Gov. Braun, state lawmakers and farmer network at Brunch
Using bacon to grease the wheels of state legislation, more than 200 farmers, lawmakers, legislative staff and ag industry stakeholders met on Feb. 12 for the Bacon Bar and Brunch.
14
ISA touts Hoosier items at world’s largest food show
ISA partners with USAPEEC to establish a strong presence at the Gulfood Show in Dubai, including booth space strategically designed to support the objectives of increasing trade.
24 Farmer adapts to changing landscape to boost yields
Tom Murphy, a first-generation farmer raising amylose corn, commercial corn and soybeans, started with no till and cover crops then added variable rate fertilizer technology over the years.
32 Personal care products may feature soybean-based materials
Through ISA-funded research, Purdue researchers have developed soybean-based materials that can replace petroleum products in items such as shampoos and conditioners.
40 About the cover:
Three generations of the Highley farm includes, front from left, Larry and Janis Highley, Jessica and Brian Highley, and in back, Aiden, 5, and Elijah, 8. Janis Highley is a director on the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, the state’s corn checkoff board, and she serves on several other farm organizations.
Chair
ISA Membership & Policy Committee
Brian Warpup, Warren / D2
Dylan Christopher, Brookston / D1
Joe Stoller, Bremen / D1
Allen Buchanan, Fowler / D1
Kevin Kelley, Brookston / D1
John Peters, Monticello / D1
Denise Scarborough, LaCrosse / D1
C.J. Chalfant, Hartford City / D2
Carey McKibben, LaGrange / D2
Steve Phares, Albion / D2
Jenna Scott, Muncie / D2
Brian Warpup, Warren / D2
Mark Wenning, Cambridge City / D2
Vice Chair
David Hardin, Avon / D4
Directors
Philip Springstun, Boonville / D3
Mark Legan, Coatesville / D3
Derika Lynam-Spaetti, Richland / D3
Gary McDaniel, Boonville / D3
Jason Misiniec, Bicknell / D3
Larry Rusch, Vincennes / D3
Andrew McDaniel, Noblesville / D4
Kevin Burbrink, Seymour / D4
Chris Eck, Boggstown / D4
Mike Koehne, Greensburg / D4
Roger Wenning, Greensburg / D4
President
Secretary
Chris Cherry, New Palestine / D6 J.R. Roesner, Ferdinand / D8
Vice President
Treasurer
Alan Dunn, Michigantown / D4 Tyler Everett, Lebanon / D7
Tom Murphy, Chesterton / D1
Directors
Scott Smith, Windfall / D5
Joe Tuholski, LaPorte / D2 Tyler Pottschmidt, Crothersville / D9
Phil Zicht, Winchester / D3
Staff Credits
Editor / Dave Blower Jr. dblower@indianasoybean.com
Indiana Corn & Soybean Post® is published six times per year by the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Corn Growers Association.
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Soybean checkoff is reliable partner that helps Indiana soybean growers
ABrian Warpup Chair ISA Membership and Policy Committee
s the chair of the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee (M&P), the hours I spend away from the farm often involve talking to state or federal lawmakers or reading proposals of new laws or regulations. The legislative process is important. If farmers don’t represent themselves, no one will do it for us.
Each growing season brings challenges. We adjust to weather that is either too wet, too dry, too hot or too cold. We battle yield loss from insects or weeds. We calculate the economic problems of rising input costs against declining crop prices. And we keep a close eye on changes in government policies and regulations in Indianapolis and Washington, D.C.
Farming, though, requires much more than what I’ve listed. To be a successful farmer, you also need to develop new markets for your crops within the United States and around the world. You need to create new products made from your crops to increase their value on the open market.
You need to study new research from universities and other independent sources to ensure you’re following the best practices. Research that shows ways to improve the quality of your soil; research that advises you on rates for applying fertilizer for your soil type; research that explains techniques to improve water quality. As farmers, we take good care of the environment because we live where we farm.
While I am an expert when it comes to managing the weather, weeds or insects, I can use help with the other tasks. As independent as I am, I often realize I need partners to get the job done well.
For many Indiana soybean farmers, a key partner is the state’s soybean checkoff program. The Indiana Soybean Alliance is the state’s soybean checkoff. ISA programs focus on four specific areas: Market Development,
Value Creation, Producer Engagement and environmental, economic and social Sustainability.
Market Development is the process of finding new places to sell soybeans. Sometimes that means meeting buyers in other countries such as Mexico, Dubai or Indonesia. Buyers in these far-off places often want to meet the farmers who grow these crops. They want to ask questions about how we farm. And it’s been my experience that most of these buyers are impressed with our work and our products.
Value Creation includes new products made from soybeans. Soybean-based plastics is a new field, so are oils and lubricants. Each year we host a Student Soybean Innovation Competition at Purdue University to discover new products that can be made from soybeans.
Producer Engagement means getting farmers to take part in the projects, programs and research created through the checkoff as a benefit for their farms.
Finally, we describe Sustainability as a three-legged stool: one leg is environmental sustainability, another leg is economic sustainability, and the last leg is social sustainability. Environmental Sustainability means doing the things on our farm that will guarantee that our land and water will support us for future generations. Economic Sustainability means that any new growing practice should consider the farm’s profitability. Social Sustainability means growing our crops in a way that is acceptable to our customers.
Without regret, we are proud of ISA’s work, and we try to support them with legislation that improves the programs. It is true that many hands can make the work brief. But it’s also true that skilled hands are better. I believe our state’s checkoff programs are those skilled hands.
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Change to spring-like temperatures means that planting season is soon
TChris Cherry President Indiana Corn Growers Association
he weather this week has been a quick reminder that spring is near. The 40-degree mornings and 70-degree afternoons have been a great way to finish preparations for the spring planting season that is coming soon.
I’m sure that there will be anhydrous going on before the end of the week. We had a great opportunity to get our wheat top dressed, and it looks like it is off to a good start. This week we have finished prepping the equipment, cleaning it one last time, and I’ve been working in my seed warehouse sorting seed for deliveries.
Earlier this month, several directors from the ICGA board as well as directors from the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance spent four days in Denver, Colo., at the 2025 Commodity Classic. On March 1, we began with Corn Congress going over resolutions to the NCGA policy book. These resolutions are continuously studied by the state’s membership with the desire to have guard rails that help the NCGA board functions.
The ICGA and ICMC board delegates that represented Indiana included Tim Gauck, Tyler Everett, Jerry Osterholt, Susan Brocksmith and me. Joe Tuholski was a Corn Congress alternate. We spent several hours working together on the resolutions that we were presented during Corn Congress.
On March 2, we had the opportunity to listen to Brooke Rollins, the new USDA Secretary in the new administration. Rollins spoke for 35 minutes about the way the new administration is going to fight for agriculture. We were told that the contracts for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) were
going to be fulfilled. Many farmers felt some relief upon hearing this news.
The USDA is also going to be administering ECAP program in March through the FSA. ECAP stands for Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, and this program will be paid based on the producer prints from acreage reporting time last July. This way the acres in the program match up with the crops planted in 2024.
The next 60 days may offer anxiety as we prepare to plant the 2025 crop. Instability in crop markets are due, in part, to the threat of tariffs or the actual tariffs in some cases. The spring prices for crop insurance were set in February with corn being $4.70 and the spring soybean price $10.54 per bushel.
March has been mostly unkind. Prices continue to drop as I am writing this column. The uncertainty in the market is raising many questions. Do we continue to plant our normal rotations? Do we move our cropping plans one way or the other? Have the seed companies planned for enough supply to weather these shifts?
Wow . . . these are the stresses of being a farmer. My father-in-law would often say that two of his daughters married “professional gamblers” and that often feels like the truth. The memory of his oneliners gets me through many days.
If we act together, though, then we can promote the farm policies that may help us in the future. Your membership, and the membership of your neighbors, is so important to how we do business on your behalf. We go to the Indiana Statehouse, Washington, D.C., and meetings around the state. We do this work, so you can concentrate on the work on your farm.
To Become A Member
At POET, we believe in cultivating communities and growing the local economy. We have been using biotechnology to create sustainable solutions from local agricultural products for 35 years – ensuring that rural farm families can continue to do what they love for generations to come.
POET purchases corn from local farmers to produce sustainable biofuels and bioproducts. There are five POET Bioprocessing facilities across Indiana: Alexandria, North Manchester, Portland, Shelbyville, and Cloverdale. | poet.com/grain
Corn growers advocate for higher ethanol blends across the country
BY MATT ZIEGLER, Director of Public Policy, National Corn Growers Association
Inflation, tariffs and the economy are the talk of the town in Washington these days. And state and national corn grower advocates have been making a strong case that these concerns are precisely why American consumers need consistent, year-round access to higher blends of ethanol.
The reason is simple: Ethanol saves drivers money at the pump, is good for the environment and is an economic engine for farmers and rural America. It also is home grown and provides the United States with energy security. Ethanol has something for everyone.
Unfortunately, though, the nation still operates on a dated policy that interrupts access to fuel with 15 percent ethanol blends – often called E15 or Unleaded 88 –during the summer months.
We came close to a win in December when legislation, designed to keep the government funded through March included language eliminating the outdated E15 policy. At the eleventh hour, the language was removed much to our disappointment.
We re-upped our efforts this year. We recently sent the leadership in the House and Senate a letter with close to 9,000 signatures from farmers and our allies calling for action.
NCGA has worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide waivers that allow for continued access to this fuel during the last several summers, but this approach does not provide farmers or consumers with the long-term certainty they need. And as the nation struggles with inflation and higher gas prices, we need a long-term and permanent fix.
That’s why we have worked with key congressional allies who recently re-introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would allow for year-round access to these fuels.
State and national corn grower leaders and allies –including those in your state – have been relentless in working to get this legislation across the finish line.
We also teamed up with congressional sponsors of the bill as they hosted a press conference on Capitol Hill this month to rally support for our efforts.
As some in Washington talk about what they’re against; we are in a unique position to talk about what we are for. And luckily, we have some heavy hitters on our side, including President Donald J. Trump who has expressed his support for eliminating barriers to ethanol.
But while we have a lot going for us, we also have several challenges. If inflation, tariffs and economic concerns are helping us make our case, they also are causing a lot of distractions, impeding our ability to attract the attention of policymakers and the media.
We are also having to navigate a divided Congress. This includes divisions in each party and between Democrats and Republicans. We had hoped, for example, to include language that would address this issue in a new bill to fund the government, but because Republican control of the House is so tight, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) kept the legislation strictly focused on government funding, so he wouldn’t lose votes.
For more on NCGA
But I still think there are many opportunities over the days ahead to get this legislation passed and signed by the president. We will need you to help us achieve this goal. If you’re not already a member, consider joining your state corn grower group and sign up for the National Corn Growers Association’s advocacy alerts, so you can make your voice heard on this and other issues.
While America runs on ethanol, public policy wins are fueled by people like you and the thousands of corn growers across the country. So, join our efforts.
Here’s to working toward and hoping for an ethanol win in the near future.
Farmers call for immediate action
A letter signed by nearly 9,000 corn growers and advocates from 47 states was sent to House and Senate leadership on March 6 calling for action to remove an obsolete federal policy that prevents the sale of fuel with 15 percent ethanol blends, often referred to as E15, during the summer months.
“A legislative solution for consumers to access yearround E15 comes at no cost yet would provide critical support to our nation’s energy sector, overdue relief to American families, and provide necessary economic security to rural communities,” the letter said.
The letter was sent by NCGA to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
The sheer number of signatures in the letter is testament to the strong sentiment about increased ethanol demand among farmers, especially as commodity prices drop and input costs increase.
