5 minute read
Leveling Up: Enhancing Farmer Leadership and Competitiveness
Illinois soybean farmers know the meaning of hard work. And thanks to our state's famously unpredictable weather, fluctuating markets and shifting global demand, soybean farmers also exemplify the term "resilience." Achievement, though, isn’t guaranteed by either of those qualities. That’s where the Illinois Soybean Association’s checkoff and membership programs are able to flex a little muscle.
Through the many programs and projects conducted by ISA, our role is to help you sharpen your competitive edge by focusing on data-informed strategies to help mitigate risk and set yearly goals. We understand that sustained success is rooted in a steady march of continuous improvement. I like to call it "leveling up." Once you hit one target, it’s time to identify the next, and reap the reward of your efforts.
ISA is here to assist you on your journey toward continued success. Our staff works to help you achieve the goals in front of you, whether that means exploring new crop input strategies or identifying the right technology to align your production and growth plans. ISA is strategic in our efforts to support Illinois soybean farmers as they realize return on their investments. From production to marketing, from conservation to innovation, from policy to education, ISA is committed to helping our farmers enhance their competitive edge in today’s challenging environment.
One of the key issues on which ISA focuses is the infrastructure demands of raising and selling soybeans. It’s a matter of vital importance when it comes to the efficient and profitable movement of Illinois soybeans from farm to market, both domestically and internationally. That’s why we are leading conversations about policies and programs that invest in and improve our roads, bridges, railroads, waterways and broadband. In addition, we collaborate with partners across the value chain to identify and address the challenges and opportunities that infrastructure presents for our industry. You’ll read more about that and about a new transportation study we commissioned on page 5.
Illinois soy can also be part of the infrastructure answer. We recently launched the “It’s Sustainably Soy” Certification program to recognize organizations, construction firms and executives for using sustainable soy-based products in their infrastructure projects. Soy-based products, such as asphalt sealants, roofing materials and bioplastics, offer environmental and economic benefits, such as renewable ingredients, extended pavement life, and new markets for Illinois soybeans. By promoting the use of these products, ISA is demonstrating the level-up versatility and value of soybeans beyond food and feed.
You’ve probably been hearing more about the Broadband Breakthrough: Infrastructure Planning Tools for Rural Farming Communities, which we support along with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, the University of Illinois Extension, the University of Illinois Extension Broadband Lab teams, and the Illinois State University Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department. This program provides resources and guidance to rural communities to plan and implement broadband service that meets their residential and agricultural business needs. Broadband access is no longer a luxury but rather a basic business essential for farmers to access information, markets and technologies that can enhance their productivity and profitability. By facilitating broadband expansion, ISA is empowering Illinois farmers to participate in agriculture’s digital revolution.
Our interest in our farmer leaders extends beyond business as we seek to identify and capitalize on opportunities to increase your productivity and profitability, deepen your knowledge and encourage new innovations for your farm. It’s been great to meet many of you at our Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) Town Hall engagement meetings across the state. These meetings offer our Government Relations team the opportunity to engage with farmer members, answer questions and listen for the issues that keep you up at night. On Jan. 31, we hope to see you at our first annual ISG member dinner, where we’ll hear from guest speakers Jonathan Coppess, Professor at the University of Illinois and Farmdoc author of "Future of the Farm Bill: What's to come for farmers"; Jerry Costello, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture; and Hector Serrano, Senior Scientist for BASF. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to register at ilsoygrowers.com/events.
The following day, we’ll be looking for you at our annual 2024 Soybean Summit, which will cover a wide range of agronomic subjects, such as precision agriculture, pest management, biological products, conservation, nutrient management, carbon markets and high-yield soybean opportunities. You can read more and register at ilsoyadvisor. com/events/soybean-summit.
As your CEO, I’ve seen amazing things happen when people and teams come together and offer their best talents and skills in the pursuit of important goals. Creating the conditions for this to happen is not without its challenges, but it makes all the difference in terms of both performance and positive impact. Over the next year, we will continue to set ambitious goals, remain transparent with our progress and hold ourselves accountable.
Here's to your success in 2024!
