Through investments in the Soy Transportation Coalition, county engineers can repair bridges more affordably, keeping soy routes reliable and efficient. Funded by the soybean
RON HECK, soybean farmer from Perry
Executive Committee
President
Tom Adam, Harper | D9
President-elect
Lee Brooke, Clarinda | D7
Secretary
Aimee Bissell, Bedford | At-Large
Treasurer
Sam Showalter, Hampton | D2
At-Large Director
Jeff Ellis, Donnellson | D9
Board of Directors
Brent Swart, Spencer | D1
Paul Kassel, Spencer | D1
Mike Yegge, Lake Mills | D2
Amanda Tupper, Ionia | D3
Josh Schoulte, Farmersburg | D3
Jeff Frank, Lake View | D4
Marty Danzer, Carroll | D4
Corey Goodhue, Carlisle | D5
Dave Struthers, Collins | D5
Joe Sperfslage, Coggon | D6
Brian Fuller, Osceola | D8
Summer Ory, Earlham | D8
Jeff Ellis, Donnellson | D9
Jack Boyer, Reinbeck | At-Large
Neil Krummen, Linn Grove | At-Large
Sharon Chism, Huxley | At-Large
American Soybean Association Board of Directors
Tom Adam, Harper
Steph Essick, Dickens
Morey Hill, Madrid
Randy Miller, Lacona
Dave Walton, Wilton
United Soybean Board of Directors
Tim Bardole, Rippey
Robb Ewoldt, Davenport
Brent Renner, Klemme
Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg Staff Credits
Bethany Baratta | Editor
Aaron Putze, APR | CO Brand Mgmt and Engagement
Susan Langman | Creative Design Coordinator
Joclyn Kuboushek | Multimedia Specialist
Kriss Nelson | Senior Writer
Brock Johnston | Public Relations Manager
FARMER FOCUSED | DRIVEN TO DELIVER
ISA VISION
We advance the long-term competitiveness of Iowa soybean farmers.
ISA MISSION
Driven to deliver opportunities for Iowa soybean farmers to thrive.
Iowa Soybean Review is published monthly by: Iowa Soybean Association 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa 50023 (515) 251-8640 | iasoybeans.com
E-mail: bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
For advertising information contact Bethany Baratta at (515) 334-1020 or bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
December 2025 | Vol. 39, No. 3
4
A Season for Faith and Fortitude
Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) CEO Kirk Leeds reflects on faith, family and resilience through hardship.
8
A Market in Motion
Iowa farmers strengthen Japan ties during trade mission.
22 Steward for Change
Meet ISA President Tom Adam, leading Iowa’s soybean farmers into 2026.
26
Lessons Shape What’s Next
2025 lessons guide Iowa farmers’ strategies and planning for 2026.
On the Cover:
A barn nestles in the snow on Morey and Rhonda Hill’s farm near Madrid. In this issue of the Iowa Soybean Review, we reflect on the opportunities in 2025 and look ahead to 2026.
Photo by Joclyn Kuboushek.
Comments and statewide news articles should be sent to the address to the left. Advertising space reservations must be made two months preceding publication. In consideration of the acceptance of the advertisement, the agency and the advertiser must, in respect of the contents of the advertisement, indemnify and save the publisher harmless against any expense arising from claims or actions against the publisher because of the publication of the content of the advertisement.
Executive Insights
Kirk Leeds, ISA Chief Executive Officer kleeds@iasoybeans.com
A Season for Faith and Fortitude
As another year closes, I’ve been reflecting on how much can change in 12 months. For many in agriculture, 2025 was a year of hard lessons and harder roads. Trade disputes, shifting global markets, and ongoing tariffs and counter tariffs — particularly with China — kept soybean farmers guessing and margins thin or non-existent. Continued upward prices on a host of inputs caused additional damage to the bottom line. We planted with hope, harvested with grit and navigated the uncertainty with the same resilience that has always defined Iowa farmers’ way of life.
But for me, the challenges this year went beyond the soybean field.
After more than six cancer-free years, my wife — my partner of 45 years — was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a devastating blow, especially after her courageous and successful battle with colorectal cancer years ago.
And yet, through every appointment, every test, every moment of fear, she has faced it with grace, strength and unwavering faith. She is, without a doubt, the strongest person I know. Watching her fight — not once, but twice — has deepened my understanding of what true courage looks like.
This season has tested us both. But it has also reminded us where our strength truly comes from. In the quiet moments — on the long drives to the clinic, enduring another chemo treatment, or during the sleepless nights — we’ve leaned heavily on our faith. God has
never promised us a life without hardship, but He has promised to walk with us through the fire. And He has.
As we enter the Christmas season, I find myself more thankful than ever — for the gift of family, for the support of dear friends and for the steady encouragement of our extended “soy family.” The calls, the prayers, the flowers and the constant flow of cards and notes — each one a reminder that we are not alone. The body of Christ takes many forms, and we’ve been blessed to see His love at work in powerful and personal ways.
Christmas is often seen as a season of joy, and rightfully so. But it is also a season of hope — hope born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and placed in a manger. That hope sustains us even
when life feels uncertain. It reminds us that light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
To the soybean farmers of Iowa: thank you for your tireless work, your resilience and your friendship. I know this year has asked much of us all, but I also know the strength that lives in Iowans and in Iowa’s farmers. Let us carry that strength — and our faith — into the new year.
May your Christmas be filled with peace, may your homes be filled with love, and may your hearts be filled with hope for the promise of a better year to come. God bless you and yours in 2026.
Iowa Soybean Association Partners
Iowa Soybean Association recognizes these industry stakeholders for their involvement and support. Their investment of time, talent and resources improves the competitiveness of Iowa soybean farmers and strengthens the association.
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PARTNER? CONTACT AARON PUTZE AT APUTZE@IASOYBEANS.COM TO LEARN MORE.