“Standardizing year-round E15 will result in an increase in corn demand of about 2.3 billion bushels per year,” the letter stated. “Considering that about one-third of corn produced in the U.S. is used for ethanol production, this demand creation will result in an impressive improvement in profitability for operations across the nation – and rural communities will reap the benefits.”
ASA monitoring rapidly evolving tariff situation and its impact on U.S. farms
BY BLAIR SHIPP
American Soybean Association
A trade war is escalating between the United States and several of its top trade partners — including China, Canada, Mexico and even the European Union—causing uncertainty with tariff implementation, temporary suspensions and negotiations all taking place during the past week. The American Soybean Association (ASA) is monitoring this rapidly evolving situation and its impact on U.S. soy growers. Here is a breakdown of the latest developments, as of Thursday, March 13.
• President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on imported steel and aluminum went into effect on March 12 at a 25 percent rate.
• These duties, levied under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, are in addition previous tariffs levied against China, Canada and Mexico under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
• To date, China has retaliated with a 10 percent tariff against U.S. soybeans.
• The European Union has released a list of U.S. export products the bloc could hit with retaliatory tariffs. Whole soybeans are on that list. However, those tariffs – should they move forward – would not go into effect until mid-April after consultation amongst EU member states and stakeholders.
• U.S. soybean exports (whole beans, soybean meal and soybean oil) are also on the target list for potential retaliation under Canada’s second retaliatory strike.
• According to the Tax Foundation, the combined tariffs imposed by the United States affect more than $1 trillion worth of imports.
• It is expected the next round of tariffs imposed will be reciprocal tariffs in early April.
ASA and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) submitted joint comments on March 11 regarding non-reciprocal trade agreements to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The comments focus on tariff and non-tariff barriers U.S. soybean exports face in global marketplaces. They also highlight markets that the Trump administration should target for potential new agreements.
March tariff recap
In the early morning hours of March 4, President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada took effect. Canada responded swiftly with plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on nearly $100 billion of U.S. imports over two tranches, and Mexico’s president said it would also soon retaliate.
The United States added a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports overnight, compounding the 10 percent export tax imposed on China a month ago and existing duties on the country’s goods. China’s comeback was quick: 10 percent retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soybeans and additional actions that limit market access.
ASA responded with a press release reiterating that its members do not support the use of tariffs, which threaten important markets and raise input costs for farmers, as a negotiation tactic. The statement underscored that the interconnected nature of agricultural supply chains means tariffs have immediate negative, and in many cases lasting, impacts on their farms and the country’s rural economy.
“Farmers are frustrated. Tariffs are not something to take lightly and ‘have fun’ with,” said ASA President Caleb Ragland, a farmer from Kentucky. “Not only do they hit our family businesses squarely in the wallet, but they rock a core tenet on which our trading relationships are built, and that is reliability. Being able to reliably supply a quality product to them consistently.”
On March 6, the administration announced it would
temporarily suspend tariffs on Canada and Mexico. ASA followed this announcement with a statement of appreciation for the tariff reprieve but continued urging the administration to seek non-tariff solutions to continue market access.
MAHA update
In early March, more than 300 organizations sent a letter to health, agriculture and environmental leaders in D.C. calling for sound science and data to be used by the Make America Healthy Again Commission in upcoming evaluations for products essential to food and agriculture.
The letter was sent to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.
It specifically underscores the importance of pesticides, biotechnology, and food and feed ingredients for farmers and consumers, highlighting the ways in which these products are already robustly regulated to ensure their safe use. It also discusses the importance of retaining quality data standards to prevent misleading or outlier studies from reducing access to much-needed products. Why it’s important: Pesticides are called out by the signatories as being essential to protect crops and ensure U.S. consumers can continue to access a safe, abundant
and affordable food supply. Biotechnology is important for improving crop yields and sustainability while also improving nutritional outcomes for consumers. Food and feed products are subject to a robust regulatory framework to certify any ingredients permitted for food use are safe for consumers.
The bottom line: If access to any of these products is undermined, it could result in higher food costs for consumers or a greater reliance on foreign imports that may be less safe.
ASA, along with the American Farm Bureau Federation, Corn Refiners Association and National Oilseed Processors Association, sent a joint news release March 10, highlighting these concerns while expressing openness to working with the Make America Healthy Again Commission on the shared goal of improving health outcomes for all Americans.
“We have long been supporters of quality, sciencebased regulation to ensure that the products we provide consumers are safe, healthy and nutritious,” Ragland said. “We’re pleased to discuss the long track record of safety around the products we use and the food we grow on our farms. However, it is essential we continue to use credible science and evidence in regulating these products so we can continue to provide safe, affordable food to the American people and consumers around the world.”
Take action to help Hoosier farmers
Become a lifetime member of Indiana’s corn and soybean policy groups
The Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership & Policy Committee (M&P) represent our state’s farmers in the legislative halls in Indianapolis and Washington, D.C. These organizations need your membership to influence federal and state lawmakers.
Indiana soybean and corn growers can now save money and eliminate the hassle of annual renewals by purchasing a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP to both ICGA and M&P. For only $1,700, you can be a member of both ICGA and M&P for life!
Anyone interested in buying this membership, should contact Industry Affairs Outreach Manager Khyla Goodman by phone at 317-614-0377 or by email at goodman@indianasoybean.com Or, you can go to our website, incornandsoy.org/ membership, to join!
Lifetime Members:
Phil Ramsey
Courtney Kingery
Matthew Lucas
Tyler Everett
David Gottbrath
Mike Sprinkle
Jeff Troike
Jim Douglas
Michael Steinbarger
Sam Caldwell
Mark Nigh
Alan Dunn
Mason Gick
Aaron Johnson
Nathan Luallen
Sam Mehringer
David Wenning
Mark Wenning
Creed Gunn
Andrew Fansler
Kent Burton
Russell Anderson
Troy Hattery
Mark Bacon
Ronald Sutherlin
Jordan Caldwell
Mike Shuter
John Baugh
Janice Peterson
Cullen Page
Don Wyss
John Peters
Bruce Herr
Lauren Tolle
Luke Roush
James Wood
Allen Buchanan
Matt Hart
Ron Hudson
Mark Tolle
Carl Kissel
Chris Eck
James Wenning
JR Roesner
William Roesner
Sarah Delbecq
Jim Geller Jr.
C.J. Chalfant
John Baugh, West Lafayette, Ind.
“Working together works. I support many organizations because I believe that we can work together, great things can be accomplished.”
Young: Biotech creates tremendous opportunities and America must lead
BY SEN. TODD YOUNG Republican, Indiana
When you hear “biotech,” you might think about medicine on a bathroom counter.
Biotech is that, but also so much more. It touches every critical sector that Americans rely on, including our food supply.
Emerging biotechnologies — from agricultural advances to defense applications to novel therapeutics — have the capability to reshape our economy. Biotech offers tremendous opportunities to strengthen America’s food security and agriculture innovation, both of which are critical to our national security,
If the United States does not lead in this area, our adversaries will, risking a future in which biotechnology undermines — rather than supports — our global priorities. Currently, the United States has a biotechnology supply chain problem. American biotech companies rely on cheap, fast products and services from Chinese companies.
The Chinese Communist Party knows this and sees biotech as an economic battleground with the West. They’re playing to win and often playing dirty by stealing the intellectual property of innovative American companies and labs.
I serve as the chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), a bipartisan group of lawmakers and policy experts working to assess the opportunities and threats presented by these technologies. This spring, we will publish a report for Congress that details actions needed to maintain and strengthen America’s global leadership position, including recommendations specific to agriculture.
Right now, the federal government is not prepared to help our country win the global biotechnology competition. Too often, it is getting in the way of our innovators and making it easier for China to steal our companies’ inventions.
The government must use its existing resources to support our biotechnology companies, workers, and researchers. This means horizon scanning for emerging technologies and restructuring federal agencies and regulations to support rather than obstruct emerging biotechnologies.
We can make our critical biotech supply chains more resilient and create thousands of good jobs in America by following a simple principle: more of what’s invented in the United States should be made in the United States.
Indiana’s agriculture community has much to gain from a stronger domestic biotechnology sector. Proactively sustaining our biotechnology industries will grow our economy and improve the lives and health of our people. Emerging biotechnology research across Indiana can help shape our future.
Congress must enact policies that accelerate innovations at home and onshore our supply chains. Broadly, this will be the focus of the NSCEB’s forthcoming final report. I hope you will visit the Commission’s website at biotech.senate.gov and take a look at the report when it comes out.
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) speaks to a group of farmers during a Shop Talk presented by the Indiana Soybean Alliance Membership & Policy Committee and the Indiana Corn Growers Association.
Stutzman: Strong farm policy will lead to a strong America
BY U.S. REP. MARLIN STUTZMAN Republican, Indiana District 3
As a fourth-generation farmer, I know firsthand the hard work, resilience and innovation that goes into feeding America. From the fields of Indiana to dinner tables across the country, our farmers play a critical role in ensuring we have access to affordable, high-quality food.
However, strong agriculture does not happen by accident; it requires common-sense policies that support our farmers, protect our resources, and open doors to innovation and opportunity.
America’s farmers and ranchers produce more with less, using cutting-edge science and technology to grow our food efficiently while preserving our land for future generations. In Indiana, we see this daily—farmers adopting precision agriculture, improving soil health and strengthening farm-to-table supply chains. This commitment to sustainability and innovation is why the United States enjoys the most abundant and affordable food supply in the world.
We cannot allow those who do not share our values to control the land that sustains our country.
Strong agricultural policy, especially through the upcoming Farm Bill, will be essential to providing stability and opportunity for our producers. The Farm Bill is a roadmap to secure our nation’s food supply, strengthen rural communities, and ensure farmers have the tools they need to succeed. It must:
• Support responsible risk management programs that safeguard against unpredictable weather and market fluctuations.
• Prioritize trade policies that level the playing field for American producers, ensuring our agricultural goods can compete in global markets.
• Bolster rural infrastructure, from broadband expansion to better transportation networks.
U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Dist. 3) was elected to Indiana’s Third Congressional District in November, replacing Jim Banks, who was elected to the U.S. Senate.
We cannot take this success for granted. American agriculture faces significant challenges, from volatile markets and rising input costs to burdensome regulations and unfair trade barriers.
Adding to these concerns is the growing threat of foreign adversaries purchasing U.S. farmland, particularly the Chinese Communist Party. Our farmland is more than just real estate; it is a vital asset that must be protected.
• Protect American farmland from foreign ownership and ensure it remains in the hands of those who feed and sustain our country.
As a business owner and farmer, I understand the importance of policies that empower — not hinder — our producers. Whether it is fighting against regulatory overreach, ensuring access to agricultural financing, or pushing for fair trade agreements, I will always be a voice for Indiana’s farmers in Washington. Agriculture is not just an industry; it is a way of life. It is the backbone of our rural economy and the key to our nation’s security. I remain committed to ensuring that Indiana’s farmers have the resources, support, and freedom they need to continue feeding America — today and for generations to come.
Gov. Braun, state lawmakers network with farmers at Bacon Bar and Brunch
BY DAVE BLOWER JR.
Using bacon to grease the wheels of state legislation, more than 200 farmers, lawmakers, legislative staff and ag industry stakeholders met on Feb. 12 for the Bacon Bar and Brunch at the Indiana Statehouse. The Brunch is the annual legislative breakfast for the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee (M&P).
The Brunch attracted more than 200 attendees to discuss a biofuels tax credit, property tax reform and potential grain indemnity legislation. Gov. Mike Braun, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Director Don Lamb and dozens of state senators and representatives met face-to-face with farmers during the event.
