of our farmers.”

The No. 2 concern identified in the survey was the ongoing effort to control soybean cyst nematodes (SCN). ISA is offering free SCN sampling kits. Any farmer or crop adviser can submit samples to the U of I, which conducts egg counts to determine if a population is over a threshold and whether it is exhibiting signs of resistance. The No. 3 concern: how to best incorporate in-field conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till and nutrient management strategies.

Although the challenges are diverse, so are the universities chosen to partner on research, according to Jones.

“We prioritize partnering with as many universities as we can in the state, especially the main four that work on ag, the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Western Illinois University and Illinois State University,” she says. “We’re also passionate about working with our community colleges. We value that there's a breadth of researchers across the state with which we can partner. Illinois is such a diverse state, and we've heard feedback from farmers that they really want information from their neck of the woods where it's relevant to their soil types, climate or

This past summer, the ISA Agronomy Team hosted a Field Talk at Brock Ideus Farms in St. Joseph, Ill., where attendees learned about cover crops, soil health and farm business management, including strategies for achieving profitability and saving on input costs.

WISHH leverages partnerships for U.S. Soy to help meet the protein needs of 8 billion consumers

Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

Growing Audiences Across the Industry (and Beyond)

by Olivia Key

Soybeans play an indispensable role in our daily lives, serving as a source of nutrition for livestock and humans, a renewable energy source for fleets and a versatile fiber for industrial uses such as paints, plastics, and cleaners. This truth is at the core of the Illinois Soybean Association's (ISA) mission.

Whether ISA is engaging with Chicagoland consumers, amplifying Illinois farmers’ voices at the state and national levels, or celebrating farmer achievements, the organization is dedicated to creating a statewide understanding of the crop, the farmers who produce it and the impact it has on consumers.

Chicagoland Consumer Outreach

According to ISA Domestic Markets Manager Tim Rendall, one of the main reasons ISA engages with Chicagoland residents is because Chicago is a significant economic driver for the state and a major consumer of agricultural products. “Chicago has a huge

consumer base, and understanding those consumers’ desires and needs and making sure farmers and consumers are connected is a big priority for the ISA Market Development Committee.” To build that relationship, Rendall works closely with Illinois Farm Families (IFF), a coalition comprised of ISA, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Beef Association, IL Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Pork Producers Association and Midwest Dairy. “The goal of the Illinois Farm Families coalition is to open a dialogue between Chicago residents who do not have ties to agriculture and Illinois farmers who want to better understand their consumers,” Rendall says.

Initiatives spearheaded by IFF allow Chicagoland parents and grocery shoppers to better understand what happens on a farm. They also learn how the state's farmers care for the planet and how their priorities and values align with those of Illinois farmers to bridge any gaps of understanding.

“The goals of farmers and urban parents are the same: they want to raise healthy families, they want to be connected to their food choices and they want to make sure that they are doing what's best for their families, their communities and their environment,” Rendall says. “As a farm organization and as a representative of farmers, it’s important that we work to understand consumers’ concerns, priorities and interests, so we can strengthen the connection between farmers and consumers. You want to be connected to your decisions, you want to have an understanding of where your food comes from and you want to have transparency in the supply chain,” he adds.

Outreach to State and Federal Legislators

Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) is a voluntarily funded membership program that aims to increase the profitability of Illinois soybean farmers through legislative advocacy, public policy initiatives, and education.

ISA Public Policy Manager Corey Lacey focuses his time on advocating for Illinois soybean farmers on conservation and environmental policy issues. “When you speak broadly about farm policy, everything is very complex and nuanced. And because of that, it presents a lot of challenges for any individual farmer or farm operation to take on by themselves,” Lacey says. “Traditionally, farmers

see policy as something that happens outside of their control. But the truth is, when you're part of a membership organization where we can do advocacy, you can effectively influence things to be more farmerfriendly.”

Illinois Farm Families aims to bridge the gap between Chicagoland consumers and the Illinois farmers who produce their food.

ISG works to create opportunities for Illinois farmers to voice their interests and concerns to state and national legislators.

Through ISG, members’ support has created a team of experts who work to share the soybean farmers' voices in both D.C. and Springfield. Currently, the team is narrowing its focus to pesticide regulations that would greatly impact Illinois farmers. “At the federal level, regulation around pesticides is something we're doing a lot of outreach on. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) and changes to pesticide regulation around the ESA have the real potential to create challenges for our farm operations in Illinois,” Lacey says.