SILVER PARTNERS
Rural Route 2
Editor’s Note by Bethany Baratta bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
The Twelve Days of Farm Christmas
B
efore there were matching pajamas and made-forsocial media holiday moments, there were chores, cold fingers and barn cats waiting for their turn to slurp leftover milk after feeding cattle. Livestock chores didn’t wait because of the most important birthday in history; it was chores and Christmas all the same. Here’s what Christmas on the farm was like, at least on the farm where I grew up.
1
On the first day of Farm Christmas, my true love gave to me — one frozen water tank. Because nothing says ‘holiday cheer’ like hauling buckets of water when the sun is barely awake.
2
Two mismatched gloves. The only time the gloves were found in identical pairs was when we bought them at Farm Fleet. After that? Good luck. If they fit, we wore them.
3
Three pigs a-oinkin’. Animal care is a yearround job that doesn’t take a break for holidays. The barn always came first — even before Mom’s cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa.
4
Four wheels a-crunching. Tires crunched the snowtopped gravel as a favorite neighbor delivered homebaked Christmas treats.
5
Fiiiiiive bales of straw! A couple of bales for the cattle and a few more to cocoon Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the lighted nativity scene by our driveway.
6
Six strands of lights. Twinkling outdoors — a little nod to my grandparents in Ohio — who knew how to make everything shine.
7
Seven Christmas cards arriving. Like a hug in the mailbox, handwritten Christmas cards arrived from Thanksgiving into the new year.
8
Eight hands a-working. Everyone had roleuntangling lights, hauling feed, clearing the snow, making dinner.
9
Nine trays a-baking. My mom’s made-toorder cookie business ramped up every December.
Notes of ginger, cinnamon, and sugar danced in the air as she boxed up orders to ship before the post office closed.
10
Ten boots a-thawing. A rug on the basement floor collected the remnants of melting snow from our rubber boots after trudging in from chores.
11
Eleven snowballs flying. Trips between barn and house included unexpected snowball fights with siblings and parents.
12
Twelve miles from church. That short drive offered a quick nap, a peek at holiday displays shining bright in the country sky, and the time for reflection for a job — and a day — well done.
Here’s wishing your Christmas is more ‘homebaked treats’ than frozen water tanks! Whatever the season brings, I hope it’s filled with love, laughter and the moments that make it memorable. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Tokyo, Japan, was the second stop on a two-country trade mission led in September by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (the first being Korea). Soybeans are a dietary staple for Japan’s nearly 124 million residents and used in many forms including tofu, miso, natto, soy sauce and salad dressings.
a Market in Motion
U.S. soy finds steady ground in Japan
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY AARON PUTZE, APR
verything in Tokyo moves.
Home to 37 million people, Japan’s capitol pulsates, but in an orderly rhythm. Streets are busy, but there’s never a horn that sounds. Sidewalks are filled, but no one’s in a rush. There are lines, but everyone waits their turn. Its infrastructure is clean and modern, streets are vibrant and tidy, and its citizens are friendly and welcoming.
Ironically, despite the constant motion, the country and its largest metropolitan area have proven to be a steady market for Iowa and U.S. soybean farmers.
“It’s an amazing country; the people are so friendly,” says Jeanne Bailey, Minister Counselor for Ag Affairs with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Ag Service. “The Japanese have taken excellence to an artform.”
Bailey’s comments, made on the 37th floor of Tokyo’s Intercontinental Hotel, kickstarted a three-day trade mission in September involving U.S. soybean farmers and market development, communications and executive staff representing 12 state soybean associations.
“The Japanese love detail and exactness and you as farmers bring that to the table,” Bailey added.
“Every country needs food, and you’re our best ambassadors. Your visit speaks volumes and more eloquently than anything we in government can say.”
The learning mission, organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council, took place just as Iowa’s farmers were preparing to harvest another large crop. It was mid-September, new crop soybean sales to China were non-existent and cash soybean prices for a bushel of soybeans in north central were teetering on $10.
While the promise of new markets for Iowa’s agricultural exports makes headlines, customers make purchases. Japan is the fourth largest economy in the world and a long-time U.S. ally and trading partner.
And every market matters for Iowa soybean farmers who are expected to harvest a crop exceeding 560 million bushels, or nearly 13% of the nation’s total.
U.S. - BRAZIL - CANADA
Top: Grab-and-go foods featuring the U.S. Sustainable Soy logo, including these for sale at a 7-Eleven in downtown Tokyo, are in high demand by Japan’s health-conscious consumers.
Bottom: Products on display at Kewpie’s research and development center in Tokyo. Founded in 1919, the company is known for its mayonnaise and salad dressings, including some produced and for sale in the United States. “We need good materials so we get good soybean oils from the United States,” says Toshiharu Tanaka, Kewpie’s Chief Research Officer.
Import reliant
Home to 125 million people, Japan has a land area the size of California but only 11% of it’s arable. The average farm size throughout most of the country is less than four acres, half of which is planted to rice, its favored crop.
“It’s a country heavily reliant on ag imports as it can only provide less than two-thirds of the food its people need,” says Mike Yegge, an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) district 2 director and trade mission participant. “It must also import 90 percent of its energy so there’s both current business for U.S. farmers and the potential to do more.”
During the last marketing year, Japan’s ag imports totaled $63 billion. Twenty percent of that total, or $13 billion, was from the U.S. and included soybeans, corn, pork and beef.
“That makes the U.S. its top supplier, but it’s a very competitive market,” says Yegge.
While the U.S. soybean industry is working to diversify its portfolio of buyers, Japan is doing the same with its suppliers.
The country consumed 3.4 million metric tons of soybeans in 2024, with 93% of it supplied via imports. The U.S. accounted for two-thirds of that total, followed by Brazil (23%) and Canada (10%).
Brazil, the world’s largest producer and exporter of whole soybeans, and Canada, a prolific supplier of food grade soybeans, are seeking to increase their piece of the import pie. Since 2020, the U.S. has already seen its share of the Japanese soybean market decline from almost 70% to less than 50%.