“We were very happy to see Gov. Braun, Lt. Gov. Beckwith and all of the other state legislators who attended the Brunch,” said Warren, Ind., farmer Brian Warpup, who is the chair of ISA’s Membership and Policy Committee. “This was a great opportunity to discuss issues that are very important to us. If we are not out here representing ourselves, no one else will do it for us.”
priorities for this legislative session is Senate Bill 254, which is a biofuels tax incentive to upgrade equipment infrastructure at fuel retail stations to allow more Unleaded 88 and biodiesel. That bill has moved through the Senate and is going over to the House now.”
Biofuels tax credit
Authored by State Sen. Brian Buchanan (R-Lebanon), SB254 would encourage higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel through a tax incentive for fuel retailers in the state. Fuel retailers would receive a 5-cent tax credit for each gallon of gasoline blended with more than 10 percent of ethanol. Retailers who sell biodiesel will receive a 5-cent tax credit for fuel with a 5-10 percent blend, a 10-cent tax credit for blended fuel of 10-20 percent, and an 18-cent tax credit for blends of more than 20 percent biodiesel.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun enjoyed bacon and ag policy discussion during the annual Bacon Bar and Brunch legislative breakfast at the Indiana Statehouse on Feb. 12. Posing with Gov. Braun is ISA, ICMC and ICGA CEO Courtney Kingery, at left, and ISA Board Chair Denise Scarborough, a farmer from LaCrosse, Ind.
ICGA President Chris Cherry, a farmer from New Palestine, Ind., agreed. “This is my fifth day at the Indiana Statehouse in the last two weeks, and what I’ve learned is the legislators want to hear from us,” he said. “I’m not sure I ever knew how important that was to them, but they know we are their constituents, and they recognize how important the Indiana Corn Growers Association and Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) organizations are for Indiana farmers.
“We’ve had a lot of success going around and telling our story to senators and representatives. One of our
“Our top issue this year is trying to get a biofuels incentive bill passed in order to drive demand for Indiana corn and soybeans,” said Cambridge City, Ind., farmer Mark Wenning, a member of ISA’s M&P Committee. “Most of our lawmakers aren’t farmers, so they aren’t always aware of the issues happening on the farm. It’s important for us to pass on what we’re seeing so that they can make the best decisions for the state and, hopefully, for farmers.”
According to ISDA, agriculture adds an estimated $31.2 billion to the state’s economy. Indiana’s top two ag commodities are its soybean and corn crops. Ethanol
and biodiesel are two leading products derived from those crops. Indiana is the sixth-largest biodieselproducing state with more than 289 million pounds of soybean oil grown annually going to biodiesel production.
Indiana is the fifth-largest producer of U.S. ethanol – generating more than 1.4 billion gallons per year. Indiana produces nearly 8 percent of the total U.S. ethanol output. There are 15 biorefineries in the state. They consume about 43 percent of Indiana’s total corn crop – more than 450 million bushels.
A blend of 15 percent corn ethanol with 85 percent petroleum gasoline, also known as Unleaded 88, cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 455,000 metric tons each year.
Additional legislation
Another bill being tracked by M&P and ICGA is SB461, which was offered by State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenberg), who is the Senate Ag Committee’s chair. This proposal creates a process to help the director of the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency define how many licenses a grain buyer needs and the parameters for revoking a license. This bill is designed to protect corn and soybean farmers from faulty agreements.
“It’s important to participate in these conversations as farmers and members,” said Boggstown, Ind., farmer Chris Eck, a member of ISA’s M&P Committee. “There are a lot of bills that are passed that may inadvertently affect our farms. If we’re not involved, then we could be left out and miss out in having a voice on legislation.”
From property taxes at the Statehouse to the Farm Bill on Capitol Hill, the Indiana Ag Policy Podcast will share the latest from the biggest names in ag policy. Scan below to listen now!
the NCFC’s leader for 15 years, but he plans to step down at the
The Brunch attracted more than 200 attendees to discuss a biofuels tax credit, property tax reform and potential grain indemnity legislation.
All of the breakfast foods served at the event were connected to Indiana agriculture. In addition to bacon, breakfast items included egg bake with bacon, vegetable egg bake, sweet corn casserole with duck sausage and maple syrup, plus orange juice and coffee.
Here is more proposed legislation drawing attention from ICGA and M&P:
• SB28 Ground Water Emergencies would provide protections for agricultural water wells.
• HB1192 Farmland Assessment would offer tax relief for ag land.
• SB7 Agricultural Land Assessment would bring tax relief for ag land.
• HB1234 Conservation of Agricultural Land would protect farming in the state.
Livestock and corn and soybeans
ICGA and M&P also touted prolivestock policies because Indiana’s livestock industry is a large and reliable customer for the state’s corn and soybean growers.
“We often say the best way to use corn and soybeans is to make bacon,” said Steve Howell, ICGA and ISA senior director of industry affairs. “Indiana’s livestock and poultry farmers are important customers for our corn and soybean growers. We grow the feed for the pork, beef, dairy and poultry producers. By featuring these products at our Brunch, we are showing Indiana legislators how interconnected agriculture is in our state. They can see that we are coming to them with a unified voice.”
All of the breakfast foods served at the event were connected to Indiana agriculture. The menu featured several varieties of pork bacon – all from Indiana Kitchen,
also known as Indiana Packers. This year’s bacon list included pork bacon, candied bacon, applewood smoked bacon and bacon with cracked pepper and fresh rosemary. The menu also featured beef bacon and turkey bacon. In addition, the Perdue poultry company provided turkey sausage links, and Maple Leaf Farms donated duck sausage. Milk was provided by Prairie Farms in partnership with American Dairy Association Indiana. Other breakfast items included egg bake with bacon, vegetable egg bake, sweet corn casserole with duck sausage and maple syrup, plus orange juice and a coffee station. The breakfast was sponsored by the United Soybean Board.
Other Bacon Bar and Brunch sponsors include Farm Credit Mid-America, Corteva Agriscience, Indiana Pork, Indiana Beef Cattle Association, Indiana Dairy Producers, Indiana State Poultry Association, Indiana Ethanol Producers Association, Indiana Farm Bureau and the Bose Public Affairs Group.
The General Assembly will wrap up its legislative work in April. Visit www.iga.in.gov to follow legislation.
ICGA and M&P rely on event sponsorship and membership dollars to advocate on behalf of Hoosier farmers. Anyone interested in joining these policy organizations should contact Khyla Goodman, Industry Affairs Outreach Manager for M&P and ICGA, at 317-6140377 or email kgoodman@indianasoybean.com
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who supervises Indiana’s agriculture department, is able to enjoy some bacon while discussing ag policy issues with farmers.
Warren, Ind., farmer Brian Warpup, chair of ISA’s Membership and Policy Committee, is interviewed by WOWO Radio Farm Director Rob Winters during the Bacon Bar and Brunch.
ICGA, M&P host Coffee Shop Talks meetings for Messmer and Shreve
BY KHYLA GOODMAN
The Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee (M&P) hosted two Coffee Shop Talks for newly elected Congressmen this winter.
Ten farmer members and industry partners joined U.S. Rep. Mark Messmer (R) for lunch at the Kat-A-Korner diner in Sullivan, Ind., on Feb. 19. Messmer was elected in November to represent District 8, replacing former U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon, in the southwestern corner of Indiana.
Messmer has been appointed to the House Ag Committee, where he will work with U.S. Rep. Jim Baird (R-Dist. 4). The group discussed rising issues such as farm bill priorities, trade market development and how immigration policies may impact farm labor. He said that finding markets for corn and soybeans is a primary task for his role on the House Ag Committee.
“I signed on to a letter to expand biofuels,” Messmer told the farmers in attendance. “And I support year-round E15. I think these are important issues right now.”
More than 25 farmers and industry partners met with U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R) for breakfast at Ann’s Restaurant in Franklin, Ind. Shreve was recently elected
U.S. Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Dist. 8), middle, listens to farmers during a Coffee Shop Talk at the Kat-A-Korner diner in Sullivan, Ind. At left is former ISA Board Director Kevin Cox, a farmer from Brazil, Ind., and at right is ISA Board Director Philip Springstun, a farmer from Boonville, Ind.
to represent Indiana District 6, and he has been appointed to serve on the subcommittees for Transportation and Infrastructure and Foreign Affairs. Shreve replaces former U.S. Rep. Greg Pence in this district.
The group engaged in discussions on trade, tariffs, crop insurance, biofuels and infrastructure. First Farmers Bank & Trust sponsored this Coffee Shop Talk.
Steve Howell, senior director for industry affairs for ICGA and M&P, said Coffee Shop Talks are important tools for farmers to make connections with federal legislators to discuss issues and policies that affect Indiana corn and soybean growers. The small group setting allows for deeper discussions on topics.
Invitations to small group meetings, such as Coffee Shop Talks, are exclusive to ICGA and M&P farmer members and industry partners. Larger-scale Shop Talks, usually hosted on farms, will be scheduled throughout August and communicated later this summer.
Contact Khyla Goodman by email at kgoodman@ indianasoybean.com to become a member and receive invites to upcoming policy events.
U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-Dist. 6) answers questions from farmers during a Coffee Shop Talk organized by the Indiana Corn Growers Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee. This Coffee Shop Talk featured approximately 25 farmers and was at Ann’s Restaurant in Franklin, Ind.
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From new USDA boss to talk of tariffs, political news tops Commodity Classic
BY DAVE BLOWER JR.
National political issues dominated discussion during the Commodity Classic in Denver, Colo., Feb. 28 to March 4. On the second day of the event, newly approved USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins addressed a standing-room-only crowd on Sunday, March 2, but news of a trade war with Canada, Mexico and China lingered through the end of Classic.
Established in 1996, the Commodity Classic is presented annually by the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) along with the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. NCGA and ASA use this event to focus in on key farm policy issues while checkoff-related groups such as the United Soybean Board (USB), the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) present trade show visitors with project updates.
Rollins was the featured speaker on the opening day of the trade show. She attempted to assure the farmers in attendance that the Trump Administration will pay attention to the concerns of agriculture.
your calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and if our team is not, you get me their name because you may have heard we’re doing a little bit of reduction in force across the federal government.”
Concerns about tariffs
Following Rollins message, though, news of the Trump Administration’s plans to place tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China – top importers of U.S. farm products – drew quick reaction from ag groups from across the country.
“As my boss, President Donald Trump, is working to ‘Make America Great Again,’ my job is to make agriculture great again,” Rollins said. “I also have a special message from our president, Donald Trump, who I speak with very regularly. He wants all of you to know that he hears you. He knows that times have been tough over the last four years. He will not forget you and he will never stop fighting for you and neither will I as your newly confirmed secretary of agriculture.
“I will be your greatest champion in Washington, second only to the president. I will make sure that your voice is heard and my team will be available to answer
The Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee (M&P) added their views on the issue. As the policy organizations for Indiana’s corn and soybean farmers, ICGA and M&P are asking the state’s congressional delegation to help bring a swift resolution to this issue.
“As Indiana’s soybean and corn farmers begin to prepare for the spring planting season, they are closely watching lower bushel prices and higher input costs,” said M&P Chair Brian Warpup, a farmer from Warren, Ind. “This year’s crop was already shaping up to be a challenge, but with the added complication of increased tariffs, farmers fear that fewer exports will lead to higher stocks and even lower bushel prices.”
ICGA President Chris Cherry, a farmer from New Palestine, Ind., added, “We urge Indiana’s congressional delegation to work with the Trump Administration to resolve these trade issues so that Indiana farmers can continue to export corn and soybeans to critical markets such as China, Mexico and Canada.”
Since the Commodity Classic ended, the Trump Administration announced a 30-day pause on tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico.
New USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks to a standing-room-only crowd during the Commodity Classic in Denver, Colo., on March 2.
Juha Honkasalo with eFlexFuel, a company that manuactures converters that allows most cars to run on E85 fuel, had a booth that featured support from the Indiana Corn Marketing Council.
