Soy Story with Daryl Cates

Soy Story with Daryl Cates

By Mattie Lieb

Once a small-town farmer with big dreams, Daryl Cates has traveled the world representing Soy From Illinois. Raised in the heartland of Illinois, Cates grew up on a family farm, where he developed a profound appreciation for the land and cultivating crops. As he witnessed the challenges faced by local farmers, he realized the need for a strong voice to advocate for their causes. Inspired by this calling, Cates has dedicated himself to improving the livelihood of farmers on the state and national level, currently serving as President of the American Soybean Association.

Cates’ rise in the agriculture world began at a young age as an active member of his local FFA chapter. From there he attended junior college and eventually studied at the University of Illinois to earn a degree in agronomy. Upon graduation, Cates returned to his family farm to help his dad and become a fourth-generation farmer. With his knowledge of farming practices and his ability to connect with people, he earned the trust and respect of his peers and began to take on leadership roles within the farming community. From 1986 – 1992, Cates served on the Illinois Soybean Operating Board, which eventually became the Illinois Soybean Association. During that time, he held a variety of offices including Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice Chairman. In 1988 Cates was elected to serve on the American Soybean Development Foundation Board until 1992 when he was appointed to serve during the inaugural year of the United Soybean Board.

Cates served a single year on the United Soybean Board and didn’t serve any formal positions again until 2013 when he became a director for the Illinois Soybean Association. He again held a variety of positions, including Chairman. In 2015, Cates was nominated to serve Illinois on the premier national organization for soybean producers, the American Soybean Association (ASA), where he continues to serve.

As ASA President, Cates has traveled extensively advocating for the interests of Illinois soybean farmers. His diplomatic skills and ability to forge connections on for the state and national levels have enabled him to amplify the voices of farmers in key decision-making forums. Whether it was engaging with foreign trade or working with policymakers to shape agricultural policies, Cates has proved his unwavering commitment to his home state. This commitment was exemplified when he testified before the House Agriculture subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit during his recent trip to Washington D.C.

Cates testified before the House Agriculture subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit during his recent trip to Washington D.C.

Cates addressed a need for improvements to the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) programs, which were authorized by the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills to provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues. Some improvements Cates would like to see include a raise in reference price to the aforementioned programs.

“Raise the price of soybeans, the breakeven price for most farmers is around $12 per bushel, the reference price is $8.40. $8.40 doesn’t cut it,” said Cates.

Another point made by Cates that indicated the reference price is too low to sufficiently help farmers was the 2018 trade war with China, and COVID-19, which put commodity prices, especially soybean prices, at an extreme low. The 2018 trade war contributed to nearly a 30 percent decrease in soybean demand, and farmers were hit hard. According to Cates, soybean farmers received no PLC benefits and very little from the ARC program. There was no safety net for farmers and Cates believes the reference price should be evaluated to reflect the breakeven point for farmers.

Cates has plans to return to Washington in July to further advocate for Farm Bill changes and continue to educate Congress on agricultural legislation that aligns with the goals of soybean farmers across the state. He recognizes the importance of change in the agriculture industry as someone who has experienced it on the producer side.

His current agriculture production model looks extremely different than the moldboard plows and low-tech with which her first began his farming career. Cates now implements farming practices that are sustainable and innovative. As Cates continues to embark on his career, his tireless advocacy for farmers, commitment to exploring new technologies, and his ability to build meaningful connections will ensure Illinois farmers are supported and empowered to make the best decisions for their operations.