To meet its responsibilities under the ESA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to implement a new Herbicide Strategy. This proposal would hinder farmers’ abilities to properly use herbicides, as it would require them to attain points by adopting costly and timeconsuming conservation practices.

Lacey says, “One thing that we do as ISG is create farmer opportunities to share their voice, not only with the EPA but also with congressional offices on how these pesticide issues could impact our farmers and why they should be a priority and top of mind.”

Conservation programs that allow growers to implement practices that work for their individual operations are also a big priority for ISG. Lacey said, “Farmers are supportive of conservation, and we want to find public policies that allow them to do conservation that makes sense on their fields in a voluntary manner. Farmers know what's best for their fields and what works and what doesn't.”

On the state side, ISG is focused on increasing the estate tax threshold, which currently sits at $4 million. “The average farm gets close to the threshold relatively fast with just their farmland. When you consider everything else a farmer has in their assets, many find themselves over the threshold,” says Collin Cisco, ISA Public Policy Manager. “Overall, the rising cost of everything is hurting our farmers, and ISG is working to find a good middle ground to relieve some of that financial burden.”

According to Lacey, many Illinois legislators don’t have the necessary background to fully grasp farmers’ needs and interests. “Nearly two-thirds of our state’s legislators live within sight of the Sears Tower in Chicago. That's a great indication that most of our decisionmakers in Illinois don't have a farm background. So educating them and sharing that agriculture is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, economic drivers in the state is essential.”

To learn more about ISG or to ensure your voice is heard in Springfield and D.C., visit ilsoygrowers.com.

Illinois Top 20 Under 40 Farmers

The Illinois 20 Under 40 program celebrates 20 young farmers for their work in the Illinois agricultural community. Now in its third year, the program continues to recognize livestock, grain and specialty crop farmers for their successes on the farm and their contributions to their communities.

ISA Communications Manager Claire Weinzierl emphasizes the importance of recognizing all Illinois farmers, not just soybean farmers. “Farmers in Illinois, no matter what you're growing or producing, often share a lot of similar priorities. Often, it seems livestock farmers also grow soybeans, and soybean farmers also grow corn. There's not a lot of variation when it comes to farming these days. Through 20 Under 40, we partner to present the program with various ag commodities across Illinois who also have young farmers they represent and want to recognize.”

Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

Growing Audiences Across the Industry

(continued from page 13)

The Illinois 20 Under 40 Program is presented by ISA, IL Corn, Illinois Pork Producers, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, Illinois Farm Bureau, Grain & Feed Association of Illinois and Midwest Dairy. John Deere has been the program's presenting sponsor since its inception in 2021.

Farmers and their families are especially proud to participate in this program if they're selected. Cassie Schleich, a 20 Under 40 winner in 2023, says the experience has been fun to share with her family and has shown her daughters the importance of staying involved and continuing to grow. “Our girls have grown up in the barn and often tag along on breeding projects with us, but they are both getting to the age where they are more involved and showing interest in certain areas. So it's been fun to show them how hard work can pay off. I think it's important that regardless of how busy we get keeping up with our farm, I show the girls how vital it is to stay involved with the community and this industry. There's always room to grow and learn.”

Community involvement is pivotal in sustaining and advancing the agriculture industry. It also fosters strong relationships between farmers and the communities they serve. Weinzierl says, “The farmers that we're nominating aren't just going above and beyond on their farms, but they're also going above and beyond in their communities. They're getting involved in their county Farm Bureau, Soil and Water Conservation District, or even their local school district, church board or 4-H club. They're doing so much more than just farming, and that’s what we're looking to recognize and amplify: the farmers making an impact in their community.”

The 20 Under 40 winners for 2024 will be announced this summer. If you're curious to learn about the achievements of the 2023 winners, visit www.ilsoy.org/20under-40/past-winners/.

Cassie Schleicha winner of 20 Under 40 for 2023, with her daughters.

RESEARCHING A BETTER BEAN

Whether you’re dealing with drought, flood, heat or other climate-related stress, the soy checkoff is working behind the scenes to diversify U.S. soybean genetics and increase stress tolerance. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And it’s helping make a valuable impact for soybean farmers like you.

See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for soybean farmers at unitedsoybean.org

Better by Association

60 SEASONS OF SUCCESS

For 60 years, we’ve looked beyond the rows to help you grow more opportunities from every acre. Funded by farmers and focused on the future, we invest in promotion, advocacy, research and education to create profit opportunities and drive preference for soy from Illinois. Because together, we’re better by association.

Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

by Joli A. Hohenstein

Rural communities are as central to the Illinois Soybean Association's (ISA) mission as farms are to those cities, towns and villages. After all, ag is the primary economic driver in many counties and in rural areas. The stronger these rural communities grow, the stronger our state’s agriculture industry becomes— and in turn, the 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois gain strength in their support network.

Every day, ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean producers through promotion, advocacy, research and education with the vision of becoming a market leader in sustainable soybean production and profitability. And while you might only see the impact ISA makes in your own town or township, many cogs turn the wheel to distribute the rewards statewide.

With that in mind, our editor thought it was time for an update on the many ways ISA invests in building strong communities—and how you benefit. Here's a window into what’s happening all over the state, and how your fellow

to know about the EPA and ESA talking about introducing strategies for herbicides and fungicides and rodenticides,” Barry says. “There is a lot of concern from farmers, and they were asking questions like, ‘How do you prevent a bumblebee from nesting in your field?’ Well, you can’t, and that’s where ISA comes in, working in many ways to protect farmers’ rights.”

Bridge Bundling

Building Strong Communities

A state-of-the-state on ISA’s work throughout Illinois

rural communities are growing because of it.

Town Halls

These events have long been a great forum for conversation, community and collaboration, and ISA wanted to simultaneously build on the concept and bring farmers back to their community roots.

The goal is engagement with local communities. Town halls enable residents to see how their checkoff dollars are being used. They also give farmers an open, comfortable forum to ask questions about both state and federal legislation that impacts them. ISA wants to involve farmers from all over the state and hear feedback on how current issues affect their farms.

To achieve this engagement, ISA organized a series of five Town Hall Breakfasts at strategic locations throughout the state: Bloomington, Effingham, Maple Park, Springfield and West Frankfort. The events were wildly successful, and more are planned for 2024.

“We had farmers drive from two hours away,” says Ashley Barry, ISA Engagement Manager, “and

we brought people together who didn’t know all of the things ISA does. In fact, some of them had never heard of us before.”

The events also allowed ISA to gain insight into what is happening regionally, she says. For example, northern Illinois tends to deal with more environmental issues than southern Illinois, so it's important for the ISA team to be able to hear from northern farmers firsthand about their specific concerns and priorities.

As the Town Halls rolled out, some common threads did emerge. “Farmers wanted

Illinois is unique in that 60 percent of its crop goes to export, and its transportation system represents an unusually strong competitive advantage. Our ability to get soybeans from farm to transportation node via road, river and rail has historically been unparalleled.

Yet as in many other states, our infrastructure is aging and with it, our bridges. Ongoing investments are required to maintain and continue their use.

“For too long, we’ve not made these investments,” says Todd Main, Director of Market Development. “That creates a need for getting more from our dwindling resources.”

That’s where bridge bundling comes in. It's exactly what it sounds like: bundling contracts together into one request for proposal so that construction firms can bid multiple jobs at once. The goal is to save money and time on design and

procurement. It’s a strategy that reaps huge returns.

“In Illinois, we’ve already saved 30 percent on design alone,” says Main. And that’s just the savings to date. Still more bridges need to be upgraded, and the projected total cost is $6.4 billion.

Eight percent of the bridges in Illinois are load-restricted or can’t be used because they’re falling apart. Of the approximately 20,000 bridges across the state, three out of four are owned at the county or township level. These bridges impact farmers directly and daily.

Although federal funds are available to supplement these repairs, the monies are so widely distributed that counties and townships may only receive 5 percent of what they need to complete the project. For example, it’s not uncommon for a bridge upgrade to cost $400,000. And many times, the federal allocation is only $20,000.

“The state has adopted bridge bundling, and so have the regional economic development organizations and counties,” Main says. “It makes a big difference, and we want to strengthen the economic foundation in our counties.”

That’s why ISA has funded a study to determine the opportunity cost of not repairing the many bridges in need. “We are foregoing revenue, as farmers have to go miles out of their way and expend fuel and labor and delay shipments,” says Main. “We know we are losing money. Now, we need to know how much.”

Results of the study are expected in fall 2024, but in the meantime, you can help advocate for the work. Contact your elected officials, and help raise awareness of the issue's significance and the scarcity of funding for bridge upgrades. “They can’t help if they don’t know about it,” Main says.

