Illinois Field & Bean - May 2024

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6 Introducing the ISA Soy Innovation Center

With the launch of its new Soy Innovation Center, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is helping to enhance the state’s green reputation as it supports the commercialization and expansion of sustainable, soy-based products.

12 AI + Drones = The New Frontier

As farmers increasingly take to the skies for farm management, technology innovators, ag economists and agronomists find themselves in the unique position of assessing the potential as pilot, trainer, teacher and grower.

14 Ag Tech At Work

Learn more about four exciting innovations every Illinois soybean farmer should monitor.

the Nematode War

Field & Bean Magazine is checking in with the researchers who are hitting the Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) with everything they've got.

What Happened to Blockchain?

Is this buzzy technology still impacting agriculture?

What impact does biodiesel have, and how is the State of Illinois leading the charge on biodiesel policy? Read on to learn more.

COVER: At the cross-section of research, science and technology, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is exploring agronomic frontiers, adapting our global impact, using less to generate more, and shaping the future of farming. Through innovation and collaboration, we are committed to empowering Illinois farmers not only to grow enough, but to grow better. This issue of Illinois Field & Bean highlights new innovations in the industry, and the projects ISA conducts in an effort to leverage data, respond to global need, and provide the most hopeful return for Illinois soybean farmers.

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

Assistant Editor | 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

Illini Nation Breeds Innovation

When I was first asked to write the “From the Boardroom” column for this issue of Illinois Field & Bean, I jumped at the opportunity. I'm not a writer, but my personal focus areas for the past winter seem to mirror two topics that feature prominently in this issue: leveraging farm data captured with technology and growing quality soy products using quality practices. How I got to this point, especially the farm data portion, has been quite the journey.

I’ll start off by giving credit where I believe credit is due: to the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Board and Staff. When I was first elected to serve as an ISA At-Large Director four years ago, I came with a focus on conservation and land stewardship. Continual improvement in both areas has been a constant in my time farming, as it was for the generations preceding me. My timing couldn’t have been better, as ISA had also just placed a renewed emphasis on conservation and production. What I wasn’t prepared for was the number of partners involved and how many of those partnerships required multiple collaborations to create useful data. At one time, data meant yield and net profit. Now, it means additional insights: protein percentage, amino acid levels and oil content. Those are things customers seek when purchasing soybeans. I learned that each new layer of data had its own story. I wanted to understand these data points to better share the story of Illinois soybean production and the ways ISA supports it. That way, we could be prepared as farmers share that story with prospective domestic and international buyers.

As my knowledge of those markets expanded, I began to notice I was increasingly putting my own farm practices under a microscope. The old phrase, “Do you practice what you preach?” comes to mind. If I spoke about biodiesel, was I using the 20 percent blend those equipment manufacturers stood by on my farm? I was not. So I changed. I haven't experienced a single problem after three years of using 20 percent blend during summertime. Not a single problem with three years of summer use. I could share other examples of data-driven changes I've made: exploring non-GMO soybean markets, advocating for farm policy and hosting trade teams, to name a few.

Sharing this story on my own farm seemed to help others understand the role of ISA here in Illinois. It helped them see how Illinois soybeans are vital in markets throughout the world. I now serve on the Market Development Committee, and ISA Staff has been patient with me as my understanding of our committee priorities deepens. That's particularly important with the launch of the Soy Innovation Center, which will play a pivotal role in continually bolstering demand for Illinois-grown soybeans.

My farm is close to the Chicagoland area, so I'm sure I will continue to have opportunities to share stories about Illinois soybeans and ISA with anyone who passes through. The committee experience is so rewarding that last year, ISA extended the role of hosting trade teams to several other local farms. Attendees gave positive reviews.

As my own tenure on the board has lengthened, my understanding of my own farm’s strengths and weaknesses has also become clearer. I've realized I should have made many changes sooner than I did. ISA's industry collaboration, initiatives and insights have informed decisions on my farm that continue to pay dividends.

My position on the ISA Board and my role as a sixth-generation farmer have a lot in common. My vision of a successful farm is much different than my ancestors held. Undoubtedly, my descendants will have a different vision, too. I find comfort in that reality because I believe we must innovate to stay progressive enough to make a meaningful difference.

JEFF O’CONNOR | AT-LARGE DIRECTOR | ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

We Keep Making it Better!

We hear a lot about agriculture’s dedication to constant innovation. And though the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is committed to staying ahead of developing trends, technological advancements and improvements in communication, I am always impressed by the breakneck speed of innovation across Illinois’ soybean farms. It's visible in the way farmers are growing more soybeans to meet the demand (USDA is forecasting 300,000 more soybean acres this year) and in the practices they are adding and expanding to care for the land in the process.

Every growing season, many Illinois soybean farmers adopt new tactics and technology that propel them toward optimized production. Their definition of a successful growing season is an ever-moving target; even when field practices work to perfection, next season there will be ways to improve.

At ISA, we are dedicated to helping farmers reach a point of optimized satisfaction, knowing that each crop is being produced with the best products, practices and inputs available. I like to say, "We keep making it better." Our Soybean Production Team, led by Abigail Peterson, CCA, remains vigilant and anticipates agronomic support needs--a core area of importance to our farmers. Each season, through research and collaboration, we pursue new ways to respond to pests and adverse conditions that threaten soybean yields. Through ongoing research and proactive measures, our skilled agronomists collaborate with farmers to develop strategies that mitigate risks and ensure sustainable crop production.

This comprehensive approach underscores our dedication to supporting farmers through every challenge they face. It's why we must continue to explore not only the agronomic frontiers but also the changing conditions in the marketplace and the world of ag tech.

For example, we are leading the charge in the biodiesel industry. ISA is actively advancing sustainable practices with the implementation of a bipartisan B20 bill, which encourages the use of higher blends of biodiesel. This landmark statute, which took effect on April 1, represents a significant milestone for Illinois soybean farmers and the state's environment. ISA Chairman Ron Kindred describes it as a law that benefits all Illinoisians and underscores the state's commitment to renewable fuels leadership.

