For advertising information contact Bethany Baratta at (515) 334-1020 or bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
July 2025 | Vol. 38, No. 10
4
Farming Through the Spin
When agriculture mirrors gyrations of the Silly Silo, how do you adjust?
20 Farmer at the Helm
Iowa farmer tasked with overseeing the delivery of federal crop insurance.
26
Soy, Markets and The Cow Guy
Scott Shellady to keynote ISA’s Summer Soy Series, coming to a town near you.
30
Leading from the Field
Monticello-area ISA member models conservation efforts.
On the Cover: Josh and Taylor Blair with their children, Brogan and Mason, on their farm near Kiron. Participating in Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Experience Class broadened their view of ISA program offerings and the Iowa soybean industry. In this issue, we explore how ISA members are finding ways to engage through ISA programming. Photo: Joclyn Kuboushek.
Comments and statewide news articles should be sent to the above address. 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.
Aaron Putze, APR ISA Chief Officer of Brand Management & Engagement aputze@iasoybeans.com
Farming Through the Spin
One of my most forgettable summer vacation moments as a child was a ride on Adventureland’s Silly Silo, a then-centerpiece of the Altoona-based amusement park.
I was eight as I joined other park visitors and stepped inside the round, roofed and wood-paneled contraption. We were ushered into place in near total darkness and soon stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our backs against the ride’s inner wall. With everyone securely in place, the ride began to spin — slowly at first, then faster, and faster, and faster. Soon, everything was a dizzying blur, the centrifugal force pinning us immobile against the wall in almost total darkness. Amid shrieks and laughter, the floor suddenly dropped away, leaving us suspended as the ride continued to spin and tilt.
After what seemed like an eternity, the ride stopped, and I stumbled back into the bright sunshine — though I’m pretty sure my stomach stayed behind. Game. Set. Match. One ride and my vacation day was over. It was the first, and to this day, the shortest vacation of my life.
The risks and chaos impacting agriculture — from tense geopolitical relations and weather extremes to shortsighted state mandates dictating how food must be produced — mirror the gyrations of the Silly Silo. Soybean farmers and the industry they love are spinning in endless circles at a dizzying pace, with no clear direction or ability to keep one’s footing.
During unsettled times, it’s worth remembering that no matter what comes at us, we retain full control over our attitude, perspective and actions. Doing so is empowering and reassuring. While the world spins unpredictably, consider:
• Tapping into multiple, trustworthy sources of information (starting with this publication, of course!). More sources and perspectives will help you avoid group think.
• Being open to new ideas and practices on the farm. Even if something sounds out there, it could lead to a more practical, workable solution down the line.
• Building resilience into your soybean operation by adding value to what you produce or developing new revenue streams that align with your skills and interests.
• Involving your family in setting a clear vision and mission for the farm, along with strategies and a timeline to make it happen.
• Focusing more on what’s important, not what’s urgent. Reacting to every shock headline or social media flare-up saps energy and distracts you from work that really matters.
• Accepting that some people will believe what they want, facts or not. Engage with those who are open to learning and growth and ignore those who only wish to make noise.
• Leaning on others with expertise in areas outside your own. You don’t have to know everything — but know who to ask. Most people generally want to help others.
• Keeping your will and succession plan up to date. It’s not the most enjoyable task, but it’s one of the most important — for your farm and most important, your family.
Life on the farm might feel a lot like a ride on the Silly Silo — spinning wildly, the floor dropping out and your stomach left behind. But with the right mindset and focusing on the things you can control, you’ll remain level-headed, keep your balance and position your farm to take advantage of better times.
For this, too, will pass, just like the Silly Silo.
Vance M. / customer since 2019
Rural Route 2
Editor’s Note by Bethany Baratta bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Lessons From the Showring
County fair season is upon us. Soon, youngsters will sit in the “hot seat” as they answer questions about the projects they’ve prepared for exhibition. Some will also take to the showring with their pet and/or livestock projects, hoping the animal they’ve worked hard to train cooperates. I was there once.
My parents ushered five kids in and out of the showring and exhibit building. Naturally I tagged along until it was my turn.
I exhibited a plethora of photography, art and food projects. I also exhibited produce from our garden in the horticulture division; finding three uniformly shaped onions to complete our display basket was often tricky.
In the dusty showring, you’d find me guiding (or chasing) a pig with other 4-H members through the ring before the judge and spectators. Finding three pigs to show that were also uniform was sometimes trickier; we didn’t raise ‘show’ pigs, we picked three pigs out of the herd and did our best.
The rabbit shows were a little tamer as each animal was judged individually, and uniformity was less of a factor.
I didn’t think about it much then, but those county fair experiences were lessons for life. Here are just three of those lessons:
1. Goal setting: Whether it’s a project that demonstrates your skills in photography or working with an animal to prepare it for the showring, 4-Hers are always working toward a goal. Learning to plan, measure progress and adjusting along the way are skills that translate to everyday life.
2. Responsibility: Before an animal even makes it to the showring, months of preparation on the farm takes place. Feeding animals, pitching
Bethany with her ribbons from the Iowa State Fair, 2003.
manure, walking or holding the animals and health checks were part of the daily routine, teaching us consistency, discipline and ownership.
3. Sportsmanship: You can dedicate several months to caring for your animals only to end up with a low ribbon rating (red) in the showring. Losing with grace, winning with humility and always respecting your animals, the judge and your fellow 4-Hers reflect your character.