While South America might produce more soybeans, its logistics and inability to store crops hinders its ability to supply a market like Japan.
“They can’t readily ship corn and soybeans in the volumes preferred by Chinese buyers,” says Yegge. “And lower priced U.S. soy out of the Pacific Northwest is also a convenient option.”
Japan favors doing business with the U.S. and there is value recognition regarding the quality of U.S. soy. Soybean oil from their crush sector is preferred in food applications due to color and higher iodine value. The U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) is a recognizable mark found on many consumer products, helping drive demand and preference.
“You can find it on most soybean related consumer products around the country,” says Grant Kimberley, senior director of market development for ISA. “The carbon footprint of U.S. soy is also recognized to be much better than Brazil.”
These distinctions and value propositions matter for Japan. The country is home to one of the oldest populations, with nearly one-third of Japanese citizens age 65 or older.
While Japan is a major food bean market that already emphasizes U.S. purchases, Kimberley says there is room to improve. Tofu and miso are popular food offerings, with tofu accounting for nearly half of food soybean demand. Natto and a variety of soy-based beverages are growing in popularity.
“Japanese soy food companies are innovators on taste and texture of soy and continually looking at new products to boost sales,” says Kimberley, who also farms just a 20-minute drive north of ISA’s Ankeny office. “These efforts hold promise for increased soy demand and U.S. sales.”
Boosting U.S. soybean exports hinges on attaining market access, differentiating and elevating U.S. soy from the competition and building preference for U.S. soy.
For the most part, Kimberley says soy market access is good with most countries in the world, with Japan being one of the best. The country is increasingly looking to import U.S. soy from the Pacific Northwest as soy prices become more favorable due to softening prices and ample supplies. “We also have a key advantage into the Japanese market as we can ship smaller quantities than our competitors, either by container or combo vessels,” he says. “Also, buyers can purchase smaller quantities where they can get combo vessels that holds a few compartments of corn and soybeans.”
Japan may only be able to grow soy imports moderately, but it’s critical to maintaining strong partnerships and relationships with one of our best and long-standing customers.
“Although we have good market share for whole beans and food grade beans, there is room to continue to increase market share, especially with soybean meal,” says Kimberley.
Japan maintains a relatively free import policy with no tariffs on soybean imports. However, recent yen depreciation and rising prices for North American identity preserved food-grade soybeans have impacted the competitiveness of domestically grown soybeans, say U.S. soybean leaders.
A U.S.-Japan trade agreement announced in summer 2025 called for the purchase of an additional $8 billion in U.S. commodities.
“That may be a tough mountain to climb,” says Kimberley. “But given relationships between the two countries, perhaps it’s good to aim high. If we fall somewhere short of that amount, we’re still moving in the right direction.”
Contact Aaron Putze at aputze@iasoybeans.com
Sustainable Soy
The U.S. set a record for the 2024-25 marketing year with more than 45 million metric tons of Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) verified soy exports. That’s the highest annual volume since the first SSAP-verified shipments set sail in 2014.
The news reflects the growing value global customers place on the trusted sustainability of U.S. Soy.
The SSAP program allows buyers to meet their own sustainability and environmental social and governance commitments with confidence that U.S. soy is produced using science-based, responsible farm management and transparent documentation.
What’s behind this growing preference? U.S. soy farmers are leading with continuous improvement, adopting innovations that have reduced land use per bushel by 48% and greenhouse gas emissions by 43% since 1980, while also advancing soil and water health. U.S. Soy’s long-term commitment to stewardship has made it the trusted choice in more than 80 markets around the world.
Japan’s Fuji oil is a leading food ingredients business including vegetable fats, industrial chocolate, emulsified and fermented ingredients and soy-based ingredients.
Founded in 1950, it seeks to make plant-based protein part of the Japanese consumer’s regular diet for better health. Soybeans sourced from the U.S. with SSAP certification is the perfect ingredient given Fuji Oil’s commitment to transparency, continuous improvement and environmental sustainability.
“We want our Japanese customers to know more about SSAP and they can attach SSAP and know what it is when they see it on packages,” say Fuji company leaders.
Fuji commands the third largest share of global chocolate market and is focused on developing food recipes and food ingredients. It has more than a half-century focus on protein including powdered, granulated and textured soy protein.
Trade mission delegation in Tokyo in advance of FAS briefings and visit to Fuji Oil.
Titan Tire Partnership Provides Significant Savings for ISA Farmer Members
The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and Titan International, Inc. — maker of Titan and Goodyear Farm Tires — have partnered to offer significant discounts on farm tires, a vital asset for every farming operation, no matter the season.
As the newest participant in ISA’s Partners+ Program, Titan is offering ISA Farmer Members a $500 discount off a minimum $2,500 purchase of any RADIAL Goodyear Farm Tires or Titan Tire products.
“We’re an American company with our flagship tire manufacturing facility right in the heart of Iowa. With over 100 dealer locations in the state, we are proud to provide Iowa’s dedicated and hard-working farmers tires that they need to keep them moving in every season,” says Kim Boccardi, Titan’s vice president of marketing. “As the only tire company with ag specialists in the fields across the country, we’re always looking for ways to work more closely with farmers to ensure they are running the right tires for their operation’s needs, and the ISA Partners+ Program is great way to do that.”
Founded in 1890, Titan International offers a full line of solution-focused wheel, tire, and undercarriage products for a wide variety of off-the-road equipment in agriculture, construction, forestry, mining, power sports, high-speed trailers, and outdoor power equipment segments. As one of the largest North American manufacturers, with a network of dealers all over the world, Titan is an industry leader that farmers can count on for high quality products and service.
The Titan tire rebate certificate can be obtained by going to the Partners+ Program page under the Farmer Membership tab (iasoybeans.com/membership). Simply click on the Titan logo to see the certificate.