Commodity Classic events
National farm organizations such as NCGA and ASA hosted fundraising events, handed out national awards and set ag policy priorities with its members during the Denver meeting.
NCGA presented awards to its 2024 National Corn Yield Contest winners. Hoosiers earning honors in this contest include Shawn Kalb, Kogen Kalb and Kevin Kalb, all of Dubois, Ind.; and Dallas Cardinal of Oaktown, Ind.
On the policy side, NCGA turned its focus on getting legislation adopted that would allow for year-round sale of E15, a blend of 15 percent ethanol with 85 percent gasoline. Many pro-ethanol groups also refer to this fuel at Unleaded 88.
ASA’s policy focus was on getting a new farm bill passed this year that updated many programs and included new crop insurance details. Soybean growers were also available to attend many leadership and educational events.
AG Leader Source provides soybean farmers an opportunity to continue to grow and develop their board leadership skills through an online Soybean Board Leadership Development Program. AG Leader Source is supported by the state soybean organizations and USB and is funded solely with soybean checkoff dollars. Hoosier farmers who participated in the program this year include Chris Eck, David Harden, Mike Koehne, Andrew McDaniel, Philip Springstun, Larry Rusch, Brian Warpup and Mark Wenning.
More than 11,300 attendees including farmers, exhibitors, industry stakeholders and media gathered in Denver for the Commodity Classic. The event broke records this year with 5,221 farmer attendees and 168 registered media. Additionally, 433 companies exhibited at the Colorado Convention Center. The 2026 Commodity Classic will be Feb. 25-27 in San Antonio, Texas.
supporting yearround availability for E15.
and Brian Warpup.
ICGA President Chris Cherry, a farmer from New Palestine, Ind., signs his name to a display
Several Indiana Soybean Alliance board members earned honors from the AG Leader Source online program. Featured here, from left, are Mark Wenning, Philip Springstun, Larry Rusch, Chris Eck
National Corn Board member J.R. Roesner, a farmer from Ferdinand, Ind., is interviewed by Jeff Nalley of the Cromwell Ag Network during the Commodity Classic.
Dozens of Indiana farmers attended the Commodity Classic this year at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colo.
Highley respects farm’s past, enjoys it’s present, and looks to ag’s future
BY DAVE BLOWER JR.
There are no shortcuts in agriculture.
With planning and careful attention to detail and hard work, a farm can last for generations.
For Janis Highley, she respects the history of Indiana farm families. In the present, she works with her husband, Larry, as fifth-generation operators of their family farm. And as a director for the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) and organizations like Indiana Farm Bureau, she plans for future generations on her farm and future generations of women in agriculture.
Find out more about the Indiana Corn Marketing Council
Larry and Janis Highley are the fifth generation to live on the farm that has been in his family for more than 100 years. On their small farm in Huntington, Ind., they produce No. 2 yellow corn and high oleic soybeans. They can store 100 percent of their soybeans and 50 percent of their corn.
The farm is a minimum-till, row-crop operation.
“My father, Clarence, used to no-till everything back in the 1980s; it was something I had wanted to try, and it was working out pretty good for a while,” Larry said. “After a while, though, we started getting a problem with corn borer, and that’s when we started working the ground for corn. We still no-till all of our beans, and I’m trying to limit my passes on the corn to save some money. I’m only working the ground occasionally.”
Highley said they keep a few chickens and some cattle strictly as food for the family.
Their corn goes to feed hogs. Their soybeans, on the other hand, go to ADM and are crushed into high oleic soybean oil. ADM then ships that oil to the Hershey
Company to eventually go into their chocolate.
“Our contracts have been with ADM and Hershey’s; that’s where the oil has been going,” Janis said. “I think that’s pretty interesting when you think about it.”
In addition to the farm, Larry and one of their sons, Brian, owns and operates Zeller Construction. This business was owned by Highley’s father, Marvin Zeller, before Larry bought it several years ago.
Janis graduated from Huntington University with a degree in business management. She is employed parttime at Strategic Grain Hedge as a grain analyst assistant. She helps farmers and agribusinesses protect their bottom line through grain sales and hedges on the Chicago Board of Trade.
War bonds help buy a farm
The Highley farm dates back to 1918 when it was purchased by Larry’s great-great-grandfather, George Walker, with Liberty Bonds. These bonds were sold by the government to help pay for World War I. The 338-acre farm cost $57,000 at that time. Walker moved from nearby Converse, Ind., to buy the farm.
“We have a report of the sale from an old Warren (Ind.) newspaper account,” Larry said. “The guy who my great-grandfather bought the land from was happy to get the Liberty Bonds through the sale. George Walker also bought some farm equipment with the property. The two-story house was moved from the back of the field up closer to the road. I don’t know what year that happened;
Larry Highley’s grandfather, Ralph, won a chance to buy this 1947 Oliver Row Crop 70 tractor through a lottery following World War II. Due to material shortages during the war, many equipment manufacturers used a lottery system to offer available machinery to farmers. Ralph Highley won two consecutive lotteries, one from a Farmall dealer in addition to this Oliver. The tractor has remained on the farm since it was purchased.
Janis Highley discusses a variety of topics with Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who supervises the state’s ag department.
I just remember hearing about that in our farm’s history.”
Janis added, “And we still live in that house today.”
Other than moving the house, the family farm has remained relatively unchanged. Although they no longer raise sheep anymore.
In fact, a wagon and a hay tedder from the original farm remain on the property. With an appreciation for antique farm equipment, the Highleys have refurbished the hay tedder and display it at the farm.
By the time the United States entered World War II, Larry’s grandfather, Ralph, was managing the farm. Once again, America’s role in a World War influenced the farm.
During the war, farm equipment manufacturers had limited supplies, so fewer tractors and implements were made during 1940s. Most equipment manufacturers sold machinery at this time through a lottery system. Highley’s family was fortunate enough to win two of these lotteries.
Highley’s son, Brian, who is the sixth generation on the farm, is a fan of the antique tractors.
“We had two tractors that were bought new in the 1940s that stayed on the farm for a long time,” Brian said. “One is a 1946 Farmall A, wide-front tractor, and the other is a 1947 Oliver 70 Row Crop tractor. My great-grandpa, Ralph, bought both of them. He put his name in the lottery at the Farmall dealer in 1946 and won the chance to buy the tractor, then immediately got his name pulled again from the Oliver dealer. In those days you didn’t know if your name was going to be drawn again, so you didn’t want to pass up the chance to buy a tractor.
“That Oliver 70 was gifted to my dad from my greatgrandpa, and we still have it. The Farmall isn’t with us anymore. My dad refurbished the Oliver in the early 2000s, and we still have it. It has been on the farm since 1947.”
Corn checkoff work
Highley was first elected as a board director to ICMC, Indiana’s corn checkoff program, in 2021. She was elected to a second term last year. During her time on the board,
she has served Indiana corn farmers in a variety of roles. She has also volunteered with ICMC partners such as the U.S. Grains Council and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).
Highley helped to plan the NCGA’s Women and Mentors Retreat, and she served on NCGA’s Leadership Academy. “I want to be a voice for Indiana corn farmers at the county, state and national level,” she stated. “I want to continue work to help export our product to new markets as well as find new uses for Indiana corn.”
That passion for more export markets led her to work on NCGA’s Committee on Marketing and Trade. She also represents ICMC as a delegate on the U.S. Grains Council, which develops export markets for U.S. corn, barley and sorghum.
In September 2022, Highley and a handful of other Hoosier farmers traveled to Mexico City to talk to end users of Indiana corn. This trade mission took place as Mexican officials were threatening to prohibit white, food-grade corn from entering their country because of widespread use of GMO corn varieties in the United States.
Highley said the farmers were able to witness corn coming off a barge in Progreso, a port city on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, get transported to a facility and packaged into 50-pound bags. The bagging facility is a project paid for by ICMC.
“I think it was very good for me and the other farmers to be there,” Highley explained. “The people we talked to had no problem buying American corn. It was good for me to take what I learned in Mexico and tell farmers in Indiana about it.”
She said it was clear that the problems with Mexico were political. Being able to share that message with Indiana farmers helped them to understand the issue. Highley said she’s able to explain the value of checkoff work to her friends and neighbors.
“Many of the farmers I talk to now want to know why
This hay tedder came with the property when it was purchased in 1918. The Highley’s often display the implement to recognize the work of those who have worked their farm in the past.
Policy work and the future
While Highley is a board director for the state’s corn checkoff program, she is dues-paying member of the Indiana Corn Growers Association, a policy group that represents the state’s corn growers. She said making sure ag policies benefit Indiana’s farmers today also helps ensure that the next generation can continue to farm.
Highley is closely watching changes to Indiana’s Grain Indemnity Fund at the state level while monitoring tariffs, an expansion of higher blends of ethanol and the food insecurity in national politics.
In addition to Brian, who lives near their farm with his wife, Jessica, and his two sons, Elijah, 8, and Aiden, 5, Highley has another son, Aaron, who lives and works in Fort Wayne with his wife, Annalise.
we spend so much money internationally instead of spending it in Indiana,” Highley said. “I explain to them that we need to develop these new markets to help prices for our crop in Indiana. We need to build relationships with these buyers in foreign countries. It takes a long time to build these relationships, but they are valuable to all Indiana farmers.”
Brian has shown an interest in continuing the farm into the sixth generation, and Elijah enjoys doing farm work with his dad.
“We will have to see if there will be a seventh generation,” Highley said. “We’re very happy to have this life and this opportunity. We enjoy sharing it with as many people as possible.”
Highley among the feature speakers at 2025 Women Engage Conference
BY AMIE SIMPSON
Detailed breakout sessions, networking opportunities and a keynote presentation were the highlights of the 2025 Ag Women Engage Conference on Feb. 13 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) Director Janis Highley spoke to attendees about the value of the checkoff in Indiana and volunteering to serve on boards.
“The Indiana Corn Marketing Council is a statewide organization that serves Indiana corn farmers through checkoff programs that help create demand and broaden markets for Indiana corn. The funds are used for promotion, research and education,” she said.
“ICMC is led by volunteer farmers. Serving on a board is important because it allows you to contribute your expertise, leadership, and vision. Two big passions for me are farm safety and trade. If you are interested in getting involved with ICMC, you would be playing a very important role in the board’s accountability, credibility, and fostering long-term sustainability. If you have the time and interest to be a voice and advocate for farmers, we would love to have you. We want you to ask questions and we want you to be involved.”
Highley added that she’s excited about what’s going on in Indiana agriculture.
Breakout session topics included: farmland value updates, navigating mental health, farmland property taxes, succession planning, Indiana animal agriculture updates, farm financials networking roundtable, diversifying farm operations, and much more.
ICMC and the Indiana Soybean Alliance were sponsors of the Ag Women Engage Conference. The Purdue Extension Women in Agriculture team organized the event.
Janis Highley spoke to attendees about the value of the checkoff in Indiana and volunteering to serve on boards during the 2025 Ag Women Engage Conference on Feb. 13 in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Janis Highley presents officials of a Mexican ag company with an Indiana corn tie. Highley reviewed ICMC projects during a trade mission to Mexico.
The Indiana Corn Marketing Council is looking for farmers to help drive demand and maximize the impact of the checkoff investments. Serve on the board to represent your district, support fellow farmers, and strengthen the future of Indiana corn.
To learn and apply, scan the QR code or visit incornandsoy.org/ICMCelection
Indiana’s soybean checkoff program touts Hoosier items at world’s largest food show
BY ANITA SHARKEY
The Gulfood Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), owns the title of the world’s largest food and beverage show. The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) views this event as a key opportunity to support Indiana soybean farmers and actively pursue initiatives directly benefiting their operations back home.
ISA partners with the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) to establish a strong presence at the event, which included a booth space, strategically designed to facilitate meetings and support the objectives of increasing trade.