To the 4-Hers soon entering the showring: good luck. Remember that the result in the showring might not accurately depict the work you’ve put into preparing for the show. Thank your parents, your leaders, your mentors, and the judges (even if you disagree). They’re all providing the lessons you’ll take with you long after your years as a 4-H member are complete.
“I was interested to learn more about the Iowa Soybean Association, and their Experience Class taught me how our checkoff dollars work.”
Josh Blair, ISA farmer member
Driven by
STORY BY KRISS NELSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
Experience Class showed Josh Blair more about ISA
Josh Blair actively supports Iowa agriculture. The Kiron-area farmer has experience serving on the Sac and Crawford County Farm Bureau boards, but the young farmer was looking to learn more about the industry he makes a living in and also serves.
Blair took advantage of his Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) membership and explored some of the association’s programming opportunities. The association’s Experience Class appealed to him.
“I was interested to learn more about the Iowa Soybean Association, and their Experience Class taught me how our checkoff dollars work. It also showed me how ISA partners Iowa State University, companies and individuals in our state and across the nation,” he says.
Blair, his wife Taylor, and a few dozen other ISA farmer members took part in an eight-stop three-day Western Iowa tour. The tour gave the group of farmers a firsthand look at various aspects of the agricultural industry, including ISA on-farm, university and industry research, transportation and soybean crushing.
Blair says the networking opportunities were a highlight of the program.
“I became friends with other farmers I am still in touch with,” he says. “It is interesting to talk
to other producers around the state and see what they are doing and what is working for them or not working for them. It’s an opportunity to learn about a new practice I can implement into my operation or vice versa — all by just talking with them.”
Looking toward the future
Blair became an ISA Advocate member in 2025. He served as an ISA voting delegate and attended ISA’s Winter Soy Summit.
“It’s been an eye-opening experience,” he says. “Being a part of the policymaking process helped me learn more about how it’s developed with and for our farmer members.”
The Experience Class and becoming an advocate member is just the beginning of Blair’s ISA involvement.
“I plan to take advantage of the ISA programming. I am considering joining the Grassroots Fellowship next year,” he says. “My end goal is to become a board member to continue serving farmers.”
With two young children, a three-year-old daughter, Brogan, and a four-year-old son, Mason, the Blairs raise soybeans, corn and hay and operate a cow-calf business.
Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com
Key takeaways participants can expect to gain from participating in Experience Class:
Understanding of how the soy checkoff works and how the ISA 22-farmer member board directs funds
Connections with state and national soy industry partners, including the American Soybean Association, United Soybean Board, U.S. Soybean Export Council, Soy Transportation Coalition and more
Connections to ISA resources
Knowledge of ISA policy developments and directives
Networking opportunities with industry partners and ISA supporters
Relationships with current and veteran ISA leaders
Sam Showalter’s work on the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Trade Team Task Force focuses on creating new markets and maintaining strong relationships with U.S. soy buyers.
Showalter, a Hampton-area farmer and ISA District 2 director, has been active on ISA’s Trade Team Task Force by hosting trade missions on his farm.
“Soybean farmers need people advocating for them to ensure their checkoff dollars are spent responsibly,” says Showalter. “There are a lot of great things those dollars do that return to Iowa soybean farmers and I have seen some of that firsthand through trade missions.”
The association’s Trade Team Task Force grows and strengthens trade relationships by hosting international leaders on Iowa soybean farms. This program aims to spotlight soybean farmers, showing international trading partners how soybeans are grown here.
“I truly cherish those relationships we have built,” says Showalter. “In today’s climate, those relationships are especially important for both the reliability of our product and for them to see we are everyday farmers out here producing soybeans. They appreciate the blue-collar mindset and mentality.”
In collaboration with AGP, Showalter’s family hosted a trade group from Japan and South Korea. The timing of the visit, during harvest, made it special for the visitors.
“They had the opportunity to witness an Iowa soybean harvest and ride in the combine,” he says.
Showalter says the group was interested in how he farms in north central Iowa.
“They inquired about all aspects of our operation and were not shy about asking financial questions, including our ROI, where we sell our soybeans, the basis, acres and yields,” he says. “I was as candid with them as I possibly could. It was a fun opportunity.”
By hosting and engaging with trade partners, Sam Showalter helps promote U.S. soy
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISS NELSON JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
Nurturing relationships
On a trade mission to the Philippines, Showalter met with soybean buyers who prefer U.S. soy.
“Their preference for U.S. soy is not only because of the relationships we have built over the years; it is the proven quality, consistency and reliability we have shown,” he says.
Another opportunity took Showalter to Peru and Colombia. This was a combination business/opportunity trip, given Peru’s lack of U.S. soy imports and Colombia’s substantial demand.
“My visits to the Philippines and Colombia were similar because they both bought U.S. soy. We were there to continue fostering relationships, to ensure we still have a high-quality product to sell them.”
The Peruvians purchase most of their soy from Argentina and appear to be very price-driven.
“I think there is an opportunity to sell there,” says Showalter. “I think they see the value in our product over South American soybeans, and we worked to showcase the opportunities of delivering soy through the Port of Grays Harbor. The Peru market has received very little attention, and we are working to change that.”
“They inquired about all aspects of our operation and were not shy about asking financial questions, including our ROI, where we sell our soybeans, the basis, acres and yields.”