We’re also proud to announce the launch of the new ISA Soy Innovation Center. Work there not only enhances our environmental

profile but also supports the commercialization and expansion of sustainable, soy-based products. Todd Main, Director of Market Development for ISA, emphasizes our state's leading role in sustainable innovations. He is hopeful the Soy Innovation Center will contribute to the burgeoning effort to bring sustainable technologies to market.

As Illinois farmers confront mercurial challenges like unpredictable weather and supply chain issues, we will continue to sift through new advancements on both the supply and demand ends of the marketplace. ISA is currently in project-planning season. This process helps the Board and Staff select projects and programs that will maximize value for Illinois soybean farmers while strategically aligning our focus areas with measurable goals and outcomes. In doing so, our farmers will be empowered to make informed decisions about what optimization looks like on their farms. They consistently remind us that innovation is the practical application of creativity plus action.

And that it’s our people who make up the Illinois difference... and keep making it better.

JOHN LUMPE | CEO | ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

Introducing the ISA Soy Innovation Center

By Olivia Key

Each year, Illinois soybean farmers produce hundreds of millions of bushels of soybeans, providing consumers here at home and around the globe with the food, fiber and fuel they need. With yearly increases in production by the millions of bushels, thanks to the innovative nature of our state’s farmers, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is on a mission to maximize profit opportunities for Illinois farmers by finding the next big use for Illinois soybeans.

Enter the Soy Innovation Center, a virtual hub managed out of ISA's Lombard office that aims to break down barriers to the commercial availability of soy-based products. The Center's goal is to offer customers viable, renewable alternatives to petroleum products and to help meet the growing demand for sustainably produced products.

ISA Director of Market Development Todd Main is the project lead for the Soy Innovation Center and predicts that Illinois’ well-established research and manufacturing facilities, robust financial organizations and skilled workforce

will propel the project’s initiatives. “The State of Illinois is in a unique position to obtain a competitive advantage within the ag-tech sector, and this

initiative will support the larger goal of making Illinois the agtech hub of the country, if not the world.” Main adds, “The Soy Innovation Center will be

a hub to spur research, commercialize sustainable technology solutions and foster new

(See Soy Innovation Center, page 8)

ISA Government Relations Committee Chairman Steve Pitstick said he has seen a lot of changes and growth within the Illinois soybean industry since he began farming at age 15.

Soy Innovation Center

(continued from page 7)

collaborations in other various sectors, not just agriculture.”

On March 18, ISA gathered partners and stakeholders from the financial, agriculture, consumer and political sectors in Chicago to launch the Soy Innovation Center. There, attendees heard from various ISA Board and Staff members and notable industry professionals, including Barry McGraw, the Founder and CLO of Airable ResearchLab; Scott Halpin, the

Illinois State Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency; Peter Creticos, CEO of the Institute for Work & the Economy; and Josh Messner, Technology Manager for Bioenergy Technology Office, who joined as the keynote speaker.

“The launch event planted a flag for soy’s journey into the world of sustainability, where the opportunities are limitless. I’m confident that those in attendance left the event with newfound knowledge of and appreciation for the potential soy holds for consumers and companies across the world,” Main says.

The event served as an educational and networking opportunity for attendees. They sat in on presentations and panel discussions that covered topics such as the vision of the Soy Innovation Center and the opportunities it holds for Illinois farmers, and the projects and partnerships the Center hopes to foster.

As a visionary for the project, ISA Government Relations Committee Chairman Steve Pitstick was especially proud to give attendees insight into opportunities the Soy Innovation Center holds for Illinois farmers. “From the time I started farming my first soybean

field when I was 15 to today, we have seen a lot of changes and growth within our industry. There’s new technology, innovative research, increased yields and prices, all providing us with a larger return. Our state has a trendline yearly growth in production of about 10 million bushels, and ISA’s Soy Innovation Center will help find new uses for those Illinois soybeans, thereby increasing demand, protecting our farmers’ bottom lines and moving the pile.”

The Soy Innovation Center will focus on supporting early and mid-stage compa-

Moderators and panelists Todd Main, Victoria Harmon, Peter Creticos, Barry McGraw and Scott Halpin (L-R) discuss the Soy Innovation Center's role in positioning Illinois as the global center for ag tech.

nies. By providing makers and innovators with the expertise, connections and resources of ISA, the Center will accelerate the process of bringing soybased products to the market and putting them into hands of consumers.

The Soy Innovation Center will also play a pivotal role in aiding organizations to achieve their environmental goals, further supporting the decarbonization of our economy. In an era when protecting our environment is becoming more important, shareholders, clients, and consumers increasingly want to engage with organi-

zations that demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship. Through its initiatives, the Soy Innovation Center will accelerate the availability of viable, commercial products to help organizations utilize sustainable soy-based inputs, fostering eco-friendly operations and mitigating environmental impact.

Although several ag tech organizations concentrate on developing solutions aimed at increasing crop yields, ISA's Soy Innovation Center distinguishes itself by actively supporting businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs in

their efforts to bring soy-based products to the market. ISA recognizes the demand for sustainable alternatives, and the Center is committed to facilitating the commercialization and deployment of innovative soy-based products.

The Soy Innovation Center offers a comprehensive suite of advisory services and consulting tailored to the specific needs of companies incorporating the team provides expert guidance on a range of topics including product development strategies and market entry plans. These insights will help businesses rapidly scale. and

diversify their offerings. The Center also is open to exploring strategic capital investments into organizations that align with its objectives to foster innovation and growth. ISA’s Soy Innovation Center is now accepting Requests for Introductions from entrepreneurs, inventors, and doers who are working through challenges in commercializing, introducing, or scaling the availability of soy-based products in the marketplace. Visit soyinnovationcenter.com to learn more and start a conversation with the Center’s investment and diligence team.

An attendee poses a question at the Soy Innovation Center Launch event, where audience participation was encouraged.