The Titan tire certificate is redeemable at any Titan or Goodyear Farm Tires dealership and must be presented at the time of purchase. There’s a limit of one rebate per transaction and it cannot be combined on individual tires with other offers. Other details apply; see redemption information on the rebate certificate. The offer expires Feb. 28, 2026.
Launched in June, the Partners+ Program engages with trusted agricultural companies serving soybean farmers. Participants provide exclusive discounts, rebates and other value-added services to ISA Farmer Members, helping soybean growers boost efficiency and profitability of their operations.
Titan joins StoneX and AGI as ISA Partners+ Program participants. To learn more about ISA’s Partners+ Program and monitor benefits offered exclusively to ISA Farmer Members, go to iasoybeans.com/membership/farmermembership/partners-plus-program.
Iowa farmers who market a minimum of 250 bushels of soybeans annually are eligible to become a farmer member at no cost. For more information, go to the website or call 515-251-8640.
ISU President reflects on legacy
Serving iowa agriculture
I
n January 2026, Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, president of Iowa State University (ISU), will retire.
Dr. Wintersteen has been lauded for her vision, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, love of ISU, innovation and respect and admiration for agriculture and farmers.
After graduating from high school in Hutchinson, Kan., Wintersteen went on to Kansas State University, studying crop protection and earning a bachelor’s degree in 1978. She began her career working in eastern and central Iowa as one of the first female ISU Extension associates in integrated pest management. She then completed her doctorate in entomology at Iowa State and rose through the ranks to become a professor of entomology (with a brief stint at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.), followed by senior administrative roles in extension. Prior to serving as ISU president (the first internal appointment to that position in more than 50 years), Dr. Wintersteen served 11 years as the inaugural endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at ISU.
I spoke with Dr. Wintersteen in her office in Beardshear Hall on the ISU campus about her legacy, her connection to the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and her plans for retirement. This is an excerpt from that interview.
ISR: In your presidential installation address, you outlined your vision for Iowa State University “to serve, to lead, to excel.” How did that philosophy shape your leadership through your presidency?
Wintersteen: I really believe in the principles of servant leadership. And I think that as a servant leader, it really is about bringing together a team of leaders to accomplish the vision, goals, and the strategic plan of the university. Here at Iowa State University, we have an exceptional team. Over these past eight years, we’ve done the job. We’ve moved the university forward and have achieved a set of many accomplishments that we can be proud of.
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETHANY BARATTA JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
ISR: How do you see that leadership come to life through ISU’s work and with partners like the Iowa Soybean Association?
Wintersteen: Iowa State University is a land-grant university, so we are always going to be of service to Iowa. Agriculture really is served by so many agricultural organizations and commodity boards. The Iowa Soybean Association has been one of the premier partners that we’ve had the opportunity to work with on so many important partnerships. Over my time here in Iowa — 46 years — I can think of many examples where Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa State University have really worked together to serve Iowa’s farmers.
One example is the Iowa Soybean Research Center. Funded in part by the Iowa Soybean Association and housed at Iowa State University 11 years ago, the center has provided $3.3 million to researchers here at ISU. It’s a great mechanism to identify and fund critical issues. There’s also a whole set of things where we’ve worked together to identify and address critical areas of concern. We’ve partnered in water quality, conservation and made a difference. Now, Iowa State, you could say, could have done that by itself. But you’re never strong alone. You’re only strong when you’re working together with your partners. And again, Iowa Soybean Association has been a premier partner for Iowa State University.
ISR: What do you say is your greatest achievement or moment you’re most proud of, either as president or your work with Iowa State?
Wintersteen: When it finally comes down to it, the opportunity to work with our students, to see our students succeed and have a great experience here, and then to graduate and find jobs and live a life, I think that’s what I’m most proud of as president of Iowa
State University. Iowa State is a great university in all aspects of our mission, research, teaching, and extension. But it really is all about the students.
ISR: What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
Wintersteen: The Fountain of the Seasons. It is a beautiful reminder of our history, those beautiful maidens in the center of that fountain, the history of Iowa State so beautifully portrayed. It was completed by Christian Petersen, who was our artist-inresidence from 1934 to 1955.
ISR: What are your plans for retirement? Have you had a chance to think about that?
Wintersteen: I don’t have any plans for retirement yet. I’m really busy doing my everyday job, and we’re also preparing for the new president. So, I’m going to work right up until my last day on January 2, and then I’ll have some time to do a little traveling, relax a little bit, and then I can decide what I want to do in retirement.
ISR: And finally, any parting words to Iowa farmers?
Wintersteen: Iowa State University, Iowa’s land-grant university is always going to be connected to Iowa farmers. We have a partnership with Iowa agriculture that has been from the very beginning of our establishment. And we will always be there to serve you. We thank you for everything that you do for this great state, and we look forward to being engaged with you in every way, to work with you, to learn from you, and to help you as you continue to produce food, feed, fuel, and everything that’s needed by this great country.
Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
September 2025
ISA recognized Dr. Wintersteen for her exceptional service to ISU, Iowa soybean farmers and agriculture with the ISA Enduring Impact Award.
ISA recognizes Dr. Wintersteen for her sincere interest in Iowa soybean farmers and ISA. She was a frequent participant in ISA board meetings in her ex-officio role and is a passionate advocate for Iowa farmers. She has been instrumental in elevating soybean research efforts within the university and advocating for increased public-private partnerships to improve Iowa agriculture.
A Growth Mindset to Amplify Checkoff Funds
Jen Williams,
ISA Business Development Lead
jwilliams@iasoybeans.com
KEY INSIGHTS
1. ISA’s Business Development Lead connects people, projects and funding to deliver greater impact for Iowa’s soybean farmers.
2. By leveraging grants and partnerships, ISA stretches every checkoff dollar further.
3. In fiscal year 2026, for every $1 of checkoff funds invested in RCFI projects, ISA is bringing in $1.90 in external funding.