ISA has curated all of the information you need to support bridge bundling and made it easily accessible online at https:// www.ilsoy.org/bridge-bundling/ There, you can see Illinois' bridge report card, keep up with the progress we’re making and go to the dashboard to see the status on bridges in your area.

Broadband Breakthrough

Collaboration and connection are at the heart of everything ISA does, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the Broadband Breakthrough program. Last year, ISA piloted the program with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, the University of Illinois Extension, the Illinois Broadband Lab and a research team from Illinois State University. They collaborated with community team members in Edgar, Hancock, McLean, Ogle and Schuyler Counties.

Knowing that state-of-theart internet access is vital to the growth and progress of agriculture throughout the state, ISA’s goal is supporting rural communities that are advocating for expanded broadband.

With $42.5 billion in federal funding coming to states from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we want to make sure our rural communities are ready. Yet, broadband providers are the most vocal about funds distribution, and they benefit most from urban areas. ISA needed to help Illinois’ rural counties act quickly.

“The providers’ economic model is subscriptions, and that works well in urban areas with high population density, but not so well in rural areas,” says Main. “ISA feels strongly that since tax dollars are being used, rural counties should have a share of the pie. We need to change the conversation.”

In order to qualify for the funding, counties have a great deal of footwork to undertake, but many Illinois counties, especially rural counties, face capacity and staffing constraints that make that difficult. That’s

Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

where Broadband Breakthrough comes in.

“Illinois is getting a little over $1 billion. That’s motivating. Now we need to get organized and get our fair share,” says Adrianne Furniss, Executive Director of the Benton Institute, which has led counties in four other states through the Broadband Breakthrough program.

The program is structured so that counties form teams of eight to 20 stakeholders, who will become community broadband champions. They come from diverse backgrounds including government economic development, schools, healthcare, nonprofits and or businesses. They understand local needs, assets, politics and risk tolerance. They learn program tools and resources and gain in-depth knowledge of broadband technologies, local providers, business partnership models and funding sources. In the end, they leave the program armed with a community broadband action plan to guide their counties.

“After the four-month program, without exception there’s a core group that becomes strong advocates for broadband,” says Furniss. “I love seeing the lightbulb go off.”

The program’s collaborative and informative approach sets counties up for success. It takes a long time to find broadband partners, and Broadband Breakthrough gives counties the tools to discuss broadband in the community and then set the path to get there.

“Teams have very specific tasks during and after the program,” Furniss explains, “and in the cohort, they’re learning from each other. People really get energized.” One group built a community website; another applied for and received a state grant for a feasibility study to flesh out their infrastructure plan specifics.

Furniss and her team work with the counties to use the various levers of local, state and federal governments to get what they need.

That first cohort of five counties has since completed its 16-week program, and ISA has funded two more cohorts. A second cohort is underway, and at press time, a third cohort was about to launch. In total, 17 counties will complete the program in these three cohorts.

“Having Illinois soy involved by my side really facilitated getting farmers involved for the first time,” says Furniss. “ISA has a relationship with 43,000 soybean farmers within the farming ecosystem and used that network for communications and outreach.”

Broadband Breakthrough lays the groundwork for counties to advocate for what their citizens need and for a long-term commitment to making it happen. “We’re seeding these efforts for an impact with the community. This is a marathon, not a sprint,” says Furniss. “The bottom line is all about rural community health. Better broadband means better everything.”

WISHH leverages partnerships for U.S. Soy to help meet the protein needs of 8 billion consumers

Meet Representative Nikki Budzinski

As a freshman Member of Congress, Representative Nikki Budzinski has plunged headfirst into her work on the House Agriculture Committee. “As the Representative for some of our nation’s most productive farmland, I’ve been focused on ensuring that our family farmers have a strong seat at the table in Washington -- particularly as we work toward the next Farm Bill,” Budzinski says. “Every day, folks in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District are leading the nation in the production of soybeans and corn, and leading the way in agriculture technology, research and development that will keep farming profitable for generations to come.” For Budzinski, the future of farming is front of mind. As the average age of an American family farmer approaches 60 years old, Budzinski has introduced two legislative measures aimed at bringing the next generation into agriculture. Her bipartisan Young Farmer Success Act would make farm and ranch

workers eligible for public service student loan forgiveness, and her bipartisan Increasing Land Access, Security and Opportunities Act would address barriers to accessing land, markets and capital. “With agriculture as the No. 1 economic driver in the state of Illinois, the success of our rural communities will depend on the next generation.”