HELPING YOU DELIVER ON DEMAND

Whether it’s improving soybean meal to outperform the competition or promoting the sustainability of U.S. soy, the soy checkoff has been working behind the scenes to help farmers satisfy their customers’ needs. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And for U.S. soybean farmers like you, the impact is invaluable.

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

AI + Drones = The New Frontier

By Joli A. Hohenstein

As farmers increasingly take to the skies for farm management, technology experts, ag economists, and agronomists have the special task of figuring out how effective this approach can be, both as pilots themselves and as instructors and advisors to the farmers.

DJI Agriculture recently released its Agriculture Drone Insight Report 2022/23, reporting that at the end of 2022, the global number of DJI drones

exceeded 200,000 units. Their cumulative operating area had reached nearly 500 million acres, bringing the benefits of aerial technology to hundreds of millions of ag professionals--not to mention the many other drone companies whose products service additional acres.

The World Economic Forum named agricultural drones one of the top three innovations that could be key to producing more crops with less effort, more precise inputs, and less impact on the environment.

The DJI report notes farmers already are seeing the results: Drone use helped a large-scale Washington potato grower reduce insect damage by 80 percent, and a Japanese rice producer increase yield to earn an additional $2,224 per acre.

More and more growers and retailers are using drones for scouting fields, but they still must identify what they're seeing and link that with specific actions that can address real-time needs in the field.

Artificial intelligence (AI), innovators say, is the next frontier.

By combining drones and AI, farmers can reduce guesswork across fields. “If we have a field with questions, instead of a hula-hoop test, we’re actually able to obtain per-acre stand count,” says Clint Chaffer, Asgrow Brand Manager, whose family farms in northwestern Illinois near Seaton. “It’s incredibly beneficial to determine if we need to replant.”

Clint uses technology from Sentera, which captures aerial imagery from fields and plots to help understand performance, letting farmers cover

Agricultural drones equipped with artificial intelligence innovations are poised to usher in a new frontier of precision, efficiency, and sustainability.

more acres with fewer resources. The company calls it an “ag analytics platform powered by machine learning.”

The data the drone acquires also pairs well with the information coming from Clint's Climate FieldView digital platform. “I look at field health and see what parts of the field I need to take a closer look at, then go fly a drone and see,” he explains. “We utilize it for another dataset that pairs well with the yield map to see if that change actually impacted yield.”

Leaf-Level Data

Once farmers have the data, the next step is being able to act on it, and that’s another benefit AI is able to provide. It’s here in the form of leaf-level data that lets you immediately take steps in your fields, says Bryan McMurtrie, Regional Sales Manager for Taranis, which has created the largest library of leaf-level imagery.

Their technology uses satellite images and AI capabilities to generate a field health index, which identifies anomalies within the field. Then, using their leaf-level insights, farmers can easily ground truth these anomalies and determine their next steps.

At a time when farmers are going to have to grow twice as many bushels to feed the world and stay profitable, AI technology can identify factors that rob yield and help farmers address them.

“Multiple studies say that for every inch of weed, you’re going to see 4 to 5 bushels of loss,” says Bryan. “It’s only going to cost about 1 bushel of beans or 2 bushels of corn to monitor your crop with Taranis and prevent that. There is no real capital expenditure for the customer.”

Taranis technology identifies the main stressors on crops: weeds, grasses, nutrient deficiencies, insects and chewing damage, and gives farmers

actionable insights they can use to help unlock more yield potential.

Ag Research Advancements

Actionable information from AI isn’t just for farmers. Ag corporations are also leveraging AI to improve and advance research into new crop protection and seed technologies.

Asgrow’s parent company, Bayer, utilizes AI for genetics research.

The company’s Precision Breeding platform uses AI technology to more quickly and accurately pinpoint genetic changes needed and analyze data far faster than humans ever could. Mathematical puzzles that take humans 4 seconds to solve take an AI robot only 0.38 seconds. Likewise, the company says, AI can analyze millions of potential genetic combinations and make recommendations to solve breeding puzzles faster.

In fact, Bayer says AI is increasing the number of unique genetic combinations they can

analyze each year by tenfold, and they’re able to do it without using more energy, land or water. The result, they say, is new seed varieties tailored to specific field conditions years ahead of schedule.

Likewise, Syngenta is collaborating with Insilico Medicine, an AI and deep learning company, to discover new, more effective crop protection solutions that safeguard the world’s food against diseases, weeds and pests, while also protecting ecosystems. The company says Insilico’s small molecule generative chemistry technology will help invent molecules for active ingredients faster, but also actively design molecules that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

In addition, Syngenta says AI can help them be confident that new products protect biodiversity, including pollinators and beneficial insects, and help them design products that help keep soil healthy to capture carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For both companies, AI delivers the power to analyze and leverage large datasets in a much shorter timeline than they could with traditional research processes. With the world population projected to grow at a rate of more than 1 percent annually and increase to 9.8 billion by 2050, speed is of the essence. AI can help them provide farmers with tools to add to their arsenal. Not only to do more with less, but to proactively utilize solutions that manage and address the many differences climate change is bringing to farms.

It is, says Taranis’ Bryan McMurtrie, a new day in data. “In the past, data went into the tractor, came out of the combine. There was never anything in between,” Bryan says. “This technology gives season-long data capture.”

As Forbes magazine says, “Each season of data builds the knowledge-base to allow even more sophisticated use of the technology in the future.”

Bryan likes to call it a “game tape – you can review it and see what changes you need to make next season.”

The combination of artificial intelligence and drone technology has the potential to be a game changer, helping farmers boost production while also protecting the environment.

Ag Tech At Work

Four Exciting Innovations Every Illinois Soybean Farmer Should Monitor

By Nate Birt

Soil, sunlight and water are among the fundamental building blocks of any Illinois soybean operation. Yet emerging innovations can be stacked on top of that foundation to accelerate farmers’ productivity and profitability.

To help you make sense of the rapidly changing soybean innovation landscape, Illinois Field & Bean interviewed four ag experts spanning Azotic Technologies, John Deere, Leaftech Ag and Syngenta.