Sam Showalter, ISA board member
Showalter believes cultivating new trade partnerships could help the U.S. lessen its reliance on demand from China.
“We have spoken with legislators about continuing to invest in Foreign Market Development and Market Access Programs through the farm bill,” he says. “Those dollars are important for us to leverage with checkoff dollars, to continue to build these relationships and diversify from China. I think that is something everybody wants to be able to do as China is leaning increasingly on South American soybeans.”
Serving Iowa soybean farmers
After almost a year serving on the ISA board, Showalter has learned a great deal and appreciates working alongside other farmer directors and ISA staff.
“We have a great staff and a very knowledgeable, educated, passionate board of directors working for Iowa soybean farmers,” he says. “We may not always agree on things, but I think that is good. It fosters conversation, debate and critical thinking.
Showalter says he welcomes feedback from fellow farmers.
“I have been elected to serve soybean farmers in my district to the best of my capabilities,” he says. “These are farmer dollars being spent, and I want farmers to share their views. I continually want to reassure them their checkoff dollars are being spent in the best way possible.”
Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com
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Yvonne Wente, trailblazer, named Legacy of Leadership award winner
Before the Iowa Soybean Association became a unified board in 2004, the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board and Iowa Soybean Association were two separate boards working with, for and on behalf of Iowa’s soybean farmers.
In the 1990s, Yvonne Wente recalls her work in promoting ISA membership and helping farmers understand the value of the national soybean checkoff.
“Back in the day, we would just get in our cars and drive around door to door unannounced and really get those messages out, especially with the membership drives and then also with the checkoff, to try and reach as many people as we could,” she says.
Braving dogs, adverse weather and sometimes skeptical producers during those visits, she teamed up with other farmers on the board to advance the mission of the ISA.
“One of our board members, Ron Schildroth, would be very quiet for the most part, but yet he would always kind of pound his fist on the table and say, ‘But does it sell soybeans?’ ”
STORY BY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETHANY BARATTA JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
Some things haven’t changed, Wente, of Waverly, says.
“That was our goal then and that's still our goal now. And we really have increased the sale of soybeans worldwide,” she says.
The U.S. exported 15 million metric tons of soybeans in 1990-1991, according to the American Soybean Association. In 2022-2023, the U.S. exported 54 million tons of soybeans.
Wente was recently recognized for her charismatic leadership and passion for progress as the 2025 recipient of the Legacy of Leadership Award. Sponsored by Stine Seed Company, this award is presented to an ISA member who has established a history of leadership and has taken an active role in advancing the goals of ISA.
During her time on the promotion board, Wente became a tireless advocate for the expansion opportunities the checkoff provided the industry. She also focused her efforts on educating consumers about the benefits of soy products.
“I was really excited about the connection with consumers and new products. We launched a campaign at that time for soy foods and I became the face of soy foods because being a woman, I resonated with the women that we were trying to reach,” she says.
Soy ink, soy crayons and biodiesel were all notable new uses during her tenure on the board.
Trailblazer
Over the years, Wente's leadership has inspired others to raise their voice and advocate for agriculture. As the first female Iowa Soybean Promotion Board chair and one of the first women to participate in trade missions, Wente became a trailblazer for other women in the industry.
“When I was on the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board, there were no other women,” she says. “I was the first and only woman on the soybean board for some time and there were very few women on the other commodity boards as well. And so when we first started going on trade missions, it was very unique for the other countries to see women on these trade teams.
Now women are hosting these trade teams and they're being accepted on trade missions worldwide. To see that progress has been very meaningful.”
Family support
When asked about her leadership legacy, Wente thanks her mentors, fellow board members and local farmers who supported her journey, but most importantly, her family.
“They sacrificed a lot, time-wise, as do many of the board members' families and so I'd like to thank them for all the time that they gave me,” she says. “They are just as much a part of advancing agriculture. They enabled me to do what I did, both my children and husband, manning the home front while I was gone.”
Mickayla Jordan, ISA marketing coordinator, contributed to this story.
Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Wente featured in Farm Journal Magazine.
Yvonne Wente recieving the Legacy of Leadership award from Myron Stine at the 2025 awards banquet.
“When I was on the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board, there were no other women. I was the first and only woman on the soybean board for some time and there were very few women on the other commodity boards as well. And so when we first started going on trade missions, it was very unique for the other countries to see women on these trade teams. Now women are hosting these trade teams and they're being accepted on trade missions worldwide. To see that progress has been very meaningful.”
Yvonne Wente
GENERATIONSStrong, FUTUREReady
Logan Brooke finds value through ISA membership
“The benefit is the opportunities — the emails, the events, the ability to learn more and do better on our farm and in our business.”
Logan Brooke, ISA farmer member
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETHANY BARATTA JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
When Logan Brooke’s ancestors first settled near Clarinda in 1869, they couldn’t have imagined how the farm would change 156 years later as generations nurtured the family’s farming tradition. Six generations later, Brooke looks to the experiences and insights the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) provides as he continues the farming legacy in Page County.
Brooke farms with his father, Lee, the board treasurer and a district 7 director for ISA. They grow soybeans and corn, and also alfalfa, oats and rye for cattle feed. They also manage a cow-calf operation. The father-son duo each farm their own land, and also work and farm together.
“We are very blessed to be where we are today,” he says. “That wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of my dad, grandpa, great-grandpa and the others before them,” Brooke says.