Gulfood 2025 included a record 5,500 exhibitors from 190 countries and more than 100,000 visitors. Gulfood is divided into eight key sectors: dairy, meat, and poultry; power brands; pulses, grains and cereals; health, wellness and free-from foods; world food; beverages; and fats and oils.
The United Arab Emirates is the top export market for U.S. poultry products in the Middle East. In 2023, the U.S. exported more than 62,000 metric tons of chicken broiler meat, nearly 750 metric tons of turkey meat, and 125 metric tons of other poultry meat to the UAE. Indiana soybean farmer and board member Larry Rusch was part of the Gulfood show trade mission.
“Dubai is a major business hub, with an immeasurable amount of commerce taking place every day,” said Rusch, who farms near Vincennes, Ind. “There is a strong demand for Indiana agricultural products, and our job is to ensure the right people are present with the right products to meet that demand.”
ISA and USAPEEC work to increase U.S. broiler and turkey exports worldwide through participation and an expanded presence at Gulfood. This project focuses on growing exports to the Middle East region and surrounding markets reached in one central location, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, India, Asia and Central Asia.
Farmers and staff from the Indiana Soybean Alliance along with staff from USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, the U.S. Soybean Export Council and Maple Leaf Duck meet with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Agriculture during a trade mission to the Gulfood Show in Dubai in February.
In 2023, nearly 4 million soybean bushels from Indiana were exported through chicken, turkey, duck and eggs.
Middle East is a critical market
The Middle East represents a critical U.S. poultry and egg export market, benefiting corn and soybean growers.
During the Show, the ISA and USAPEEC teams engaged with agricultural leaders worldwide, including a notable meeting with individuals in Saudi Arabia who manage more than 1 million acres of farmland. Rusch noted that Indiana fostering communication with these individuals is essential. “It puts a face with an image — and that works both ways,” he said. “I met with a Saudi deputy secretary of agriculture, not knowing exactly what to expect. The Secretary had real-world concerns about food security. His strong focus on securing his country’s future food supply was clear and deeply impactful. It’s something Indiana farmers can have an impact on.”
Denise Scarborough, a farmer from LaCrosse, Ind., and ISA Board Chair, said these meetings are crucial for expanding markets for Hoosier soybean growers.
Developing Markets
“I think it’s important for Indiana farmers, or any U.S. farmer, to have a seat at the table when there is a chance to talk to buyers from foreign countries,” she said. “We are constantly looking for ways to export our goods around the world. Anytime we can, we sit across from somebody who is a major buyer in another country looking to import U.S. soybeans, corn or any U.S. meat products. It’s a great way for us to have those one-on-one conversations about the products and goods that U.S. farmers grow and how they can benefit their countries.”
Inside look at a processing plant
Maple Leaf Farms in Leesburg, Ind., is a fourthgeneration, family-owned company that specializes in growing and producing high-quality duck. With a farmto-fork approach, Maple Leaf Farms produces premium duck and duck products for kitchens and restaurants worldwide, making Indiana the largest U.S. duck producer. ISA is committed to projects that help move Indiana duck products overseas.
During their time in Dubai, the team visited Sama Teeba Food Industries LLC, a packing plant where they saw Maple Leaf duck packaged and ready for shipment.
“Visiting the processing facility in Dubai was very interesting,” Scarborough said. “I found it fascinating how they import the frozen meats and then take them through their facility to repackage them and repurpose them for the local needs that they have there within their country. The facility was definitely state-of-the-art, and it was amazing how they housed their own employees so they could stay right there. Definitely, a forward-thinking person who owns the facility and sees how they can continue to bring in meats from not only the U.S. but from around the world to benefit their country and their growing needs.”
Rusch added, “The packaging plant exemplified the strong desire, need and demand for food products. Seeing it while in construction highlighted their commitment to investing in the future. Not only were they building a facility, but they were also constructing housing for their employees — facing many of the same workforce challenges that we do.”
In summary, the ISA’s participation at Gulfood 2025 was a significant opportunity to strengthen global connections and expand markets for Indiana’s agricultural products. By engaging with international leaders and exploring key processing facilities, the team advocated for Indiana soybean farmers and discovered new opportunities for future growth.
As the demand for U.S. agricultural exports continues to rise, ISA remains committed to fostering relationships that ensure Indiana remains a key player in the global agricultural market.
ISA farmers and staff visited a duck processing plant in a rural area of the United Arab Emirates. From left are ISA Chair Denise Scarborough, a farmer from LaCrosse, Ind.; ISA CEO Courtney Kingery, and ISA Board Director Larry Rusch, a farmer from Vincennes, Ind.
Indiana duck is shipped frozen to the United Arab Emirates. Then it is repackaged for consumers in the Middle East..
Chicken and duck shawarma was served at the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council booth during the Gulfood show.
Council partners with Philippines Department of Transportation and Boeing for SAF Summit
As the Philippines moves toward unlocking the potential of synthetic aviation fuel (SAF) through policy and industrial innovation, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) collaborated with the Philippines Department of Transportation and Boeing last week to conduct the first Philippines SAF Summit in Manila.
The one-day summit brought together a holistic group of stakeholders critical to the implementation and scaling of the Philippines SAF industry to discuss feedstock, technology, environmental and policy considerations pertinent to SAF development in the country. Attendees included representatives from various Philippine governmental agencies, universities and multilaterals, as well as participants from the downstream fuel, upstream bioenergy and aviation industries.
Presentations and expert panels concentrated on feedstock dynamics, SAF technologies, international certification pathways, financing and investment and lifecycle analysis methodologies.
“SAF presents the Philippines an opportunity to onshore energy production by leveraging domestic resources and talent.
The first Philippines SAF Summit underscored the SAF opportunity facing the country, which is well-positioned to capture this value and decarbonize its aviation sector,” said Caleb Wurth, USGC regional director for Southeast Asia & Oceania.
The Philippines is the United States’ largest ethanol trading partner in Southeast Asia, consuming nearly 2 billion gallons of gasoline per year. Ethanol production in the Philippines has increased by nearly 450 percent since its E10 mandate began in 2013, delivering significant economic benefits to rural communities, alleviating pump prices for consumers and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector by more than 1.75 billion pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
In June 2024, its government approved and promulgated a discretionary E20 policy in addition to the existing E10 mandate, further underscoring the country’s commitment
to being a global leader in biofuel production and utilization.
The Philippines, an archipelago country with 115 million people spread across 7,641 islands, consumed roughly 740 million gallons of jet fuel per year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-pandemic consumption has not yet caught up to those levels, though demand is beginning to rebound. It remains a significant net importer of jet fuel, further underlining the fuel security and economic value capture potential that SAF can provide to the Philippines.
The Council closely collaborates with the Government of the Philippines and the country’s biofuel and fuel industries to promote the wider use of ethanol in the country’s transportation fuel mix.
The USGC develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org
Caleb Wurth Visit
Dr. Steffen Mueller, principal economist at the University of Illinois, Chicago’s Energy Resources Center, presents on international SAF certification pathways relevant to the Philippines at the Philippines SAF Summit on Feb. 28 in Manila, Philippines.
U.S. soy farmers experience checkoff’s global impact firsthand in Guatemala
Stretching from Nebraska to North Carolina and Michigan to Mississippi, 10U.S. farmers who have started careers in production agriculture recently journeyed to Honduras and Guatemala. As part of United Soybean Board’s See for Yourself mission, the group experienced an in-depth look at the soy checkoff’s investments in international market growth.
With about 60 percent of the U.S. soybean crop exported, in addition to value-added poultry and meat products traveling overseas, these next-generation U.S. farmers experienced the global impact of U.S. soybeans.
“With these U.S. soybean farmers across several states contributing to the soy checkoff, this mission allowed them to see firsthand how their investments grow export markets,” said Philip Good, USB Chair and a farmer from Mississippi. “Not only that but better understanding how the ports and infrastructure affect U.S. Soy products internationally and the importance of the Panama Canal were critical to the discussion. Whether it was seeing poultry and egg products fed U.S. soybean meal or the Soy Excellence Centers equipping soy professionals with practical skills, the global footprint of U.S. Soy made a lasting impression with this group.”
than 50 million bushels per year and imports 80 percent of country’s food and livestock product. In addition, the mission comprised visits with feed manufacturers, egg producers and food companies using soy protein.
The farmers attending posted daily blogs and videos
South Dakota farmer April Bowar said, “It was eyeopening to learn where our grain goes after we take it to the elevator and how different organizations within the U.S. work in Central America to promote U.S. Soy.”
Ohio farmer Andrew Armstrong added, “Attending the See for Yourself mission has allowed me to see a small fraction of what’s happening in the global market that directly affects the domestic market.”
At Guatemala’s largest port, Terminal De Granos Del Pacifico, See for Yourself participants included, from left, Andrew Armstrong (Ohio), Gentry Clark (Missippi), Cody Clift (Kentucky), Elizabeth Pfaff (Indiana), Cale Buhr (Nebraska), Jonathan Griffel (Illinois), April Bowar (South Dakota), Luke Bellar (Kansas), Landon Moore (North Carolina) and Jenna Maher (Michigan).
Guatemala is the 15th-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service, and with Honduras sourcing a vast majority of its soybean meal demand with U.S. product, Central America serves a critical market for U.S. farmers.
During the mission from Feb. 1-9, the See for Yourself participants met with Guatemala’s Minister of Agriculture Maynor Estrada. They also visited Guatemala’s largest port, Terminal De Granos Del Pacifico, which services more
And Kansas farmer Luke Bellar explained, “It was nice to see products labeled ‘Sustainable U.S. Soy.’ This confirms to U.S. farmers that the highquality, sustainable soybeans and soybean meal we export help feed and fuel the world.”
The mission included presentations from soy checkoff partners the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC).
The participants learned about USSEC’s partnership in Honduras with El Zamorano University on its Soy Excellence Center. In addition, the group heard from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service about trade in the region and global agrifood challenges at WISHH’s Food Security Dialogue.
To find out more about USB’s See for Yourself program, visit unitedsoybean.org/see-for-yourself-2025
Boosting U.S. Soy exports by accelerating sustainability and increasing connections
BY COLBY PINKSTONE Senior Director of Strategic Programs, U.S. Soybean Export Council
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) focuses on differentiating the quality and value of U.S. Soy for global customers, thanks in part to investments from the Indiana Soybean Alliance. We aim to create and elevate customer preference for U.S. Soy products.
Nurturing trust in U.S. Soy is at the heart of our work. Trust requires building, strengthening and deepening relationships.
Our team blends in-thetrenches support and big-picture strategic insight throughout the global soy supply chain. Their collaboration and commitment create environments where relationships and trust flourish.
These relationships ensure that high-quality U.S. Soy, including Indiana soybeans, reach customers who use it to sustainably feed livestock and fish, nourish people and strengthen their businesses. Through these relationships, U.S. exports for marketing year 2023-24 totaled 60.8 million metric tons (MMT), valued at $31.2 billion.
“Exports help create demand for our soybeans,” said Mike Koehne, who farms near Greensburg, Ind., and serves as a director for the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), the American Soybean Association (ASA) and USSEC. “I’ve experienced the value of the relationships USSEC is building with customers, both when I have visited customers overseas and when I have hosted trade teams on my farm. We learn so much from each other, and I’ve seen
Read the Soy Excellence Center’s annual report here
how much it means to our customers when we show up, listen, and want to learn.”
Our most recent USSEC annual report highlights a remarkable network of relationships that contribute to ongoing demand for U.S. Soy. For example, during the last marketing year, U.S. soybean meal exports set a record of 14.4 million metric tons, valued at $6.7 billion.
Explore our work in animal nutrition, aquaculture, soy foods and soybean oil that Indiana soybean farmers make possible in the full annual report.