The benefits they share are wide-ranging. New and emerging tools can boost crop productivity, speed up in-field diagnostics, make crop nutrients more readily accessible to growing plants and fight disease while alleviating stress.

Block by block, these innovations can help Illinois soybean farmers construct an operation optimized for resilience and longterm success. That supports your economic viability, productivity and sustainability.

Read on to learn more about these solutions on the horizon of soybean potential. Companies

are listed in alphabetical order for easy scanning.

Fill Nitrogen Gaps In High-Yield Soybeans With A Biological Solution

If you routinely push your soybean yields above 60 bu./ acre, you face a perennial challenge: supplying enough nitrogen to all those hungry plants, especially at high-demand periods and late in the season. One solution farmers increasingly include in the toolbox is a supplemental source of nitrogen to get their crop over the finish line.

Enter Envita SC, a biological solution from Azotic Technologies. Available since 2019 in the U.S., the product traces its roots to the discovery of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (Gd) bacteria in Brazilian sugar cane in the late 1980s, explains Jamie Zbinden, a Technical Sales Representative at Azotic based in east central Illinois. That bacteria, and subsequent research into nitrogen fixation at the University of Nottingham in England, served as building blocks for these new nitrogen options Illinois farmers can use.

Corn and soybean nutrient content and crop characteristics can be rapidly determined with this patented hyperspectral scanner from Leaftech Ag. Source: Leaftech Ag

“Once Envita SC is applied either in-furrow or foliar, the living Gd bacteria form vesicles within and between the plant cells,” Zbinden explains. “The bacteria continue to replicate and move throughout the plant as it grows. Air is 78 percent nitrogen, but it is not available to the plant in that form. The Gd bacteria can convert the nitrogen into a plant-available form.”

The bacteria continue to pull nitrogen from the air as long as the host plant is alive, Zbinden shares, “especially in periods of high demand when rhizobia-fixed nitrogen may not be sufficient to achieve yield potential.” That results in an average yield increase of 4 bu./acre on treated soybeans.

“Many experts see continued adoption of biologicals for the following reasons: governmental regulations, sensitive watersheds and more focus on regenerative agriculture,” Zbinden concludes. “There will be continued pressure around the globe to be better stewards of our environment.”

To learn more, visit www.azotic. com/usa.

Get Rapid Diagnostic Support Via Wireless Agronomic and Machine Data Transfer

You and your farm team probably spend very little time in a cubicle and a whole lot of time in the field. That makes accessibility to near real-time agronomic insights, machine support and field-work plans essential to get your work done. For the past decade, the John Deere Operations Center has equipped Illinois soybean farmers with these types of services, and updates roll out every two months, with new features added regularly.

“This free farm management software enables access to farm information anywhere, anytime through web, tablet or mobile,” explains Ryan Stien, John Deere Go-To-Market Manager For Digital Technologies, whose responsibilities include the Operations Center and JDLink modems. “Operations

Center allows customers to see what’s happening right now in their operations and learn from their performance over time. Also, farmers can collaborate with their trusted advisers and tools to make decisions that save time, optimize yield and maximize profits.”

Among new features introduced in the past several years is Work Planner, which enables farmers to build work plans from their desktop or phone with mission-critical documentation such as field boundaries, crop varieties, guidance lines and more. They can also troubleshoot equipment on the go.

“With Remote Display Access, the local dealer can – with the customer’s permission – remotely assist with in-cab display setup and adjustments for optimal machine performance,” Stien says. “Expert Alerts is a proactive monitoring system that automatically notifies dealers, also with a customer's permission, of potential machine issues. This allows technicians to diagnose issues remotely and fix them before they become a problem.”

To learn more, visit www.deere. com.

Rapid No-Harm Tissue Sampling For Fast In-Field Nutrition Decisions

It can be a real pain to collect soybean tissue samples and check for nutrition deficiencies.

Funded

the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

Typically, your agronomist cuts into leaves, extracts samples and sends them to a lab for analysis. Then, you have to wait until the results come back. From start to finish, the process can take three to five days. Until now.

Leaftech Ag recently introduced a patented hyperspectral scanner that acts like a portable digital lab in the hands of your certified crop adviser or crop consultant. It identifies nutrient content and crop characteristics in near-real time, down to the individual soybean plant.

“We can inexpensively identify lots of data points within a field, take those data points and create target zones for further sampling or nutrient application,” explains John Mascoe, Co-founder and CEO, and an Indiana farmer with over 25 years of experience in ag tech as an agronomist and animal nutritionist. “We can get that done within the same hour of visiting that field.”

Advisers can perform three scans per minute and get nutrition results within two to three minutes, within 88 percent to 99 percent accuracy in comparison to wet-lab analysis of the same crop. Mascoe says the technology continues to improve, and he expects shorter wait times in the near future.

To capture soybean nutrition information, your adviser uses the

handheld scanner that geolocates each scan that can then be imported to their own crop management software to create nutrient target zones, create a prescription and application map. This provides 30 to 100 times more data compared to a conventional tissue sample, ensuring any needed treatments are dialed in accurately to specific zones within your field.

“Because the data is georeferenced and the scan is nondestructive, we can look at the same plant multiple times throughout the growing season,” Mascoe notes. “This information can also be used to better utilize soil testing and allow the grower to be very targeted in potential treatments.”

The scanner is available to select advisers on a low-volume subscription basis in 2024, which marks the product’s third year in the field. Many more scanners are anticipated to hit the market in 2025. At the end of each growing season, advisers return the scanner for software and hardware updates. A new scanner is shipped for use the following season with a continued subscription.

“It’s about fine-tuning our knowledge with quantitative information about what actually is going on in a plant and in the genetics that we’re working with,” Mascoe says.

(See Ag Tech At Work, page 16)

Cell phone apps, specialty biologicals and rapid diagnostic data equipment continue to drive high-tech innovation across Illinois soybean fields.

Ag Tech At Work

(continued from page 15)

To learn more, visit https:// leaftechag.com/.