Living on the original homestead, he feels a deep connection to the generations who came before him. As he and his wife Annie prepare to welcome their first child — a son due in August — that legacy has taken on new meaning. “You just don’t want to let them down. You want to continue what they started and be able to pass it on,” he says.
Learning and growing
Logan first interacted with ISA through on-farm research trials through ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation. They explored various rates of hog manure and anhydrous ammonia, hoping to discover the most optimal rate — one that wouldn’t sacrifice the essential crop nutrients.
“We’re looking at ROI — what’s the least amount we can apply while still maintaining yields?” he says. “We don’t want to overapply because that costs money and can harm the soil.”
Other on-farm research trials explored planting rye following manure application, which yielded neutral results due to a late fall application. He’s interested in future on-farm trials regarding fungicides and insecticides.
Marketing and managing
As Brooke continues to discover the rates and research that can benefit his growing crop, he’s also interested in how he can better market the grain he harvests. Participating in the Al Kluis Grain Trading Academy through the Iowa Soybean Association provided valuable insights for marketing his grain, Brooke says.
I’m not much of a marketer,” he says, “but anything I can do to learn helps.”
A major takeaway from the academy was learning how to read and use historical commodity charts to inform marketing decisions.
“It's pretty interesting to read those charts and where they think crops are going to top out and bottom out and see how it played out,” Brooke says.
Because of this program offering from ISA, he now understands how historical charts can provide insights into past price trends, allowing farmers the opportunity to assess future returns and planting and harvest decisions. He gained a better understanding of the tools farmers can use — like hedges — to market their grain even several years out.
“When the prices are high, consider selling three to four years in advance,” Brooke says. “Hedging can help manage the downside risk.”
Delivering opportunity
As Brooke navigates his own path through farming, he has a better understanding of the offerings available as an ISA Farmer Member.
“The benefit is the opportunities — the emails, the events, the ability to learn more and do better on our farm and in our business,” he says. “I wouldn’t have had that otherwise.”
Through his dad’s involvement in the association, he’s also learned about how checkoff dollars are used to generate returns for farmers through increased demand for their soybeans.
“It’s kind of wild how much they (farmer directors) do,” Brooke says. “I had no idea until Dad got involved.”
Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Turning trials into better yields
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETHANY BARATTA JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
Farming with facts. Jeff Lindsay understands that knowing more about the soil he grows his crop in helps fine-tune his growing plan.
That’s why he continues to participate in on-farm research trials with Iowa Soybean Association’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI).
Lindsay farms with his brother Brian and their mom, Barb. But it was his father, Dennis, who started the longstanding research relationship with ISA.
“My dad was doing nitrogen and fungicide trials with ISA years ago,” Lindsay says. “We’re still doing some of the same types of trials today.”
Dennis laid the groundwork for the family’s farm through research and ISA involvement.
A former ISA director, Dennis was awarded ISA’s 2017 Innovator in Production Research Award in recognition of his enthusiastic participation in on-farm research with ISA. Prior to his passing in 2022, he was a noted participant in nitrogen and fertilizer trials. His interest in research examined nitrogen modeling, seed inoculants and fungicide trials.
Proven answers
Lindsay is a long-time ISA farmer member and a regular participant in the organization’s on-farm research trials.
This year, like in years past, he’s participating in nitrogen prescription trials through ISA’s partnership with the Iowa State University’s Iowa Nitrogen Initiative.
The trial helps participants better understand the soil’s capacity to provide nitrogen to the corn plant and therefore the optimal nitrogen application.
N-Serve trials are also helping Lindsay detect how the nitrogen stabilizer might help him keep the crop-important input on the field longer, where it’s best used to help crops grow.
“THESE TRIALS GIVE US CONFIDENCE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON REAL NUMBERS — NOT JUST SOMEONE TRYING TO SELL US SOMETHING.”
Jeff Lindsay, ISA farmer member
These farmer-led research projects — set up in his fields — help answer questions regarding topics like nitrogen rates, nitrogen timing, fungicide effectiveness and soybean population.
“ISA helps set up the trial, they handle the data, and they give you results that actually mean something,” Lindsay says. “And it’s unbiased. That’s important.”
Nitrogen insights
On the Lindsay farm near Masonville, nitrogen management is as important today as it was when Dennis participated in trials nearly 20 years ago.
Guiding management
“We used to do N-Serve trials years ago, and we picked them back up again recently. It’s helpful to see how it performs over time, not just one year,” he says.
“These trials give us confidence to make decisions based on real numbers — not just someone trying to sell us something,” he says.
Evaluating fungicide
The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is actively exploring a range of fungicides to understand their effect on final yields and return on investment. Lindsay’s on-farm research helps add to the body of research — and to the knowledge of his own fields.
“Fungicide is expensive, so we want to know if it’s worth the investment,” he says. “ISA’s trials help us evaluate that — whether it’s helping with yield or just costing us money.”
Lindsay says the management of his fields doesn’t swing wildly year to year. Instead, they use the trial data to fine-tune their approach to each growing season.
“We’re not looking to cut corners,” he says. “But we also don’t want to spend money on something that doesn’t give us a return. These trials show us the value — or lack of it — so we can make smart decisions.”
Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETHANY BARATTA JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
Farmer and educator Jarret Horn joins ISA’s Communications Squad to amplify voices in agriculture
When Jarret Horn steps into his ag education classroom at Lynnville-Sully High School, he’s not just preparing students with textbook ag curriculum, he’s providing insights from his own agricultural experience: his farm.
Horn grows soybeans and corn on his farm near Newton with his father, James, his wife, Chania, and their three young
children: Henry, Hattie and Myles. They also grow cereal rye for cover crop seed and raise cattle and sheep.
Horn was first introduced to the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) as an intern for Key Cooperative. Back then, ISA helped research corn rootworm. As an educator, Horn became more familiar with ISA as a supporter of FFA, as a founding partner of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, and through the Iowa Food & Family Project.
Recently, he took the next step in his familiarity with ISA. Horn took part in ISA’s Communications Squad. Geared toward those who want to gain the confidence and communication skills to relay the story of agriculture to their peers, Horn’s motive for joining the program was different.
“As an ag educator, I really wanted to see what things could I gain from Iowa Soybean Association to make my students more aware of the industry, but more importantly, more aware of the uses of soybeans,” he says.
Also of interest was exploring how the industry might change in the next 10 or 15 years here in Iowa and in the context of the global market.
Being involved in ISA’s Communications Squad helped fill in the gaps, utilizing industry experts to provide essential context.
“It was really beneficial,” Horn says. “From an education and professional development standpoint, it’s really important that we stay connected to the industry that drives what we do in the classroom,” Horn says.
ISA’s Communications Squad delivered.
“I learned more about the biodiesel industry, soy-based products, and much more. Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways was the realization of the resources that are available to me as a teacher through ISA’s website and through the Iowa Food & Family Project,” he says.
What to expect in Communications Squad
Future farmers
In 2024, Iowa soybean farmers harvested 598 million bushels, representing 13.6% of the U.S. total and making Iowa the secondlargest soybean producer in the nation. Farmers routinely prove they can raise a crop, but talking about the industry to those less familiar might be a tall task. ISA’s Communications Squad makes it easier.
“For a farmer, oftentimes we get so busy working on our farm that we forget to work for the farm,” Horn says. “Being able to communicate and promote our industry is crucial if we're going to continue to have an industry, particularly as the number of producers is shrinking across the country.”
Uncertainties surrounding global trade and demand for soybeans makes the ability to communicate about the industry all the more important, he says.
“We need people who can stand in the public sphere and push for policies that are going to give us a competitive edge as producers,” Horn says.
“We're not just competing against our neighbors; we're competing against people in other countries. We need to be able to express the importance of our industry and how we can compete globally. If we don’t do it, I don’t know who will.”
Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Spokesperson training that empowers you to address industry misconceptions, engage with consumers and media, advocate for pro-farmer policies and be a leading voice for Iowa agriculture.
Insights on trending industry topics and news from ag leaders, ISA staff and other guest presenters.
Skills-building activities and best practices to improve your writing, social media and spokesperson abilities.
Learn how your soy checkoff investment is driving farmer profitability and productivity.
Connections with fellow farmers, industry partners, and state and national soy organizations including the American Soybean Association, United Soybean Board, U.S. Soybean Export Council and the Soy Transportation Coalition.
One ISA member’s journey to the top
STORY BY BETHANY BARATTA
Photo submitted.
Iowa farmer Pat Swanson was appointed administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) earlier this year by the Trump administration. She oversees the delivery of the federal crop insurance program and risk management tools that serve as a foundation for farmer financial stability and long-term resiliency. Her family owns and operates a seventh-generation farm near Ottumwa, raising soybeans, corn and cattle. We checked in with Pat, living in Washington, D.C., since March 24, to learn more about her role.
Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) knows you as a past ISA director and a past American Soybean Association (ASA) director. What are you up to now?
I'm the administrator overseeing the Risk Management Agency, which oversees the federal crop insurance program. I'm a political appointee, so I'm here for four years. RMA is a small agency, but we work with about 17,000 people involved in delivering the program, including those involved in crop loss assessments, insurance providers and the private agents who are delivering the program to farmers. How’d you get there?
You could say I got my start by walking beans on the farm when I was about 12 years old. The eight of us — my five siblings, my parents, and I — were celebrating with a gallon jug of A&W Root Beer because we were done walking beans for the summer. That evening our farm was hit by a hailstorm and it took out the crop. Luckily my parents had some form of crop insurance; they were able to farm several years more because of it.
How did ISA play a role in getting you to the South Building at USDA?
I got involved as an advocate for farmers through the Iowa Soybean Association, but it was really through the Iowa Food & Family Project that gave me my voice as a farmer. After serving on the ISA board, it was a natural fit to get involved with the American Soybean Association. ASA elevated my resume up to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board, where I served for four years. Then I was asked to fill this role.
What is your top priority at the agency?
Truly T he backbone of T he farm safe T y ne T is crop insurance.
My priority in this position is to make sure that the farm safety net, which keeps our farmers financially stable, stays actuarily sound, stays working for our farmers, and stays working for all of us, including taxpayers who pay for this program, too. We're part of the same team and we all need to move in the same direction to make sure that our farmers, when they put the seeds in the ground every spring, that they're able to farm and know with confidence that if something falls off the rails — the commodity prices go too low, the storm hits them — they know they can farm again the next year.
I wan T T o make sure ThaT iT can con T inue for generaT ions
To come.”