Business development at the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is about connecting people, projects and funding to help farmers thrive. For ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI), this means finding opportunities to stretch checkoff investments and deliver practical research and conservation solutions that boost productivity, profitability and sustainability.
As I often describe my role to new connections, I say my goal is to ensure that every farmer dollar works harder by building partnerships and unlocking outside resources.
Multiplier effect
ISA’s approach is unique among commodity organizations. In planning for fiscal year 2026, every $1 of checkoff funds invested in RCFI projects attracted an additional $1.90 from external sources, including federal and state programs, nonprofits, agribusinesses and even technology companies. This multiplier effect allows ISA to:
• Run more on-farm trials and generate robust data.
• Provide science-based recommendations for soybean production and conservation practices.
• Support farmers in adopting practices that enhance soil health, water quality and resilience.
Building partnerships
Strong relationships are the foundation of ISA’s success. The team maintains ISA’s position as a trusted, go-to partner for funding agencies, project collaborators and key stakeholders.
ISA also cultivates new connections, from local conservation districts to global corporations, by staying curious and proactive to find win-win opportunities that benefit farmers.
Ideas to action
Farmer input is central to ISA’s research and conservation agendas. Insights from growers feed into an ongoing “idea hopper,” ensuring projects address realworld challenges. When funding aligns, these ideas move from concept to active trials.
Some promising topics include:
• Enhanced nutrient management to maximize profitability and productivity in soybeans.
• Integrated Pest Management Studies to understand the efficacy of crop protection products.
• Expanded cover crop trials and soil health testing to refine conservation practices.
• Turnkey conservation programs that simplify adoption of water- and soil-friendly practices.
Diversifying resources
Checkoff dollars are used to support projects and serve as match funds to catalyze more investment in projects such as:
• Improved cropping systems, co-funded with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Enhancing soil health, in partnership with Iowa State University
Checkoff funds give ISA flexibility to respond quickly to urgent needs, for example, adding targeted weed science research in 2024 and 2025.
To supplement checkoff dollars, ISA pursues selective funding opportunities aligned with farmer priorities. These include:
• Federal and state programs, such as Advancing Markets for Producers (formerly Climate Smart).
• Nonprofits, private foundations, and agribusinesses that value ISA’s rigorous on-farm research.
• Tech companies and consumer brands that are eager to improve water quality and sustainability through farmer-led conservation.
ISA’s reputation for delivering quality work on time and on budget attracts partners and keeps projects moving, even amid shifting policy or market conditions.
Farmer benefits
The combined funding supports:
• More research trials and data tailored to Iowa’s fields.
• Stronger conservation programs that save time and help connect farmers to new funding sources.
• Practical, unbiased recommendations for improving productivity and profitability.
Get involved
• Share your ideas: Help identify emerging challenges and research needs.
• Participate in trials: Be part of generating on-farm insights that benefit the whole industry.
• Explore conservation opportunities: Contact ISA’s Conservation Services and Programs team to align practices with your farm’s goals.
Contact us
• Research ideas: Contact Alex Schaffer at aschaffer@iasoybeans.com
• Conservation support: Contact Todd Sutphin at tsutphin@iasoybeans.com
• Partnership opportunities: Contact Jen Williams at jwilliams@iasoybeans.com
The expansion of soybean processing in the U.S. has been driven by the growth in demand for renewable diesel.
For the first time ever, biofuels use of soybean oil has surpassed oil used for exports or through domestic use in food consumption. As production of soybean oil grows, so, too, does soybean meal production.
Understanding the reserves and the vital role export markets have on the U.S. soybean industry, the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) found an opportunity to grow shipping prospects of soybean meal through the Port of Houston.
On a sun-drenched day in late September, STC ceremoniously presented a $275,000 check to The Andersons, Inc. for the company’s expansion project at the Port of Houston. Once completed in the first quarter of 2026, the expansion will enable soybean meal exports from the facility.
“It’s another way of thinking to get soybeans shipped, says Mike Koehne, STC chairman and director for the Indiana Soybean Alliance. “This will open up some more markets — different markets — which is important.”
The funding will be used for research, analysis, preengineering, and design expenses associated with the facility expansion at the Port of Houston. The Andersons, the owner of the facility, will assume the costs of the actual construction of the project, which is underway.
“We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to work with soybean farmers on this important investment,” says Matt Dvorak, Houston business manager at The Andersons. “As domestic soybean crush increases, we are identifying new opportunities for the export of soybean meal via our Houston facility. We look forward to working with the Soy Transportation Coalition and the broader soybean farmer community on this project, which will help connect U.S. soybean meal with international customers.”
The Houston facility has a storage capacity of 6.3 million bushels, and exports more than 2 million metric tons of grain annually. The upgrades will support storage for 22,000 metric tons of soybean meal. Additional upgrades will include a new conveyance system to seamlessly transport goods from storage to the ship loaders. A new ship loading tower will increase efficiency and speed of loading.
Soybean meal storage at the port won’t look like it does in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri or Nebraska, where the meal will originate. Storage at the export facility is meant to be shortterm—soybean meal delivered via BNSF Railway or Union Pacific Railroad will be stored temporarily, then moved via conveyance from storage to ship loaders. The identified markets for the Houston export terminal include Middle East/North Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia.
Continued on Pg. 20
FARMERS Fuel the Flow
Soybean farmers back infrastructure to move more meal abroad
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BETHANY BARATTA
Soybean farmers and staff representing the Soy Transportation Coalition and The Andersons, Inc., witnessed soy storage construction during their visit to The Andersons, Inc. Mid-States Companies, based in Nevada, Iowa, have been contracted for the project. Ralph Nafegar, pictured far right, superintendent of operations at The Andersons, anticipates "learning by trial and error" as he and others get more familiar with soybean meal handling when the project is completed in early 2026.