Preserve Yield Potential Against Disease And Crop Stress

If fungicide has toppled off your stack of on-farm building blocks, it might be time to take another look. Increasingly, this input is becoming a multi-purpose tool focused on proactive yield capture rather than reactive disease management. And with an 80 percent chance of a profitable return post-treatment in any given year on some products, fungicide is worth a second look, says Tyler Harp, technical product lead for row-crop fungicides at Syngenta.

“These are not your traditional types of fungicides,” Harp explains. “I think the value that these provide is they are now a general tool for yield preservation.”

These tools include the Syngenta Plant Health or Cleaner & Greener Fungicides. Within this portfolio, products such as Miravis Neo contain a newer fungicide called Adepidyn® technology, which is a novel carboxamide fungicide with an SDHI mode of action. This can help soybean plants conserve water, leading to better water efficiency and optimal nutrient delivery throughout the growing season. Plus, it can help plants thrive amid disease stress as well as abiotic stressors such as drought or heat. In four out of five years, soybean farmers see profitable return on their investment using a Cleaner & Greener fungicide, and across all trials observed an average yield of a 6 bu./acre to 8 bu./acre average yield bump compared to untreated acres, he says.

Fungicides are returning to farmers’ radars in northern Illinois and other parts of the northern Corn Belt because of diseases such as tar spot in corn. But soybean farmers can routinely

incorporate a fungicide into their suite of agronomic practices, proactively supporting plant health and yield preservation.

“Soybeans don’t get a lot of disease in northern areas, yet we’re seeing significant opportunities to preserve yield,” Harp says.

To learn more, visit BoostYourBushels.com.

Looking Ahead

As these and other new

building blocks become available for your soybean operation, remember to evaluate opportunities against your farm’s business goals, existing suite of tools and sustainability priorities.

There’s little dispute that the pace of innovation is only picking up steam, offering Illinois farmers more ways to achieve success on their own terms.

New generation fungicides are helping plants ward off disease while also making them more resilient when it comes to conserving water and optimizing nutrient uptake.

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

Working with the ISA Soybean Production Team, researchers are unlocking new tools to combat Soybean Cyst Nematode. Microscopic in size, SCN populations hide like stealthy predators, silently sucking the productivity out of a soybean plant’s roots, laying eggs that form cysts that then hatch into juvenile nematodes. If left unchecked, it’s a destructive cycle of infection that leads to yield loss.

New Advancements in the Nematode War

By Mace Thornton

The insidious Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) lurks beneath the soil across the state of Illinois and in many other U.S. soybean-growing states. Microscopic in size, SCN populations hide like stealthy predators, silently sucking the productivity out of a soybean plant’s roots, laying eggs that form cysts that then hatch into juvenile nematodes. If left unchecked, it’s a destructive cycle of infection that leads to yield loss. Even when a massive infestation invades a field, the pathogen can go undetected until it’s too late to ward off the havoc of its destructive appetite for soybean roots.

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Soybean Production Team is working in conjunction with numerous researchers on several projects aimed at keeping the SCN scourge at bay. Dr. Nathan Schroeder is one of the many crop scientists collaborating with ISA. An Associate Professor of Crop Science and

Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Illinois (U of I) of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Schroeder leads an ongoing effort to team up ISA and Illinois soybean farmers to gather field samples for SCN evaluation.

Through the free-to-farmers SCN testing initiative, farmers can email researchers at freeSCNtesting@illinois.edu to receive a free sampling kit, complete with instructions and return postage. Samples are collected six inches below the soil line. A gallon ziptop bag is filled halfway with soil collected from various parts of the field. Samples should be kept cool, ideally in a refrigerator, double-bagged and shipped early in the week with an ice pack to the U of I Extension Plant Clinic.

"We provide farmers with all the necessary information they need to send in samples, and we even throw in free shipping labels," Schroeder explains. "It's about arming our farmers with

the tools they need to tackle SCN head-on.”

At the clinic, the samples are evaluated for infestations. Eggs are counted, and the farmer is advised whether to consider treatment.

“With that sort of assessment, we can tell the farmer the likelihood of expected loss. Illinois farmers have heard about SCN for decades now. It’s easy for it to fall off the radar, but SCN remains the No. 1 source of yield loss for soybean growers in the U.S.,” Schroeder said. “But with the right knowledge and resources, we can turn the tide in our favor."

SCN remains a stealthy opponent, though. The pest is developing resistance to evade the most common genetic control method that has been bred into the plants. “The vast majority of soybean varieties Illinois, as well as throughout the Midwest, get their resistance to SCN basically from one genetic source – PI88788 – so over the decades, SCN has start-

ed to adapt, as is nature’s way,” Schroeder says.

To further study this situation, researchers who discover SCN eggs in relatively high numbers in their samples subject those samples to an additional greenhouse test to assess their resistance level. It’s all part of the effort to unravel the genetic puzzle that allows the pervasive pest to persevere. In doing so, researchers can advise farmers to consider planting varieties with other resistance code.

“The SCN populations present now are different than five or 10 years ago,” Schroeder says. “We have to keep an eye on the shifts in the populations.”

The testing program has been welcomed by farmers, with samples coming in from more than half of Illinois counties. But gaps remain, according to Schroeder. "We have a fairly decent gap in southern Illinois, especially the counties bordering the Ohio, and we also have a gap right on the Wisconsin border, where we

haven’t received many samples at all,” Schroeder says. “Filling those gaps would be useful. Every sample we receive helps us gain a clearer understanding of the nematode's behavior and empowers farmers to make informed decisions. It feels like we're making a real difference. Every sample, every test—it's a step forward, and it’s useful for the grower.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Matthew Hudson and Dr. Andrew Scaboo, who were featured in an ISA Agronomy Webinar on March 14, are both using advanced genomic tools to find new soybean defenses against SCN.

Hudson, Professor of Crop Science at the U of I, is using the power of supercomputing and digital technology and genomic and molecular biology in his checkoff-funded research to thwart SCN. He says the pest, “loses a lot of money for a lot of people.”

“We don’t have good chemical controls,” he says. “We’re reliant on resistant soybeans, but they don’t always work for everyone, and they seem to be getting a little less effective.”