Pat Swanson
Fast forward, I got my degree in computer science from Iowa State University. I married Don, a farmer, who eventually decided to start a crop insurance agency near his hometown of Ottumwa. I left my sales job at Hewlett Packard, we moved to southeast Iowa, and I stayed home to raise our children. I earned my crop insurance license and went on to help with the agency. Because of my analytical brain, I always needed to know why. Why is it like this? Why do we do it that way? Why don't we do it this way? I was always questioning things and learning things. I think that's why I enjoyed being a crop insurance agent over the past 20 years because there's always new things to learn, new situations and new things to figure out. (Editor’s note: Pat divested her share of the crop insurance agency to accept the position at RMA).
Thoughts so far?
What do you want farmers to know about what you’re trying to achieve in D.C.?
I'm here to fight for the program. Truly the backbone of the farm safety net is crop insurance. I want to make sure that it can continue for generations to come.
I’m working with the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, providing technical expertise as they’re working toward a farm bill.
It's the perfect job. I work for the most efficient, most well-oiled machine in Washington, D.C.. I'm very proud of the agency and what we're able to do. It's really a partnership between the insurance companies, the farmers themselves who pay premiums and the government. It's a unique public-private partnership that truly is a model of efficiency for the government; there's fewer than 400 people here and each year we're delivering about $200 billion worth of liability for our farmers.
Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Soil Management Boosts Drought Resilience
Matt Carroll ISA Analytics and Insights Lead mcarroll@iasoybeans.com
KEY INSIGHTS
1. Iowa's shifting weather brings more spring rain, summer droughts.
2. Four-year crop rotations boost yields and resilience in drought conditions.
3. Other practices can also decrease compaction and improve water infiltration.
Iowa weather patterns are predicted to change with spring rainfall likely increasing and longer periods of drought in the summer, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Since May 2020, much of Iowa has been under drought conditions. During the 2023 cropping season, an average of 90% of Iowa was under a drought.
Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is supporting research at Iowa State University (ISU) evaluating how diverse cropping rotations affect soybean growth and development under current and future weather patterns. Most Iowa farmers don't have the ability to irrigate, but there are
management methods that can improve resiliency during drought conditions by improving soil features such as water holding capacity and infiltration rates.
A team of agronomists, led by ISU Agronomy Associate Professor Marshall McDaniel and Postdoc Research Associate Ashani Thilakarathne, are testing current and future weather patterns under a two-year soybean and corn rotation, and a four-year rotation that includes corn, soybeans, oats and alfalfa.
Since 2002, the Marsden Agricultural Diversification Experiment (MADE) has evaluated outcomes in farm profitability, yields and soil health under various management controls. In the diversified system, composted cattle manure supplied most of the crop fertility needs. Synthetic fertilizers supplemented the remainder of crop nutrient needs based on soil tests and ISU recommendations.
In the two-year system, all inputs were from synthetic fertilizers based on results from soil fertility tests and ISU recommendations.
Previous work at MADE showed an increase of 1400% in water infiltration rates, a 16% increase in soil water storage and an 8% reduction in resistance to root growth (compaction) in the diverse rotation compared to the standard two-year rotation.
Figure 1: Example of the PEAS structure used to control precipitation received in each plot.
Photo Credit: Ashani Thilakarathne.
Expanding the research
McDaniel and Thilakarathne wanted to test if these improvements in soil health under a four-year rotation would lead to greater crop yields under drought stress compared to the business-as-usual two-year rotation.
Researchers controlled changes in rainfall for each plot using Precipitation Exclusion and Application Systems (PEAS), shown in Figure 1. These structures allow the researchers to take a small portion of each plot and control the amount of water each treatment receives. By restricting rainfall on each plot, soybeans can be tested in a field environment with modified rainfall to simulate current and future drought conditions and changes in soybean growth and development in each of these rotation systems.
The research was conducted in 2023 at the ISU research farm near Boone, and the treatments that simulated current weather conditions received 7.25 more inches of rainfall than the drought conditions, which are expected to be more frequent in the coming year.
Figure 2 shows that soybean yields differed minimally under current weather conditions; the two-year and four-year rotations yielded 1.1 bushels and 0.6 bushels per acre more than the trial average, respectively. The two-year rotation yielded 0.5 bushels per acre greater than the four-year rotation when adequate rainfall was received by both rotations.
When soybeans were tested in drought conditions, the two-year rotation yielded 3.8 bushels per acre less than the trial average and the four-year rotation had a 2.1 bushelper-acre-yield increase compared to the trial average.
In drought conditions the four-year rotation resulted in a 5.9 bushel per acre yield increase compared to the two-year rotation.
These results support the original hypothesis that improved soil health under an extended rotation will increase soybean yield resilience in drought conditions, compared to a standard shorter rotation.
This work is a great example of how checkoff dollars are being utilized to look at future scenarios impacting soybean management decisions. As this work evolves, additional research will inform how cover crops impact similar aspects
of soil health that can lead to enhanced soybean resilience to challenging climactic conditions.
Work from ISA’s long-term cover crop experiments showed a similar reduction in soil compaction to soil that was treated with cover crops from six to eight years, with an average reduction of 6% in the first two feet of the soil horizon.
As farmers look to minimize the risk of soybean yield losses under future drought conditions, it’s important to think about what practices can be implemented that help the soil increase water infiltration and water holding capacity.