Mike Koehne, STC chairman
When it comes to moving U.S. soy to market, Mike Koehne, Indiana farmer and chairman of the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC), knows the value of good infrastructure and smart investments. Drawing on more than three decades of farming — and nearly two decades running a trucking business — Mike shared his thoughts on why this new port project, market diversification, and transportation improvements are vital to the soybean industry.
Here are five key takeaways from Mike:
1. Expanding meal export opportunities
• The investment at Port of Houston is a positive step to boost soybean meal exports.
• It reflects a shift from shipping whole soybeans to exporting more value-added soybean meal, helping reach new and diversified markets.
2. Diversification is key
• Diversification is key on the Koehne farm, too. The Koehnes raise high oleic and food-grade soybeans, which they ship by container to Japan and Taiwan. They also grow corn for the Kentucky bourbon market and for dry millers in Japan.
• In addition to soy and corn, Mike and his family raise cattle and grow hay. For the last 20 years, they have operated a farm drainage business.
3. Infrastructure investment keeps U.S. soy competitive
• “We’ve got to have that infrastructure to get our product to the coastal regions so we can be competitive in the international markets. So, infrastructure, whether it’s inland waterways, rail or truck, it’s a key part of us delivering products to the world.”
• Infrastructure is a two-way street. Efficient transportation helps move both exports and imports, including fertilizer and machinery parts.
4. Cooperation strengthens the industry
• Soybeans from Koehne’s first-generation Indiana farm aren’t the prime source for the Port of Houston investment, but he supports national investments because they benefit the whole industry.
• “We have to be in partnership with farmers around the country and invest in infrastructure projects because if we can keep their meal from coming into our territory and we can unload their product at this port, then it keeps our markets going. We kind of share that responsibility to help each other out in those aspects.”
5. Efficient transportation key to business
• The Koehnes previously owned and operated a trucking company for 19 years. They hauled livestock in 38 of the Lower 48 states. That experience drove home the importance of reliable transportation infrastructure.
• Like the livestock hauling business, well-maintained roads, reliable bridges, accessible rail lines and functioning waterways are vital to soy transportation.
Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Because the facility at the Port of Houston will result in greater resiliency of both international marketing and the supply chain, the following soybean farmer organizations contributed a total of $275,000 toward the project:
• United Soybean Board
• Soy Transportation Coalition
• Iowa Soybean Association
• Kansas Soybean Commission
• Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council
• Nebraska Soybean Board
A HOME-GROWN LEGACY
A legacy of faith. A tradition of farming. A future rooted in both.
Steward of Change
Tom Adam’s flexibility shapes farm and future
Keep an open mind, embrace change and be flexible with your farming operation. It’s the best advice Tom Adam says he’s ever received. But the origins of that advice are unknown.
Perhaps it was his family; after all, his family has farmed their land in Keokuk County since 1852. You don’t successfully hold on to acres for 173 years without adapting.
This approach has guided him through the ups and downs of the markets, evolving conservation practices and generational change.
Adam, a farmer near Harper, is the president of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). The 22-member ISA board of directors elected Adam to lead the organization upon the completion of Brent Swart’s term as president in September.
Rural upbringing
Adam grew up on the family’s farm between Harper and Keota, raising hogs, cattle, corn and soybeans with his parents, Wilbert and Bernadette, and his siblings.
Wilbert was committed to preserving the soil, using small grains within his acres to protect them from erosion.
“Soil erosion was very important to my dad,” Adam says. “He did a lot with crop rotations and oats and hay to reduce weed pressure and stabilize the soil.”
Off to college
While he was in college studying finance at the University of Iowa in the early 1980s, Adam worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, assisting with bank examinations across Iowa, mostly in small rural banks.
“It was a period when the federal reserve was tightening credit and interest rates skyrocketed to historic levels,” says Adam, noting operating loans went from 7 to 18% interest. “This time was quite the eye-opener for me to see how a single policy change could so drastically affect farmers’ bottom lines.”
He took a job with a manufacturing company after college until the opportunity to join the family farm emerged.
When Wilbert was ready to retire, Tom and his brother split the farmland and began farming. A few years later, when the land market crashed, Tom and his brother were able to buy additional farmland of their own.
Today, Tom and his wife, Mary Beth, live near Harper, where they raised their four children — Eric, Ryan, Emily and Megan. Family remains central to the operation, even as each of their children has found their own path in various careers.
Continued on Pg. 24
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETHANY BARATTA JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
Conservation and preservation
Adam, the fifth generation on the family farm, holds the family’s legacy in conservation close.
He’s built terraces to prevent soil loss, and implemented blind inlets in some of the terraces, using woodchips and pea gravel to reduce nitrate and phosphorus entering the tile line.
Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Adam began growing his own cover crop. He also began growing his own wheat cover crop seed. Before that, he doublecropped wheat on some of his acres.
Adam plants on a four-year rotation with corn one year, followed by three years of soybeans.
“The third year of soybeans is always the highest yielding soybeans,” Adam says. “I’ve found that the wheat cuts down on disease pressure.”
He enrolled in the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund in May 2021. In addition to adding wheat to his crop rotation, he has nearly eliminated tillage on his acres and plants cover crops on most of his acres.
His mix of conservation practices and program involvement has strengthened the resilience of his acres while creating new avenues for profit.
Like father like son
Adam’s son, Eric, a district conservationist for NRCS, is taking on more ownership and management decisions each year.
“He’s encouraged me to do more things when it comes to conservation,” Adam says.
Eric, the sixth generation on the family farm, will someday be the primary decision-maker.
“As a farmer you always think about leaving the farm for the next generation if you can,” Adam says. “I’m very proud that he has chosen farming as a career. He’ll be able to keep these practices going and take things even further.”
Reader to leader
Adam first learned about the Iowa Soybean Association by reading the Iowa Soybean Review.
“I felt like the magazine was a window into the Iowa Soybean Association to reveal that it is heads above other commodity organizations,” he says.
But it was an invite from neighbor and former ISA President Lindsay Greiner to serve on the board that Adam got involved.