He says artificial intelligence is one of the tools researchers are using to greater effect. In the crop science world, an effort has been funded by USDA to develop an AI tool, the Crop Wizard, that only uses trusted data originating from state Cooperative Extension programs. Although the tool is still under development, farmers who want to check out this resource can visit the website at https:// www.uiuc.chat/cropwizard/chat.

“It will answer questions, for example, about SCN, and it will give you references that link you out to the original Extension publications,” Hudson says. “You don’t have to trust what it tells you, but you can go straight to the source and figure out where it came from. It’ll format this information in a nice way and give you a narrative around it.”

Humans such as Dr. Hudson still have to do all the hard work to feed scientific results into the

system. Right now, he’s focused on the genetic code of SCN.

“What we're trying to do with soybean cyst nematode is create what we call a pan-genome,” he explains. “That's a picture not of one nematode or not of a mixture of nematodes, but a picture of all of the variations, all of the genes within soybean cyst nematode. It turns out that this is a bigger undertaking than we thought it would be when we started, but there are still some clues coming out of this analysis that allow us to narrow this down.”

Hudson says Dr. Melissa Mitchum, Professor of Plant Nematology at the University of Georgia, has grown isolated nematode types to see how they respond on different types of soybeans.

“One of the things that she in particular found is that you can put almost any nematodes on almost any soybean, and if you give them long enough, they will come to be virulent on that soybean even if they're not virulent to begin with,” he says. “After a few generations, you are going to end up with a lot more nematodes than you started with.”

To combat the constantly moving target presented by SCN, new testing has been developed that allows researchers to sequence a whole genome from a single worm. When offspring from that genome are introduced to two different types of resistant soybeans, each of the identical SCN types eventually develops a specific resistance to the type of resistant soybean that served as its host.

“So you think about how much diversity there is in these nematodes here, and then expand that to a field, even a single field, you're talking about a whole lot of nematodes, most of which are different from each other, and which are constantly creating new opportunities to parasitize resistant soybeans,” he says.

“There are differences all the way through the genome, even between supposedly inbred populations growing in a pot. That's very different from what

Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

we see in soybeans, which are a little limited in diversity. That makes the nematode very, very powerful in the amount of different genotypes that it's able to bring to bear in overcoming resistance.”

Soybean breeders originally used genetic information to produce consistently SCN-resistant soybeans, but now that the resulting PI88788 soybean type is common, SCN is developing virulence to even that type. So, to boost soybean resistance to SCN in an enduring manner, researchers are studying the soybean genome through its own USDA-funded pan-genome project in hopes of producing hundreds of different soybean lines resistant to the quickly evolving SCN menace.

“Hopefully, that’s going to allow us to narrow down both the location and the function of more and more resistance genes that we can incorporate into the (soybean) population,” Hudson says.

The University of Missouri’s Dr. Scaboo says one of the reasons SCN is so good at adapting is its lifecycle is less than 30 days. “You can have multiple life cycles throughout a growing season,” Scaboo explains. “And as our winters are warmer and as farmers are planting earlier and earlier, this can become much more of an issue with the number of actual life cycles that nematodes go through in a growing season.”

It’s best to manage SCN in a few different ways, but crop rotation is one of the most effective management strategies, he says. Seed treatments and resistant cultivars can also be used, but each one has an issue. The problem is that the resistant cultivar has been overused and is starting to break down. This “underscores the pressing need for updated strategies to combat SCN infestation effectively.”

“Farmers and stakeholders must prioritize research and development of novel resistance mechanisms to counter the evolving threat posed by virulent strains of SCN,” Scaboo

says. “Additionally, collaborative efforts between researchers, breeders and agricultural Extension services are essential to disseminate updated information and implement effective management practices across soybean-growing regions. By staying proactive and adaptive in our approach to nematode management, we can safeguard soybean yields and ensure the sustainability of this crucial agricultural crop.”

Furthermore, Scaboo emphasizes the importance of ongoing monitoring and surveillance, such as the ISA-supported SCN testing initiative at the U of I.

“This data is crucial for guiding breeding programs and developing resistant cultivars tailored to specific regional challenges,” he says. “The challenges posed by soybean cyst nematode require a multifaceted approach that integrates scientific research, breeding advancements, proactive monitoring and farmer education. By leveraging these strategies collaboratively, we can enhance resilience against nematode infestation and safeguard the productivity and profitability of soybean farming operations for years to come.”

Dr. Hudson equates the situation to the famous “Red Queen” narrative from “Alice in Wonderland.”

“The Red Queen, who's like a card with arms and legs, says you have to keep running just to stand still,” he says. “So the battle probably cannot be won, in the sense that we will not exterminate soybean cyst nematodes. They're not going to go away. They're here forever. If we keep running, which in this case means we keep developing new soybean varieties with new resistance sources, new genetics, and we keep improving our agronomy practices in terms of rotation and adding things like seed treatments where they help, then we might be able to stand still. We may be able to keep SCN at the level of problem it is, but we have to keep running.”

What Happened to Blockchain?

Is this buzzy technology still impacting agriculture?

By Joli A. Hohenstein

Wondering if blockchain has gone by the way of VCRs and Betamax? Just because you aren’t hearing about blockchain doesn’t mean it has gone away, or that it’s any less viable as a game changer for agriculture and the global food supply chain.

Quite the opposite, says Robert Brunner, Associate Dean for Innovation & Chief Disruption Officer and Professor at the University of Illinois Gies College of Business. “To be blunt, the reason you’re not hearing

about blockchain as much is that AI has sucked the oxygen out of the room.”

Machine learning and generative AI have become the tech darlings for 2023 and into 2024. Mainstream media and social media alike are dominated by these futuristic technologies, which means every company feels it must say it’s using AI to stay relevant.

But does AI mean blockchain went away? Why has blockchain reporting gone seemingly dark? The short answer: crypto cycles. Shortly after the last Field & Bean article on blockchain in mid-2022, cryp -

to began sliding into a bear market. Now, as we get further into 2024, experts say crypto is entering a bull market.