Accelerating commitment to sustainability
Sustainability has become a critical priority for industries and companies around the world, and U.S. Soy has become an essential part of providing sustainable solutions.
The U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) provides verification and trust in the sustainability of soybeans produced in the United States. More than 40.5 million metric tons of U.S. Soy products shipped with an SSAP certificate in marketing year 2023-24, covering two-thirds of total exports.
“Customers want to know how we care for our land while raising high-quality soybeans,” Koehne said. “The SSAP and USSEC’s focus on sustainability helps us explain
The 2024 USSEC Annual Report will soon be posted online at www.ussec.com.
Mike Koehne, a farmer from Greensburg, Ind., is on the USSEC board and the Indiana Soybean Alliance board. Koehne said a key element for creating new export markets around the world is building relationships with buyers. He said USSEC emphasizes building new relationships.
Joe Stoller, a farmer from Bremen, Ind., is an Indiana Soybean Alliance board member and an executive on the Soy Excellence Center Global Advisory Panel. Stoller said USSEC is making plans to satisfy the world’s growing demand for protein.
“Exports help create demand for our soybeans. I’ve experienced the value of the relationships USSEC is building with customers overseas and when I have hosted trade teams on my farm. We learn so much from each other.”
-- Mike Koehne, Director ISA, ASA, USSEC
that we raise soybeans with the lowest carbon footprint compared to those from other countries.”
SSAP certificates now carry data about the carbon footprint of verified soybeans, facilitating customers’ Scope 3 emissions reporting. This data uses life cycle assessment (LCA) information from the Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI). USSEC is the first organization to use GFLI datasets this way.
Such transparency fosters trust in U.S. Soy. To pass this trust on to consumers, USSEC offers the Sustainable U.S. Soy and Fed with Sustainable U.S. Soy labels, which signify responsible sourcing with SSAP-verified soy. More than 1,120 products from 123 companies in 19 countries feature these labels.
USSEC is supporting global progress in sustainability, and that motivates our team to keep moving forward. The 2024 U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol annual report explains how USSEC is accelerating its commitment to sustainability.
Investing in today for an abundant tomorrow
In addition to other export efforts, the Indiana Soybean Alliance directly supports the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) program led by USSEC. The SEC delivers trusted professional development for early- to mid-career protein
professionals in emerging markets.
Protein demand around the world is projected to grow, and the SEC program is taking the lead in developing educational communities to meet these needs. SEC training builds trust, relationships, and knowledge, as researchers and experts from top U.S. and global universities support curriculum in poultry, aquaculture, and feed milling, as well as market-specific courses like swine production and food for human use.
“We are investing in the future of those who are and will deliver protein in emerging markets,” explained Joe Stoller, who farms near Bremen, Ind., and serves as an Indiana Soybean Alliance Board member. He also serves as Secretary on the SEC Global Advisory Panel, which provides guidance to the SEC. “Our support also cultivates preference for U.S. Soy, as participants learn how to maximize the value in our soybeans.”
The strategic learning centers provide virtual and inperson training in the Americas, India, the Middle East and North Africa, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Explore how the SEC program is growing achievements, connections, and appreciation around the world in the 2024 Soy Excellence Center annual report.
Together, these reports strive to share the return on investment USSEC provides for the farmers that anchor the U.S. Soy supply chain through the Indiana Soybean Alliance and other partners.
Strong pork demand generated by customers in Central America
Exports of U.S. pork set a record in 2024 at $8.6 billion and more than 3 million metric tons (mt). Much of that growth came in Central America, which saw a 29 percent increase in value compared to the previous year.
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) consumer education programs, made possible through support from USDA and the National Pork Board, have made a huge difference in that demand.
“We have been doing a lot of education in order to position U.S. pork as another option for the center of the plate protein,” said USMEF Central America Representative Lucia Ruano. “We are highlighting pork as very good protein with a lot of nutrients, good flavor. It’s easy to handle and versatile, so we are showing consumers how to do different things with different cuts of U.S. pork, so they can have it as another affordable option.”
In particular, USMEF has touted the use of pork loin to build value for a versatile but underutilized cut.
“You get all kinds of affordable cuts from the loin, for example a cowboy, a ribeye, a strip loin,” Ruano explained. “And so, we try to teach people that all of these cuts that we have from the loin, they are not only affordable, but they have a very good flavor if you cook them and handle them in the correct way.”
Promotional events range from consumer grilling events to menu building seminars for restaurant chefs to take advantage of the growing interest in grilled cuisine and
increasing demand for high-quality protein in both the retail and foodservice sectors.
The success of U.S. pork in the region is made possible through tariff-free access under the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).
Panama, however, remains an exception, as its import policies are inconsistent with trade agreement commitments.
Ruano noted that domestic producers have been placing pressure on the Panamanian government to restrict pork imports. Those limits have led to some pork product shortages in the country.
“Tony Roma’s, for example, wasn’t able to have enough ribs, their signature plate,” Ruano said. “They weren’t able to feature them during the last quarter of the year, as none of the domestic producers were able to supply the product.”
Despite the restrictions, U.S. producers sold nearly $68 million of pork in Panama in 2024.
Central America will once again take center stage in July as USMEF hosts the Latin American Product Showcase in Guatemala City July 30-31. The event, which has received outstanding support from the Indiana Soybean Alliance, began in 2011 and brings U.S. processors and exporters together with buyers from across Central and South America and the Caribbean to promote sales across the entire Latin American region.
For more about the 2025 Latin American Product Showcase, visit www.USMEF.org/events
USMEF hosted a pork-grilling event in Guatemala.
Visit USMEF website
Sales teams in Panama were trained by U.S. Pork on ways to market new cuts of meat.
Hoosier farmers evaluate projects in Mexico amid trade war concerns
Amid concerns of a trade war with Mexico, Indiana farmers attended the Expo Carnes Trade Show in Monterrey, Mexico, and reviewed other checkoff projects in the region.
The trade show, taking part in early March, featured booths and products from checkoff partners such as the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), U.S. Pork and companies including Indiana Kitchen. During the show, farmers had a chance to engage with buyers of U.S. meat.
Matthew Lucas, who farms in Brownstown and serves as ICMC’s vice president, said maintaining key export markets is crucial to profitability for Hoosier farmers.
“That is the biggest concern for ag producers,” he explained. “How are these tariffs going to unfold on U.S. products moving into Mexico? Is pork going to be part of that? Is corn going to be part of that? How (is Mexico) going to try to retaliate?”
Despite this uncertainty, Lucas remains optimistic about the future of trade with Mexico following the trade mission to Monterrey.
“Mexico imports about 40 percent of its meat products; and of that 40 percent, 80 percent is originating from the U.S.,” Lucas reported. “Just because we’re exporting meat down here doesn’t mean that doesn’t affect outcomes for grain producers. It takes grain to feed the cattle and hogs that we are sending down here.”
Lucas is hopeful the two countries can continue their mutually beneficial trade relationship.
While in Monterrey, the farmers received an overview of Foreign Agricultural Service projects from Dan Archibald, director of the USDA’s FAS Ag Trade Office. And Gerardo Rodriquez, a regional director for USMEF, updated farmers on checkoff projects in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The trade mission also included a review of beef and pork packing plants and a visit to Proboca, a Mexican food company importing turkey from Farbest Foods in Jasper, Indiana.
The Expo Carnes Trade Show in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 4. The event featured many Indiana-produced food products including pork sold under the Indiana Kitchen brand. Attendees included, from left, John Peters, Monticello, Ind.; Steve Phares, Albion, Ind.; Matthew Lucas, Brownstown, Ind.; David Hardin, Avon, Ind.; and David Ring, Huntingburg, Ind.
ISA Board Director David Hardin, a farmer from Avon, Ind., tours a traditional Mexican food market in Monterrey, Mexico.
Indiana farmers sample pork products offered by the U.S. Meat Export Federation and U.S. Pork during the Expo Carnes Trade Show in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 4.
Murphy adapts to changing landscape to boost yields, environment for future
BY AMIE SIMPSON
Located in the Chesterton area, just 40 minutes southeast of Chicago, Murphy Family Farms has adopted conservation practices to adapt to suburban sprawl and sandy soils found near Lake Michigan.
Tom Murphy is a first-generation farmer raising amylose corn, commercial corn and soybeans. He started with no till and cover crops then added variable rate fertilizer technology over the years.
“We have a farm that is surrounded on three sides by the national lakeshore and on the backside of the farm there is a steelhead stream. The sandy soil was eroding and there were ditches on the farm. We started with no till and then began implementing cover crops,” Murphy said.
“When the largest algal bloom on record in Lake Erie happened, I knew I wanted to do more in our area. It’s important to stay ahead of the curve (on conservation practices) and get things right before the government steps in with mandates. I went to some classes and decided foliar feeding was the right next step. We’re using a lot of spoon-feeding technologies with the sprayer as far as applying what the plants need when they need it instead of broadcasting across every acre. We started that about 15 years ago and our yields have kept going up on that farm.”
through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
“That’s what I did. My journey started with the NRCS and my local county soil and water conservation district. There are opportunities like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and nutrient management programs that both offer resources to farmers,” Murphy said.
It hasn’t been without challenges. “There is a learning curve to cover crops, for example. I would suggest starting small by planting cover crops on 40-50 acres before stepping it up. Revamp your plan as needed, give it a few years, and let the results show for themselves,” he said. “Cover crops require learning from mistakes at the beginning. One mistake we made in the past was letting our cereal rye get too tall and it attracted a batch of armyworms that destroyed our non-GMO corn. We have learned to terminate the cereal rye on the shorter side so that doesn’t happen again.”
Relationships matter
Murphy is looking into multiple cover crop blends.
In addition to increased yield, Murphy said soil health improvements have also led to lower input costs.
“We also have clay soils that used to be hard to work with in the spring. With cover crops, the soils are more relaxed, and we’re seeing improved seed-soil contact and uniform emergence,” he explained. “Our microbes are up, and we don’t have to use as much fertilizer as we did previously.”
Advice he has for farmers interested in planting cover crops, switching to no-till or implementing other conservation practices is to take advantage of available resources
Building relationships within the agriculture industry is invaluable. Murphy works alongside Gary Dunlap and recognizes him for giving him an opportunity to farm.
“I worked with Gary for a number of years and when he decided he wanted to slow down some, I expressed my interest in farm management opportunities and we developed a plan that worked for both of us,” he said.
Murphy’s goal is to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come by using innovative conservation practices and technology.
Tom Murphy is a first-generation farmer raising amylose corn, commercial corn and soybeans near Chesterton, Ind.
See previous Conservation Case Studies
“My eight-year-old son, for example, knows the ins and outs of the operation and all he wants to do is farm,” he said. “I do it for him and my other sons and daughter. It’s up to me and my generation to figure out what is and isn’t working to ensure farming practices can continue into the future.”
This goal led him to partner with Shirley Heinze Land Trust through its Agricultural Land Program aimed at protecting Northwestern Indiana farmland.
“I learned about the Shirley Heinze Land Trust when they acquired a piece of property that I was farming. I went to their office and explained that farming is a necessity, and we need to work together because we’re using conservation best practices on our farms,” he said. “The last couple of farms they’ve acquired are still in agricultural production today. That was a huge win for us because as a farmer, firstgeneration especially, I can’t pay what a developer would pay to buy a piece of ground. This partnership is important. A lot of times people are drawn to land conservation, so they work with the group, give them a better price, and then they leave it in ag production. It works well for everybody.”
Murphy explained it’s important to build relationships like this within the community. Each spring, he visits elementary school classrooms to talk about the environmentally friendly practices used to grow corn and soybeans.
“A lot of kids are so far removed from the farm today. If I can spend 30 minutes talking with them and doing a seed or soil project, then I’m not just a stranger in a big tractor going down the road, the kids will know I’m farmer Tom,” he said.