But a focus on the future hasn’t distracted Budzinski from the challenges facing Illinois farmers every day. During her second month in office, she established a bipartisan group of stakeholders to serve on her Agriculture Advisory Council -- a group that has been critical in helping her identify priorities for her work on the Ag Committee. “I’m proud to have input from a diverse coalition of stakeholders, particularly as I advocate for our priorities in the next Farm Bill.” These conversations, Budzinski says, have guided her to lead her colleagues in efforts to support increased

use of biofuels and improve flexibility on farm operations. The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023, which she co-sponsors, would take 1q significant steps to support the future of homegrown biofuels.

“We know that higher blends of biofuels help to save consumers money at the gas pump, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, cut carbon emissions and support critical markets for our family farmers,” said Budzinski. “That’s why I’m pushing for things like year-round E15, strong

conservation programs, flexibility with inputs and rulemaking that supports things like biogas and sustainable aviation fuels.”

On the prospects of the next Farm Bill, Budzinski remains optimistic despite setbacks in the House. “It’s been frustrating that partisan political games keep taking up all the oxygen in the room when we really need to be moving forward with a bipartisan Farm Bill.” Although she says she hasn’t seen text released yet, she’s hopeful progress can be made between now and September.

Keeping Watch and Assessing Risk

Since Jan. 1, more than 9,475 bills have been introduced; of those thousands of bills, eight have been introduced that would greatly limit or penalize the use of pesticides. There has been a gradual escalation of the introduction of pesticide-limiting legislation over the past few years, meaning this issue is working to break through in state discourse.

This escalation joins the symphony of other bills being introduced in Springfield that are getting more divisive and less agriculture-friendly. Amid the changing of the guard in leadership, shifting politics within the legislature and the evolving role of money in politics, Springfield continues to evolve and become more difficult to navigate. The Voice for Soy Team is fighting for farmers, and the team has deep expertise navigating these waters employing nimble negotiating techniques as well as consistently educating policymakers.

A large part of motivation driving the pursuit of this pesticide legislation revolves around tree damage, along with water quality and general environmental concerns. Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) supports protecting property rights and reducing drift, including the promotion of training to applicators to reduce that drift. Yet we acknowledge that much of the drift occurs by accident.

Not all these bills are viable, though all are being closely monitored by our staff. The following bills are currently introduced for consideration for the General Assembly and have been assessed by our experts as “potential to pass” or “less likely to pass” as well as “high risk to farmers” and “moderate risk to farmers.”

Potential to Pass

HB5018 --- Increases monetary penalties and increases point values in determining monetary penalties. Distinguishes pesticide effects on woody perennial plants and herbaceous plants with respect to penalties. Moderate Risk to Farmers

Less Likely to Pass

HB4814 --- Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, no person shall offer for sale or use, or distribute within the State any corn, soybean, or wheat seed that is treated or coated with a pesticide that has certain active ingredients. High Risk to Farmers HB5390 --- Bans the sale and use of dicamba. Moderate Risk to Farmers

ANDREW LARSON | DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & STRATEGY | ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

SB187 --- Provides that, on and after Jan. 1, 2024, no pesticide containing a neonicotinoid may be used outdoors on any land owned or maintained by the State. High Risk to Farmers

SB2757 --- Removes pesticide preemption in the state of Illinois. Provides that political subdivision (cities and counties) of the State may regulate pesticides. High Risk to Farmers

HB5075 --- Adds 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 3,6- dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid and atrazine to the definition of "Restricted Use Pesticide". High Risk to Farmers

HB4956 --- Bans the sale and use of ester formulations of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Moderate Risk to Farmers

Legislators are setting targets on resources and tools farmers count on to increase yields with the introduction of bans on the use of glyphosate, 2-4D, Dicamba, Atrazine and pesticidal seed treatments such as neonicotinoids. Our Government Relations Team will continue to monitor these bills and educate legislators, allied organizations and other groups about pesticide use and the needs of farmers. Please contact us at govrelations@ilsoy.org with any questions or concerns on these or other bills.

No matter what machines you have, precision ag technology helps you get more out of them, from precise seed placement to valuable input savings. And it starts with four foundation technologies. Together, they connect your machines, your field data – your entire farm – so you can find new efficiencies, improve yields, and increase profits.

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