That’s classic for the crypto cycles experts are starting to recognize, says Brunner. They happen roughly every four years and are characterized by great interest, then suddenly little interest. “The technology is so new that people don’t clearly know why the cycles happen,” he explains. “But Bitcoin halves every four years, and it’s believed to tie to that.”

Every four years, Bitcoin halves the amount of Bitcoin earned by “miners,” the compa-

nies or people who validate new information on the blockchain and create new Bitcoin. Typically, the price of Bitcoin rises after that.

“Even though people aren’t paying attention to blockchain right now, there are still lots of developments in that space,” says Brunner.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved the first U.S.-listed exchange traded funds (ETFs) to track Bitcoin. A significant milestone, the decision means you can now trade Bitcoin like any other investment. Since Bitcoin drives the rest

Blockchain is a network of blocks of data that makes information, currency and other data available worldwide.

of the cryptocurrency market, that’s a definite driver. “There will be more and more interest in cryptocurrencies and technology that powers the blockchain,” says Brunner. “We’ve already seen interest in optimizing supply chains, tracking and tracing food, verifying genetically modified varieties and identifying pesticide use.”

ISA Director of Market Development Todd Main agrees. “The biggest thing for agriculture is point of origin tracking all the way through the supply chain,” he says. “That’s valuable in food, in pharmaceuticals. When consumers really start to demand it, that’s when we’ll see the development ramp up.”

In the post-Covid era, we’ve already seen an influx of major players beta testing blockchain. Nestle announced a Rainforest Alliance-certified blend of coffee beans from three origins, saying consumers would be able to trace the coffee to its origin of Brazil, Colombia and Rwanda.

And Bayer worked with BlockApps to launch TraceHarvest Network, the first blockchain solution of its kind to track and trace the full lifecycle of agricultural products starting at the seed source.

Meanwhile, Covantis, the blockchain initiative founded by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Bunge, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus, announced global expansion plans in March 2024, with a new presence across

Australian, European and South African grains and oilseeds and the global vegetable oils market. The company says it has cultivated a network of 44 agricultural groups and over 200 legal entities. This most recent expansion allows it to cover more key origin markets for grains and oilseeds.

Main, who continues to monitor the technology as it touches agriculture, says he sees point-of-origin tracking as a key point for blockchain in ag. “We’re seeing it on RFID containers, at pork production facilities, at the grocery store,” he says.

Walmart, one of the early adopters of blockchain technology, continues to leverage it for traceability, for example in outbreaks of food-borne disease and in logistics tracking. One project on mangoes reduced tracking time from their origin from seven days to just 2.2 seconds. Today, the retailer is integrating blockchain with AI to enhance procurement and supply chain management, according to The Supply Chain Report in January 2024.

The Future

Looking ahead, agriculture has much to gain from leveraging blockchain, says Brunner. “Today, Bitcoin can process roughly five transactions a second. For comparison, VISA does around 100,000 in a second,” he says. “But there have been developments on how we do process transactions faster with

Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff

other blockchains, and that will change everything.”

Another key development effort is in the core of blockchain. “By its nature, blockchain is entirely public, which may not thrill some people,” he explains. “But zero-knowledge proofs would allow you to verify knowledge of something but not make it public.”

For example, the recipient of a soybean shipment could verify their supplier has money in an escrow account without seeing the account details. “You can verify they have the money, but you don’t have to have revealed everything about the account,” Brunner says. Tokenization also provides more opportunities. Wall Street is very interested in this as a powerful financial instrument. For example, you might be able to buy a house, but you might not be able to buy a whole office building in Chicago. If you tokenize a building, you

could sell fractional shares of the building through blockchain tokens. “Potentially, farmers will see tokenization of hedges that make it easier to manage their risk,” he says.

And AI and blockchain together provide another avenue for agriculture to leverage the new technology. “Blockchain provides a way for these AI agents to transmit,” Brunner explains. “An AI agent could be invoked to act when the weather gets bad, knowing that it needs to sell something automatically or rebalance hedging.”

Blockchain solutions are still here and still showing great potential, Brunner says. In fact, he predicts we’ll start hearing more and more about them later this year.

Says Main: “Blockchain has a role. It’s on the horizon, and we continue to monitor its status, any legislative developments and certainly its potential.”

What Is Blockchain?

Blockchain is a network of blocks of data that makes information and currency and other data available worldwide.

Each digital block contains a set of transactions that are linked together chronologically to form a chain. And each block is cryptographically secured and assigned a hash—a unique identifier that ensures data integrity.

This creates a ledger that a network of participants can collectively maintain. That ledger is transparent and immutable, meaning it cannot be changed.

Eli Lynn, participating farmer, and SWOF’s Rosemary Galdamez

Engineering Innovation: Leading the Biodiesel Industry

By Joli A. Hohenstein

What impact does biodiesel have, and how is Illinois leading the charge on biodiesel policy?

Illinois—and your Illinois Soybean Association (ISA)—are national leaders in the biodiesel space, having taken proactive steps to promote the use of biodiesel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sales of blended biodiesel.

Since the inception of Illinois’ tax incentive on B11 biodiesel, the state has seen a notable increase in consumption. And even better, the state’s legislation includes a gradual increase

in blending requirements over time. That means Illinois diesel markets can expect a change in 2024.

As of now, consumers in Illinois benefit from a 6.25 percent sales tax exemption for blends containing more than 10 percent biodiesel, with B11 serving as the threshold blend. Another recent change, the B20 law, which started on April 1, raised the blend requirement eligible for sales tax exemption to B14 and will increase for two more years.

It looks like this:

On April 1, 2024: Biodiesel or renewable diesel blends were raised from B11 to B14.

On April 1, 2025, the blend will increase from B14 to B17, and on April 1, 2026, the blend will increase from B17 to B20.

By increasing the required blend, the state aims to further support the biodiesel adoption in transportation to reduce emissions and promote rural economies.

Biodiesel use is on the rise, and Illinois farmers are growing along with it: studies have shown that it brings back at least an extra $1 for every bushel you grow, i n fact. Read on for more surprising biodiesel benefits.