“That was my first direct connection,” Adam says. “I had never even visited the ISA office.”
Hundreds of miles later — to the office and to various meetings in the U.S. and abroad — and Adam is the serving ISA president.
In addition, he also serves on the American Soybean Association board, lending his voice to national policy discussions that have local impact.
“It has been an honor for me to have served as a director on this board the past eight years,” Adam says.”We have a fantastic board and for my fellow board members to choose me to be president only increases that honor.”
Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Three Main Priorities as ISA President
1. Expanding trade and market access
“We want trade, not aid,” Adam says. While financial relief packages are a bridge to trade resolutions, they don’t solve the issue of unsold soybeans or distorted global prices.
Expanding and diversifying global markets for U.S. soybeans remains a top ISA priority.
With shifting global supply chains and emerging demand from countries with growing middle classes, there are opportunities to strengthen existing trade relationships and open new markets for U.S. farmers.
2. Strengthening policy support through the farm bill
A strong farm bill is essential for stability and conservation progress, Adam says.
Conservation programs encourage farmers to adopt practices that protect soil and water, adding opportunities that farmers are already investing in.
Sound policy should provide practical, on-the-ground support, helping farmers stay resilient and profitable.
3. Demand through new uses
Increased biofuel mandates and improved tax policy for using domestic feedstocks are “bright spots” that can strengthen demand for Iowa soybeans.
Adam supports checkoff investments that fund research into new soybean uses — from asphalt and tires to industrial materials and household products.
Focused on turning farmer dollars into tangible results — advancing innovation in biofuels, creating new soybeanbased products, and supporting research that improves farm profitability “both in the field and at the bank.”
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISS NELSON JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
IWHAT’S NEXT
Iowa farmers turn 2025 lessons into 2026 decisions
owa farmers experienced a spring of extremes, with an early start, weather disruptions and difficulties after planting.
Some growers could hit the fields ahead of Easter, getting corn and soybeans planted early. However, cold weather and frequent rains quickly stalled those gains, delaying progress and creating wide gaps in planting dates.
After Easter, cold soils hurt soybean stands, particularly in notill fields. Replanting was needed in several areas, and some corn acres were also replanted due to poor emergence.
As the season progressed, excess moisture became a challenge. Heavy rains caused ponding that drowned out crops in lowlying areas. The frequent rains also made it challenging to apply herbicides on time, adding to weed pressure in some fields.
Sudden death syndrome (SDS) proved to be one of the toughest challenges for soybean yields. Fields with heavy SDS pressure lost the most yields, and in some cases, seed treatments didn’t protect the plants. The disease took hold early in the cool, wet spring, serving as a reminder that while treatments help, selecting varieties with strong SDS tolerance remains one of the most reliable defenses.
By mid-summer, corn faced additional stress. Southern rust showed up early and spread quickly, becoming the season’s most notable disease pressure. That, combined with earlier wind and hail damage in some areas, made for highly variable yields.
With another growing season behind them, farmers are now looking back on the highs and lows of 2025. The lessons learned this year are shaping conversations about what worked, what didn’t, and what adjustments will be made heading into 2026. Their firsthand experiences tell the story of a season defined by weather swings, replant decisions and yield variability.
RYAN SCHWYN, HUBBARD
ISA farmer member and owner of Homeview Agronomy
Looking into 2026, disease management is top of mind, especially coming off a year with the impact sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soybeans and southern rust in corn made on yields.
SDS was more prevalent in soybeans than in recent years and its impact was noticeable at harvest. Going into next year, growers will be evaluating varieties and seed treatments with stronger tolerance. Seed treatments like ILeVO and Saltro remain strong options, and variety selection will be key.
The severity of southern rust was a stark reminder of how quickly a disease can change a crop’s trajectory. Southern rust doesn’t overwinter here; it blows up from the south, which is why it’s a rare disease for this area. But this year, it was the worst southern rust pressure most growers had ever seen.
Before it hit, optimism was high. Many farmers thought this would be one of the best crops in recent memory. But southern rust came in early, during the later vegetative and early reproductive stages, and it took off fast. It regenerates every seven days if conditions are favorable, making the disease very aggressive.
There was a big difference in how hybrids responded to the disease. Early-maturity hybrids seemed to struggle the most. That pressure caused some fields to die off prematurely. Fungicides were applied with some making a second pass after scouting showed continued pressure. Harvest results showed favorable responses to fungicide. In trials, a single pass provided up to 35 bushels per acre more than untreated areas. In fields where a second pass was applied, responses ranged from 5 to 15 bushels an acre.
Next year, scouting and in-season responsiveness will be critical. Many growers will lean on trusted advisors to help make timely decisions and ensure dollars are wellplaced. Hybrid selection and fungicide timing will be big decisions. With lower commodity prices, every input dollar has to work harder.
Nitrogen management was a challenge with moisture. Much of the area saw substantial leaching and denitrification. Growers who split-applied nitrogen saw the best results. Those who did a single application saw the consequences in yield.
Fertilizer pricing is another issue. Phosphorus has gone up the most in price, and growers are focusing on efficiency. Soil test data, yield maps and variable rate technology are being used to stretch fertility dollars and maximize ROI.
Weed management in soybeans will be a hot topic this winter. Farmers will need to weigh the cost of clean fields against the reality of weed escapes and seed bank buildup.
Frequent rains delayed spraying, tightened application windows and created an environment where weeds could thrive. Adding in some wind challenges, the weeds had the competitive advantage.
Soybean growers widely discussed weed escapes in the post-emergence window. Spot spraying was required for many farmers to address problem areas. Growers who invested in premium herbicide programs with multiple modes of action had better results, while those who cut costs and stuck with a single mode of action struggled. This is something farmers will likely reconsider heading into next year.
A focus is also shifting to overall plant and soil health. Farmers are working to build stronger plants that can withstand disease pressure. Some are looking at foliar feeding applications, alternative products such as biostimulants and mixes with sugars to promote biology and create a healthier plant.