The future of farming
Murphy isn’t afraid to try new practices as he considers what the next decade or so of farming will look like in his area.
“Being 40 miles from Chicago is great for a lot of things, but farming isn’t one of them,” he said.
Some of their challenges are moving a large piece of equipment up and down the road, figuring out how to best get from one farm to another, and avoiding rush hour.
“In the future, we may have to think outside the box. Instead of buying the latest and greatest and biggest equipment, we may have to find the one that folds up to the right size to get down the road at the right time,” he said. “The infrastructure here isn’t going to get any bigger and the roads keep getting narrower, so that’s the kind of stuff we think about.”
Tom Murphy uses spoon-feeding technologies with the sprayer as far as applying what the corn needs when it needs it instead of broadcasting across every acre.
This is a field of cereal rye after planting soybeans.
Tom Murphy snapped this photo from the combine while harvesting corn and looking at a field of milo.
‘When to plan what’ is now more important for farmers
BY SCOTT GABBARD, Purdue On The Farm
Last year, the first farm field planted that was enrolled with Purdue On The Farm was a soybean field planted on March 29. The next field, also soybeans, was planted on April 17. The first corn field in our set was planted on April 18.
At time of writing, soil temps at a 4-inch planting depth ranged on the Purdue Mesonet Data Hub from 37.4-degrees under cover (sod) at the Pinney Purdue Ag Center (PPAC) on the line of Porter of and LaPorte counties to 46-degrees under sod at the Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center.
Bare soil temperatures were higher in most places, as one would expect, but only a few degrees under current conditions. You can follow along by searching for Purdue Mesonet and clicking on the Data Hub which should be the first choice. If you want to go directly to some tools referenced in the column, go to https://mrcc.purdue.edu/AgClimate-Tools
I write all of this because we are getting close to #plant2025 and some might catch this column after the first rain event forces you back into the shop. Farming has changed a lot during the past two decades. Some changes have been forced due to external forces of pests, competition and markets while others have been slowly adopted over time.
Traditionally, soil temperatures need to be above 50 degrees and that has not changed. One thing that has changed slightly is that this number does not stand alone. Growing degree day accumulation has entered the conversation. While corn needs about 115 growing degree days (GDDs), soybeans need about 130. So, it’s a combination of soil temperatures and the accumulation of GDDs that determine how fast and uniform the crop pops out of the ground and develops through its early phases of vegetative growth.
Once the plants hit roughly R5 for corn and the first 10 days after emergence have passed for the beans, the plants are reliant upon ambient air temperatures, GDD accumulations, moisture and sunlight. Soybeans aren’t completely out of the woods because growing conditions should be good to at least V2-V3 for optimum nodule development.
Midwest-wide trends and our own data illustrate that soybeans have a little more management flexibility than corn. Instead of waiting for optimum conditions for planting corn, consider planting some beans to knock out some acres first and when soil temperatures are in the 50s.
Soybeans planted earlier
One of the biggest and ongoing changes at time of planting is when we plant what. It has not been that long ago that corn was planted first and then the beans were planted. While it hasn’t been a complete flip, soybeans are certainly being planted earlier now. There are several reasons why. Most of them can be narrowed down to money and risk.
Soybeans are also more susceptible to late season cold snaps. If the seedlings die back to below the cotyledon, the plant will die. If the first or second trifoliate is smoked, the plant (or field) will look bad but the plant will regrow with the caveat that conditions need to improve enough so that enough energy is consumed for new leaf development.
If confronted with this challenge, wait a week and re-check the field, beans by nature are resilient. With corn, the growth point is still below the ground until V4-V5.
Corn is not without it’s cold-snap problems, buggywhipping can prevent proper whorl emergence.
Consider growth characteristics
So why plant the beans first? Most of it has to due with node development, canopy closure and ultimately higher yield. One also needs to consider the growth characteristics of the two crops.
Soybeans simply do not need the stand emergence uniformity that corn demands. Corn requires uniform
Find out more about Purdue on the farm
emergence which should translate to uniform tassel and silk emergence. If not, pollination is affected.
With soybeans , canopy closure is arguably more important. Soybeans can “fill in” whereas delayed germination of corn becomes weeds. When the canopy closes for beans, weed pressures are reduced and the beans are off to the races.
For corn, it is more important that the stand is uniform and that conditions are right during pollination for uniform development. Another way to look at it is that corn requires that we get it right, soybeans ask that we are close.
There is more to it than oversimplified relationships between corn and soybean planting and which to do first. Soybeans are just a little more forgiving than corn and there is a yield premium if conditions are right throughout the entire growing season. That will have to wait for future columns.
Midwest-wide trends and our own data illustrate that soybeans have a little more management flexibility than corn. Instead of waiting for optimum conditions for planting corn, consider planting some beans to knock out some acres first and when soil temperatures are in the 50s. Switch
Source: Purdue On The Farm/Purdue Extension Educator Surveys
to corn when soil temperatures are more ideal, averaging in the lower sixties.
While nothing is perfect when planting, this might take off some stress when planting and add a few smiles later when you’re filling the bins. So, while the sun might be shining and you’ve shed your jacket, you might want to check that temperature and future weather conditions first.
References or additional reading: www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/articles_21/SoilTempEmergence-0412.html https://ag.purdue.edu/department/agry/faculty-pages/soybean-station/_docs/10soydevt.pdf www.cropscience.bayer.us/articles/bayer/soybean-growth-stages www.fssystem.com/Resource-Center/item/soybean-nodulation
As a farmer-owned lender, we’re here to share the success of the cooperative with our customers. Which is why we’re proud to return a portion of the cooperative’s profits back to our customerowners in the form of patronage.
In the last nine years, we have returned more than $1.5 billion to our eligible customer-owners. It’s what a farmer-owned lender does.
Targeted weed management technology: New face, new tech and future directions
BY THOMAS BUTTS, Purdue Extension Weed Scientist
Well, hello to everyone reading this. My name is Tommy Butts, and I am a relatively new Clinical Assistant Professor, Extension Weed Scientist here in Indiana with Purdue University.
My position is focused on Site-Specific Weed Management which includes evaluating many of the new technologies currently available and in the pipeline that specifically target weeds within a field.
Previously, I was an Associate Professor, Extension Weed Scientist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, where I focused on weed management in soybeans and rice from 2018-2024. I originally hail from southern Wisconsin where I grew up working on and around small dairy farms.
I completed my Bachelor of Science in Agri-Business at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Master of Science in Agronomy-Weed Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Ph.D. in AgronomyWeed Science at the University of NebraskaLincoln.
herbicide application knowledge, safety, and effectiveness, while reducing off-target movement, both from ground-based and aerial (manned and remotely piloted spray drone) applications.
My overall goal here at Purdue is to generate research-supported and effective weed management tools and educational materials to be used by Indiana farmers and in the classroom to address complex weed problems. Weed management is becoming increasingly challenging, and we need new tools for the toolbox with strategies that can be implemented effectively.
Outside of work, I’m also supported by my wife, Liberty, and three little kiddos, Brooker, 4, Brinley, 3, and Bennett, a newborn. We’re all greatly enjoying the Lafayette area and are happy to call this home. I’m also an avid sports fan (which you’ll see sprinkled into my Extension presentations) and enjoy spending time in the outdoors.
Purdue University researchers are hoping to gather farmers’ insights into crop weed management, thoughts on future weed control technology (spray drones, laser weeders, live detect and remove machinery, robotics, etc.), and economics regarding current and future weed control strategies. Purdue is asking farmers to take part in an online survey.
My research and Extension efforts focus on identifying novel, applied weed management strategies through diversified methods including the use of precision agriculture, application technologies, and digital data in a targeted approach. I emphasize educational efforts to increase
Weed control technology
In addition to introducing myself, I also wanted to ask for your help. Several of us within Purdue are hoping to gather insights into crop weed management, thoughts on future weed control technology (spray drones, laser weeders, live detect and remove machinery, robotics, etc.), and economics regarding current and future weed control strategies. We would appreciate you taking the time to complete a survey regarding these concepts. The survey includes questions detailing current weed control technologies used in field and horticultural crops, future weed control technologies,
Take the Purdue Weed Control Technology Survey
and the costs associated with such technologies.
We appreciate your feedback and all information will be kept confidential to the extent allowed by applicable State and Federal law. No names, contact information, precise locations or computer IP addresses will be collected.
By completing the survey, you are agreeing to allow the use of your responses for research purposes. If you do not wish to complete the survey, this will not impact your relationship with Purdue University. To opt out of taking the survey, simply do not complete the survey.
If you have questions or concerns about this study, you may contact me, Dr. Thomas “Tommy” Butts, at 765-4940598 or buttst@purdue.edu. If you have questions about your rights while taking part in the study or have concerns about the treatment of research participants, contact the Human Research Protection Program at 765-494-5942, irb@purdue.edu, or Human Research Protection Program - Purdue University Ernest C. Young Hall, Room 1010 155 S. Grant St. West Lafayette, IN 47907-2114.
To report anonymously via Purdue’s Hotline see www.purdue.edu/hotline
Provide direct insights
Information gathered from the survey will provide direct insights into current weed management practices for field and horticultural crops, awareness of new technologies, and thoughts regarding the feasibility of implementation of these new technologies.
This will allow us to better address your weeds-related needs and concerns to prioritize in future Purdue University College of Agriculture research and Extension efforts. Please follow this link, https://bit.ly/PUWeedTechSurvey, or scan the QR code to access the survey. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article and for completing the survey. If you have any questions regarding the survey or weed management issues, please feel free to contact me at any time.
I look forward to continue to meet with all of you across the state, and providing assistance wherever I can.
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Soybean seed rate selection is based on a number of factors
BY SHAUN N. CASTEEL, Purdue Extension Soybean Specialist
Soybean seed rate selection is based on a number of factors such as germination score, seed quality, variety, seed protection, planting equipment, and field conditions. Germination score of 90 percent is fairly standard, but I have already seen a few seed lots that were 80-85 percent. Please be sure to check your seed tags.
Varieties have different growth habits and many companies suggest various seed rates based on vigorous or rank growth habit, shorter heights, less branches, etc. Other seed rate changes can be recommended based on a variety’s disease protection or the lack thereof when a dense canopy of soybean plants can be prone to infection (e.g., white mold, Septoria brown spot, frogeye leaf spot).
Another related factor depends on seed treatments used to protect soybean from seedling diseases like Pythium and/ or Phytophthora. Seed rates can often be reduced when a fungicide seed treatment is used to protect young developing seedlings rather than sacrificing seed and seedlings by planting more seeds. Insecticide seed
treatment rarely provides return within Indiana, so an estimated $10-$15 seed treatment savings is possible.
The remaining factors of planting equipment and field conditions create sources of variation in seed rate recommendations. My standing agronomic recommendation has been to target 100,000 to 120,000 thousand plants per acre regardless of row width, planting equipment, and field conditions.
Overall target plant population will not change, but the seed rate will change primarily due to planting equipment. Higher seed rates with drills vs. planters. Seed rates should often be increased in tougher field conditions (e.g., cool and wet). I usually reduce seed rates on fields that tend to get rank growth of soybean (e.g., muck, highly manured)
Planting equipment
What is the agronomic optimal seed rate? More than 58 field-scale trials, the 15-inch planter requires fewer seeds than the drill to get comparable stands. The agronomic optimal seed rate for the 15-inch planter was an estimated 140,000 seeds per acre (90 percent germination). Whereas, the drill (7.5-inch and 15-inch rows) was an estimated 175,000 seeds per acre (90 percent germination).
Early season stands averaged 105,000 plants per acre with planters compared to
Soybean Station
Seed rates can often be reduced when a fungicide seed treatment is used to protect young developing seedlings rather than sacrificing seed and seedlings by planting more seeds.