What are the advantages of using biodiesel?

Robert Shaffer, Illinois farmer and Vice-Chair, Clean Fuels Alliance America: “When they got rid of ultra sulfur diesel, we lost the lubricity for our engines. Biodiesel gives us both the performance and the lubricity we need. I’m using it on a 1967 tractor with 4,500 hours, a 1968 tractor with 5,500 hours, a 2016 combine, a 2021 loader tractor and a 2019 front wheel assist. I’m running over 55 years of equipment— and I believe I’ve been able to run it that long because of biodiesel and the lubricity it provides.”

Biodiesel use is on the rise, and Illinois farmers are growing along with it: studies show that it brings back at least an extra $1 for every bushel you grow.

Why switch to biodiesel?

Jim Martin, Illinois farmer and ISA Director: “The sales tax exemption is so nice. The performance is good. The price is competitive with petroleum-based diesel.”

Shaffer: “Today, my member company cleans the tanks when anyone switches to biodiesel. What biodiesel actually does is cleans the crud off the insides of the tanks, so cleaning before you switch keeps from clogging filters when the biodiesel cleans that tank. It makes switching easy and seamless.”

David Kubik, ISA Biofuels & Trade Policy Manager: “If you go buy fuel for your tractor or semi-trucks, you save about 25 cents a gallon using a 14 percent biodiesel blend. That adds up.”

How hard is it to switch to biodiesel?

Shaffer: “It’s a drop-in. I use it on everything—tractors, combines, hauling to town. And it’s so easy to get in Illinois.”

Martin: “It’s very easy. There is no extra paperwork or qualifications. It’s just a matter of what fuel your supplier blends. In fact, when I first started using biodiesel, I was using an independent supplier who has since retired. I’ve since recruited him to join ISA and help spread the word about biodiesel.”

Do you have any issues using biodiesel?

Martin: “None at all. Biodiesel acts as a cleaner to an engine, which means it might flush out some of the buildup on the inside of the en-

gine—that’s great for engine performance. Back in the day, people who used some of the first blends saw that, but now we know more about filter changes and engine maintenance.”

Shaffer: “Today’s biodiesel isn’t your grandfather’s biodiesel. Originally, it was the wild west, and we didn’t have the BQ-9000 mandate that sets standards for biodiesel production. I haven’t heard of problems in at least five years.”

How many dollars does the biodiesel industry add to my farm?

Shaffer: “Let’s say you get 50 bu./acre yield. You get $50 per acre ROI on your farm. Biodiesel can be created from used soybean oil, which comes from soybeans you grow; from animal fats (and your soybeans fed those animals); and from used corn oil, which you're growing, too. For Illinois farmers, biodiesel is a win-win. For every bushel, $1 is derived from biodiesel.”

How is Illinois setting the standard in biodiesel?

Martin: “I look at biodiesel as one of the flagship products of ISA. We have really made a difference and created so many efforts for promotion and advocacy. The B20 Club in partnership with the American Lung Association has been successful, and we worked with the Chicago Park District to promote a healthier environment and lower CO2 emissions. But the real game-changer is with the sales tax exemption, which ISA has been able to help get increased to B20. It’s a win for businesses and farmers.”

Kubik: “ISA has worked to advance the use of soybean oil in biodiesel and worked for ways to cut the cost of its use. We’re saving you money as you produce your crop and making markets for those crops.”

Shaffer: “This is the easiest, best ROI of any checkoff program. As a farmer, I can see that ISA and biodiesel are working for me.”

What’s next in biodiesel?

Shaffer: “At the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Conference, I asked, and they said if a farmer grows it, they’re for it. Cummins is working up to B50. ADM and PepsiCo, after adding Optimus Technologies to their semis, are running B100 in select fleet vehicles. Anyone can use biodiesel.”

175,612,276

A Note From Congressman Eric Sorensen

The beating heart of central and northwest Illinois is our farmers, and I am proud to be their trusted voice on the House Agriculture Committee. Negotiations are ongoing around what the next Farm Bill will look like, and I wanted to share what I am working to get into the bill to make sure our farmers and producers have what they need to do their jobs.

First, we need to strengthen crop insurance. For more than two decades, I was a meteorologist. I talked directly with farmers, and I saw the impact extreme weather and a changing climate was having on their ability to grow crops. We are seeing more frequent flooding and severe weather in between more times of significant drought.

Crop insurance helps mitigate the impact of these extreme weather events. It could also mean less of a need for emergency subsidies and disaster assistance as losses mount with increasing climate change. I am proud to be the person at the table who can make sense of the weather while learning how good decisions can positively impact our agricultural communities.

Second, our region should be leading the world in advanced agriculture research and innovation. This is how our farmers stay competitive in markets around the globe. We are seeing countries like China and Brazil use updated technology to assist their own producers. If we don’t make the right investment, our farmers will fall behind. This Farm Bill needs to invest in research and development that will keep our farming communities sustainable.

Speaking of sustainability, we need to be doing more to incentivize conservation and sustainable farming practices. Our farm communities, especially smaller family farms, need the tools to build a stronger and better future for generations. This means promoting soil health, improving water quality and reducing excess fertilizer runoff.

Lastly, one of the largest pieces of the Farm Bill surrounds food security. As our neighbors struggle with inflation and high costs, the last thing we need to be doing is making it harder to bring groceries home. SNAP benefits ensure

working families put food on the table for their hungry kids. And farmers benefit from SNAP, too, as they can produce more food and bring those goods to market. Some want to cut these life-saving benefits. I can’t live in good conscience if that happens.

Our farmers keep grocery store shelves stocked and develop homegrown energy from biofuels and ethanol. They make sure America’s heartland remains strong. We can’t let this year’s Farm Bill be infused with partisan politics. We need to work together to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that supports farmers, working families and the entire nation.

ISA's Assistant Treasurer/Secretary Dwayne Anderson recently had a chance to visit directly with Rep. Eric Sorensen.

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.

MCDONNELL FAMILY OTTAWA, IL