Reach out to me via email to learn more about this research or practices to implement on your farm.
Figure 2: Yield differences for each precipitation treatment by rotation. A negative yield value indicates that yields were less than the trial average.
SOWING THESeeds of Change
For Tim Couser, farming isn't just dirt and tractors — it's politics, too
Farmers depend on effective policies to support their livelihoods, ensure a stable food supply and promote sustainable farming. Tim Couser, a farmer from Story County, finds that all of this rings true.
“You could argue policy is more important to agriculture today than any time in history,” says Couser. “Going forward, policy will fully direct the demand for our agricultural commodities.”
He enrolled in the Grassroots Fellowship, a collaborative, one-year experience for young soybean farmers from Iowa who possess a desire to learn
more about government and the legislative process, all while improving their core leadership. The program is funded in part by non-checkoff resources.
“Ag is an incredible industry,” says Couser, a third-generation farmer. “I think it is essential to have some part, involvement, or at least willingness to care about what decisions policy makers make.”
His experience with the Grassroots Fellowship program allowed him to engage in and become more educated in policy and learn more about the agricultural industry. He also found value in the networking with other members.
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISS NELSON JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
Key moments
The No. 1 takeaway from his year with the program was visiting Washington, D.C., for the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) board of directors meeting and visiting lawmakers and regulatory leaders on Capitol Hill.
“We had multiple reasons to be there,” says Couser. “Not only was it to be a fly on the wall and learn, but we also met with staffers and showed the eagerness and potential for a particular policy.”
The group partnered with Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and ASA board members and staff to witness lobbying efforts firsthand.
“We got to see and learn the passing of that knowledge, of what is important, what might not be as important, how to approach those topics and who has the ultimate influence over certain topics,” he says.
Seeing ISA District 6 Director Dave Walton, a farmer and ASA board member from Wilton, interact with a staffer in a Capitol Hill office was a valuable learning experience, Couser says.
“Dave was taking the lead in the discussion, and as farmers, we got to share our views,” says Couser. “It was an
experience to get to watch Dave, who is well-versed in policy, and I found value in that opportunity, especially to be a part of the discussion. It made the trip more than just a visit.”
Advocate for farmers
Couser encourages other farmers to step outside of their comfort zone and apply for participation in the Grassroots Fellowship program.
“Not everyone is comfortable in that environment, and as farmers, we feel that being involved in policy is not our lane,” he says.
Couser found that one of the biggest benefits of the Grassroots Fellowship is understanding how powerful a commodity group like ISA can be.
“Commodity agriculture can cause farmers to become passive in their attitude toward involvement. We don’t sell to a consumer, we sell to a market. We become comfortable,” he says. “We need to start every year, or every day, with the assumption to not only produce our product, but work toward selling it. I hope more farmers will enjoy taking part in the Grassroots Fellowship because the people involved will influence policy.”
Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com
Programming participants can expect to gain from joining in Grassroots Fellowship:
ISA's Grassroots Fellowship is a collaborative, oneyear experience for young Iowa soybean farmers who possess a desire to learn more about government and the legislative process, all while improving their core leadership. The program is funded in part by noncheckoff resources. Programming includes:
Iowa Soybean Association’s Winter Soy Summit Farm Forward event with legislative reception Hill visits in Washington, D.C.
INSIGHTS,
IMPACT AND
INNOVATION ROLLING ACROSS IOWA
Is the government discontinuing the use of hard currency or switching to some sort of digital payment system? How could that affect your business? How much does the government have control when it comes to climate change and the methane your cows may be putting into the atmosphere?
These aren’t the types of questions you might expect a typical broker to address. But then again, that’s not who Scott Shellady tries to be.
“I don’t tell farmers what they should do with their crop; instead, I tell them how to make money with the money they make from farming,” says Shellady.
A veteran trader, market commentator and bank executive, Shellady will bring his commonsense approach and expertise to Iowa farmers during Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Summer Soy Series in August.
Farmers will hear the latest insights from ISA staff on issues directly impacting their profitability, productivity, and sustainability, as well as a unique perspective of the markets and the current condition of the ag sector with Shellady.
On the road
Scott Shellady, host of “The Cow Guy Close” on RFD-TV
ISA’s Summer Soy Series will be held in five locations across the state in August, including:
• Tuesday, August 26 (evening) in Waverly
• Wednesday, August 27 (afternoon) in Holstein
• Wednesday, August 27 (evening) in Atlantic
• Thursday, August 28 (afternoon) in Sigourney
• Thursday, August 28 (evening) in Nevada
Shellady will focus on the often overlooked and forgotten issues relevant to farmers in his keynote address, breaking down the headlines that drive the commodities and equities markets as he often does on his RFD-TV show ‘The Cow Guy Close.’
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
STORY BY KRISS NELSON AND BETHANY BARATTA
“We talk about the stock market, bonds, a lot of things farmers might not talk about,” he says. “My father, who was a farmer, taught me what farmers do: They trade a lot, and they invest a lot; they are also managing their family’s wealth portfolio.”
Iowa roots
Shellady was born in Iowa after his parents, Ron and Sue, met at Drake University and were married. Ron was recruited by Cargill out of college, where he found his love for agriculture. Ron was a commodities trader — then a selfemployed commodities trader at the Chicago Board of Trade. Ron and Sue started a dairy farm in 1973 near Galena, Illinois, where Scott and his siblings learned more about agriculture and farming. The family also grew soybeans and corn.