Varieties have different growth habits and many companies suggest various seed rates based on vigorous or rank growth habit, shorter heights, less branches, etc.
• Agronomic optimal seed rate for planter (15 in) ~140,000 seeds per acre
• Early plant stand for planter (15 in) ~105,000 plants per acre
Table 2. Economic Optimal Seed Rates for DRILL (7.5- and 15-inch rows) assuming 90 percent germination.
• Agronomic optimal seed rate for drill (7.5 and 15 in) ~175,000 seeds per acre
• Early plant stand for drill (7.5 and 15 in) ~115,000 plants per acre
115,000 plants per acre with the drills. Interestingly, both types of planting equipment ended the season with approximately 85,000 plants per acre by harvest. I do not see much need to alter the seed rate of a planter if your row widths range from 15s, 20s, twins on 30s, etc.
What are the economic optimal seed rates? We used the agronomic yield response curves to create economic optimal seed rates (EOSR) based on a range of seed costs and market prices when using a planter vs. a drill. (See Tables 1 and 2).
For instance, the EOSR for 15-inch planter with seed costs of $60 per 140,000 unit and market price of $10 is 128,354 seeds per acre. If your seed costs went up to $80 per 140,000 unit, then your EOSR would decrease an estimated 5,000 seeds per acre to 123,674 seeds per acre (Table 1).
Please note plant stands will be lower (obvious, but true). Our trials averaged an estimated 75 percent establishment rate for planters, which includes the 90 percent germination score and emergence potential across the field conditions. Therefore, the last EOSR of 123,674 seeds per acre would have a stand near 92,755 plants per acre.
As a point of comparison and adjustment based on planting equipment, the EOSR for drill with seed costs of $60 per 140,000 unit and market price of $10 is 150,956 seed per acre. If your seed costs went up to $80 per 140K unit, then your EOSR would decrease an estimated 7,000 seeds per acre to 143,595 seeds per acre (Table 2). Our trials averaged an estimated 60 percent establishment rate for drills, which includes the 90 percent germination score and emergence potential across the field conditions. Therefore, the last EOSR of 143,595 seeds per acre would have a stand near 86,157 plants per acre.
All of the EOSR will be below the agronomic optimal seed rate since we are looking to optimize profits (i.e., balance of input costs, market price, and yield production). The EOSR will decrease as seed costs increase; whereas, the EOSR will increase as your market price increases.
Please use these tables to adjust your seed rates based on planting equipment, seed costs, and market price. You may need to increase your seed rates if your germination scores are below 90 percent, field conditions are cool and wet, heavy residue, or seed is not treated with fungicide.
Personal care products may feature soybean-based surfactants in future
BY KATHERINE MELBERT
Purdue University engineers Jeffrey Youngblood and Carlos Martinez have an opportunity to make waves in the personal care product sector. Through research funded by the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), Youngblood and Martinez developed soy-based surfactants, which are derived from soybeans and offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based surfactants.
The team has explored various applications of soybased materials, including phase change materials, surfactants and lubricants. Their research aims to create products with properties comparable to or better than petroleum-based products, while being more sustainable.
Surfactants are compounds that, when added to a liquid, reduce its surface tension, causing it to spread out and wet a surface. Petroleum-based surfactants can be found in most shampoos, conditioners and antimicrobial washes on the market.
Youngblood and Martinez, professors in the School of Materials Engineering, developed patent-pending soybean oil- and hydrogenated soybean oil-based cationic surfactants.
“There is a large push internationally to replace petroleum-based surfactants with biobased ones, and soy provides a unique opportunity for this shift,” Martinez said. “If the system is economically viable, it can open up new revenue streams for farmers in Indiana.”
Soybeans are particularly valuable as a domestic, renewable resource. Soybeans are widely available, relatively affordable, and because they are farmed, not mined, considered better for the environment. Soy-based compounds also degrade more easily in the environment, unlike petroleum products, which take longer to break down.
“At the end of life, bio-based materials, like those from soy, degrade in ways that are more compatible with biological systems,” Youngblood said. “It’s not just about being sustainable from the start; it’s about how these materials behave at the end of their lifecycle.”
Beyond economic and environmental value, Youngblood and Martinez
discovered the practicality and viability of soy-based surfactants to compete directly with commercial petroleum.
“What’s exciting is that soy-based materials can compete on properties” Youngblood affirms. “Whether it’s surface tension for surfactants or latent heat for phase change materials, they perform just as well as petroleumbased products.”
Products made with soy surfactants are considered premium, in which large manufacturing companies are increasingly interested. Next steps for Youngblood and Martinez include running more tests to prove commercial viability of soy-based surfactants.
“We envision licensing these products to companies that would then supply them to formulators,” the team said.
“The real question is whether they can replace existing products like hair conditioners or soaps, and if we can prove they’re just as good—and potentially safer—then we have a viable product.”
Youngblood and Martinez applied for a research grant through ISA that has fueled the team’s innovation. “We’re incredibly grateful for the farmers’ support,” Martinez affirmed. Their investment has been critical in helping us get this research off the ground, and we hope this work will increase the value of soy products for them in the future.”
Youngblood added, “Farmer checkofffunded research is important because it allows us to do things that frankly nobody else funds. ISA operates in a niche that nobody else really does.”
The research has the potential to transform the personal care and manufacturing industries, creating more sustainable options for consumers and reducing reliance on petroleum-based materials.
The patent-pending, soy-based innovations are available for development and commercialization through the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization. Interested parties should contact Dipak Narula, lead technology development liaison, at dnarula@prf.org about track code 70130.
This vial contains surfactants made from Indiana soybeans that can be used in personal care products such as shampoo and conditioner. This product was developed by Purdue University researchers.
Carmel Street Department receives award for sustainable vehicle fleet
BY AMIE SIMPSON
The Carmel Street Department has received the Geotab Innovation Award in Sustainability. The award recognizes outstanding fleets for harnessing the power of data insights to improve cost and efficiency through initiatives including fuel economy and reduced emissions.
In a news release, Carmel Street Department Fleet Supervisor Jason Armes said technology from Geotab and its reseller Argos Connected Solutions allows the department to see real time data in each vehicle.
“Fuel mileage, CO2 emissions, engine fault codes, seat belt usage and route completion mapping for winter operations, and street sweeping are a few of the things that we use Geotab for,” he said. “All of the data points help us keep our drivers safe, fleet well maintained, streets cleaned and plowed, and, with our Biodiesel program, we are doing our part to help better the air quality for the citizens of Carmel.”
In 2023, the Carmel Street Department began a biodiesel fuel pilot program and became members of the B20 Club of Indiana, a partnership between the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the American Lung Association that recognizes and supports Indiana-based fleets running on B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel.
The award was presented at Geotab Connect 2025 in Orlando.
Helena Jette, director of market development-biofuels with Indiana Soybean Alliance and Bailey Arnold, director of clean air initiatives with the American Lung Association participated facilitating a panel on decreasing emissions with heavy-duty vehicles during the event.
“We’re proud to collaborate with the Carmel Street Department and appreciate the opportunity to introduce biodiesel as a solution to meet their sustainability goals,” Jette said.
Biodiesel is a clean-burning fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources, like soybeans. It can be used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum at any percentage. B20 has demonstrated environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost for fleet operations and consumers.
For more information, visit b20clubindiana.org
At the awards ceremony were, from left, Bobby Humphrey, Founder/CEO, ARGOS Connected Solutions; Neil Cawse, Founder/CEO, Geotab; Jason Armes, Fleet Supervisor, Carmel Street Department; and Scott VanMeter, President, ARGOS Government.
From left, Helena Jette, Director of Market DevelopmentBiofuels with Indiana Soybean Alliance and Bailey Arnold, Director of Clean Air Initiatives with the American Lung Association participated in facilitating a panel on decreasing emissions with heavy-duty vehicles. Other panelists include Jason Armes, Fleet Supervisor, Carmel Street Department; Gus Kalnins, Corporate Operations Technology Specialist, Miller Waste Systems; and Bobby Humphrey, Founder/CEO, ARGOS Connected Solutions.
Find out about the B20 Club
Opportunity knocks for farmers wanting to serve on Indiana corn checkoff board
BY DAVE BLOWER JR.
The Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC), the state’s corn checkoff program, seeks candidates to serve on its Board of Directors. Four veteran board directors will finish nine years of service to the state’s corn farmers in 2025, which creates an opportunity for new farmerleaders to influence the management of checkoff funds.
Hoosier farmers interested in directing Indiana’s corn checkoff investments may now petition to run for one of the five seats up for election. ICMC manages the corn checkoff investments with the goal of supporting and growing Indiana’s corn industry.
To learn and apply
must be at least 18 years old, a registered Indiana voter and a resident in the appropriate district. All farmers who submit a valid petition by June 1, 2025, will be listed as a candidate on the election ballot. Farmers seeking a board position must show proof of paying a corn assessment within the past two years. All petitions should be sent to Amber Myers, ICMC board leadership manager, at amyers@ indianacorn.org, or by mail to 8425 Keystone Crossing, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Voting takes place at Purdue Cooperative Extension Service county offices from Aug. 11-15 or by absentee ballot, which will be made available in July.
Here is the breakdown of each district:
“Since the Indiana corn checkoff was created, Hoosier corn growers have benefitted from the volunteer leadership of those who have served on the ICMC board,” said ICMC President Tim Gauck, a Greensburg, Ind., farmer. “The corn checkoff relies on farmers to fill these leadership positions to help the Indiana corn industry remain strong and effective. New perspectives and ideas will help our corn research and promotion efforts.”
Board members direct the promotional, educational and research activities funded by the corn checkoff. Some of the board’s priorities include increased ethanol use, improved transportation infrastructure, on-farm research, livestock promotion and expanding international exports.
To run for an ICMC director seat, Indiana corn farmers
• District 1 – The counties of Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Pulaski, Jasper, White, Benton and Newton. (Open Seat)
• District 4 – The counties of Warren, Tippecanoe, Montgomery, Putnam, Owen, Clay, Vigo, Parke, Vermillion and Fountain. (Open Seat)
• District 7 – The counties of Sullivan, Greene, Daviess, Martin, Knox, Dubois, Pike, Gibson, Warrick, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Posey. (Open Seat)
• Two statewide At-Large seats, representing all Indiana counties, are up for election.
Farmers can access all necessary forms at www.incornandsoy.org/ICMCelection or by calling the ICMC office at 1-800-735-0195. Forms are also available at Purdue Cooperative Extension Service offices.
Newly elected directors will begin a threeyear term Oct. 1. ICMC directors can serve three consecutive full terms or a total of nine consecutive years.
ICMC is composed of 17 voting directors who guide investments of corn checkoff funds on behalf of more than 20,000 Indiana corn farmers. The ICMC works to assist corn farmers through its strategic initiatives of market development; environmental, social and economic sustainability; value creation and producer engagement. For more about Indiana’s corn checkoff program, visit www.incornandsoy.org
From left, the farmer-leaders for the Indiana Corn Marketing Council are Ron Hensley of Daleville, Susan Brocksmith of Vincennes, Tim Gauck of Greensburg, Matthew Lucas of Brownstown, J.R. Roesner of Ferdinand, Adam Sheller of Noblesville, back from left, Scott Smith of Windfall, Lori Cyr of Fowler, Jerry Osterholt of Roanoke, David Ring of Huntingburg, Natasha Cox of Fowler and Janis Highley of Warren.
In the last five years, soy checkoff investments have generated a 4.5-to-1 ROI in export market development and an 18% increase in U.S. soybean exports.1 Investing $400,000 for infrastructure research, analysis and design at the Port of Gray’s Harbor helped to expand the facility and increase capacity for the export of soybean meal.
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