Drainage is another consideration for many farmers in 2026. Excess moisture in 2025 reinforced the value of tile drainage, and many farmers are now evaluating which acres could benefit from improvements.
Continued on Pg. 28
SCHWARK, RICEVILLE ISA farmer member
Planting preparation for the 2025 growing season began with widespread concern over dry weather conditions. Fortunately, the spring planting window was characterized by warm temperatures and minimal rainfall, creating nearly ideal conditions for seeding. While these favorable conditions benefitted growers, the marketplace took notice, and the combination of timely planting and sufficient acres helped to temper any early-season rally by keeping bullish trends in check.
With June, heavy rainfall resumed, quickly erasing drought concerns. Focus shifted toward herbicide applications. Integrating new chemistries with various crop traits proved highly effective against resilient weed species. As a result, discussions about record yields circulated, and market expectations adjusted accordingly.
Timely late-season rains helped maintain yields above average. In some cases, late-season disease pressure prevented achieving record yields, but the combination of adequate moisture and lateseason warmth ensured a satisfactory harvest.
As harvest approached, a recurring question surfaced: would rainfall delay a timely start to the harvest? Ultimately, conditions allowed the soybean harvest to begin at the end of September and conclude in early October. Unusually warm temperatures and excellent ground conditions marked the period, enabling a swift and efficient soybean harvest.
With the 2026 season on the horizon, efforts are underway to analyze financials and navigate the challenge of high input costs relative to current commodity prices. The cyclical nature of production agriculture continues to shape expectations, and optimism remains that industry leaders and organizations will persist in their efforts to support farmers. The hope is for improved markets and better prices in the coming year.
Looking toward spring 2026, one thing we have observed over the last two growing seasons is that the dry April conditions have allowed us to plant into dry soil with minimal tillage and have yielded our best soybeans.
We are still tweaking our herbicide program to combat earlyseason weed pressure without the tillage and have found new chemistry to be very effective for post-season applications.
With the tight margins, we will continue our efforts to reduce tillage. Achieving high yields with less time and money spent on the process makes the challenge rewarding. We have learned some things the hard way, but with the addition of tile, fertility and a willing attitude we’re headed in the right direction.
TONY
ALEX SCHAFFER ISA research agronomy lead
Research agronomist support for 2026
Alex Schaffer, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) research agronomy lead, provides insight on lessons learned from the 2025 growing season and how ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation’s (RCFI) team of research agronomists can assist Iowa soybean farmers in 2026 and beyond.
2025 in review, 2026 ahead
“I think it’s a good time to look at expenses on the input side,” he says.
As they look ahead to 2026, farmers face tough choices on what to keep and what to cut. But he warns not to get rid of everything.
“It’s a good time for farmers to take a hard look at what’s paying and what’s not. There are ways to trim without cutting too deep,” he says.
Soybean seed and fungicide inputs are at the top of his input review.
On-farm trials
ISA’s team of research agronomists are available to help evaluate inputs. RCFI’s on-farm research blends agronomy, conservation and data so soybean growers can make improvements that fit their operation.
“Trials can look different for each farmer depending on location, planting date, soil temperature and other factors,” says Schaffer. “That’s why it’s important to have trials happening across the state.”
And, sometimes the results did not meet expectations. A fungicide and insecticide combination trial is a prime example.
“We put ten of them out in 2025. We thought that we’d surely see a response to the fungicide at these different locations, since the conditions have been right. And then when we got out there, we didn’t. Instead, we saw a bunch of sudden death, which is not affected by the fungicide that we were applying for the trial.”
Schaffer and his team observe more than just how a field reacts to a control or treatment.
He recalled observing stand counts in a field participating in an ISA trial when when he spotted drift injury from a neighboring field. In addition to the stand counts, he made a note of the injury and alerted the farmer participating in the trial.
Schaffer was in a field scouting for a fungicide when he found SDS was beginning to show. He warned the farmer SDS was in the field so they would be aware of the potential yield loss while combining.
“The main thing about participating in a trial is it gets an agronomist in your field, looking at things, taking notes and giving you feedback you might not otherwise get,” Schaffer says.
Support beyond trials
ISA’s research agronomists are available year-round to assist farmers.
“We field phone calls on problems or questions in soybean or corn fields,” says Schaffer. “We are another point of assistance out there for a farmer.”
Networking is also part of the value.
“We each have a large network of agronomy professionals,” he says. “If we don’t know the answer, there’s a good chance we can find the right person and make the connection. That could be academia, private industry, other farmers we work with or conservation professionals.”
Farmer-submitted trials
If a farmer is curious about a product or practice, ISA research agronomists can help. They work alongside farmers to design replicated strips, collect data and analyze the results so farmers can make decisions with confidence.
“If a farmer wants to try something on their farm, we can help set it up as a farmer-submitted trial,” he says. “We’ll work with them to design the trial, track progress through the season, and provide unbiased feedback at the end. It’s about making sure the time and effort farmers put into testing something new really pays off.”
Creative scouting
Southern rust surprised farmers when it robbed them of yields in 2025. Could proper scouting have helped to limit the impact?
Schaffer emphasizes scouting goes beyond walking local fields. It includes some creative thinking.
“Scouting isn’t just walking your own fields. You’ve got to look south to Arkansas, Missouri, or even just a few counties below you. If they’ve got frogeye or southern rust, chances are it’s coming to you next,” he says.
This is the heads up to get on the list with the applicator or look at your product options, Schaffer says.
“This year a lot of farmers wanted fungicide but couldn’t get a ground rig in because it was too wet,” he says. “They called applicators who used planes or drones, but by the time they got sprayed, it was two weeks late. Getting on the list early makes a difference.”
Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com
top stories from 2025 five
WINTER FORECAST
Winter forecast is anything but clear iasoybeans.com/newsroom/article/ winter-forecast-is-anything-but-clear 2,044 views
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