Shellady attended the University of Colorado at Boulder on a football scholarship, studying art and, eventually, finance. Since then, Shellady has gained a broad range of technical and trade experience in both commodities and financial products in North America, Europe and Asia.
After almost 16 years in London, Shellady returned to Chicago to run a small family investment business that started more than 50 years ago.
Known “The Cow Guy,” Shellady appears on various TV programs, donning his Holsteinprinted jacket, an homage to his late father, who also wore a similar jacket as a cash grain trader on the Chicago Board of Trade floor. The jacket was a reminder to his father and others on the Chicago Board of Trade floor that they were a part of a business involving a user, producer and middleman, Shellady told the Chicago Tribune.
“It’s kind of like a game-used jersey; I wear it now,” Shellady says of the signature jacket.
“There’s a guy that’s got cattle and there’s a guy that’s got grain, and we’ve got to put the two together somehow and sell his milk and sell his corn.”
Sharing his expertise
America's farmers and ranchers represent the biggest, most undervalued, wealthiest, and least served investment group, Shellady says.
“People just don’t pay attention to them; they should be,” he says. He’s looking forward to sharing his expertise with farmers during ISA’s Summer Soy Series.
“I am not here to tell you how to farm,” Shellady says. “I am here to help you make money from the money you make farming.”
Scan the QR code with your smartphone to see additional details and to register.
OF LEARNING
“Soy Squad is a great opportunity to learn something you may not learn in school.”
Jairus Davis, ISA soy squad member
STORY
KRISS NELSON JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
Jairus Davis steps outside his comfort zone
BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Jairus Davis had an appetite to learn more about the world of agriculture outside his college classes. One way he has worked to feed that hunger is through extracurricular leadership development opportunities.
Davis is entering his senior year at Graceland University, where he is studying ag business and business management.
He dedicated much of his collegiate career to playing for the Graceland University Yellowjacket football team. He’s also the treasurer of the Agribusiness Club — a club designed to promote premier leadership and academic growth within the realm of agriculture. Taking it another step further, Davis became a member of the 2024-2025 Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Soy Squad.
The Soy Squad program provides a unique opportunity for college students interested in learning about the Iowa Soybean Association.
“My experience with Soy Squad was insightful,” says Davis. “I learned a lot about how policy heavily affects different areas of Iowa, and talked to a variety of professionals within the ag industry.”
Besides learning of ISA’s various components, Davis valued the friendships he developed with colleagues.
“It was a great networking opportunity that I believe others should have to enjoy and learn from,” he says.
About Soy Squad
“I met a lot of people from Iowa State, Des Moines Area Community College and other colleges. It was a good way to meet people my age who were entering the same profession. And it was a great way to step outside my comfort zone.”
Davis has a sales internship with Titan Machinery this summer. After graduation, he aspires to remain in the ag industry. He wants to establish a career and the opportunity to help run his family’s row crop and sheep farm near Osceola.
This is just the beginning of his experience with ISA, Davis says.
“Soy Squad has allowed me to see exactly what the Iowa Soybean Association does for farmers,” he says.
He hopes to become more involved in the policy side of ISA, become an advocate member and continue working on behalf of Iowa soybean farmers.
“I can communicate better what farmers’ checkoff dollars do and be an advocate for them,” Davis says.
He encourages other college students to submit their application to take part in ISA’s Soy Squad.
“I think it is a great value,” he says. “Take a chance. Be willing to go out and talk to people. Soy Squad is a great opportunity to learn something you may not learn in school.”
Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com
Soy Squad is a unique opportunity for collegiate students looking to gain insight into the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). The Soy Squad meets three times a year, and the topics of discussion include, but are not limited to: an ISA overview, research, demand, policy, education and personal/professional development.
Requirements:
Have the ability to attend all regular scheduled meetings.
Must be attending a two or four-year college/university in the state of Iowa.
Pursuing a major in an agriculture/agriculture-related field.
Jason Russell inspires the next wave
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISS NELSON JOCLYN KUBOUSHEK
Through trial and error — with an emphasis on trial — and a passion for conservation, Jason Russell is diversifying his farming operation by implementing relay cropping.
The Monticello-area farmer committed to implementing more relay cropping acres after participating in on-farm trials and researching how relay cropping performs on his farm.
“Our first year of relay cropping was in 2021, and that was a good year to do it. We had enough rain and yielded 30 bushel rye and 67 bushel soybeans,” says Russell.
The successful harvest and the realization he could get by using fewer herbicides for weed control led him to explore the practice of relay cropping more.
Russell admits weather has been challenging as dry conditions do not favor relay cropping. He’s decided to keep honing the skill and has incorporated other crops into his relay cropping acres, including winter wheat, winter camelina and winter canola.
Beyond the need for seed
With cover crops on 100% of his acres, relay cropping just made sense. They use the seed they raise for their acres and for
their custom cover crop planting business.
But it goes beyond the need for seed for Russell. Controlling soil erosion is a top priority.
“Soybeans do not provide enough biomass to stabilize soil,” he says. “When you relay, you get the financial benefits of growing soybeans with none of the environmental shortfall. The rye straw produces a lot of biomass to stabilize the ground.”
He then strip-tills through the biomass, leaving mulch on the ground between the strips, setting up to protect the soil for the following year’s corn crop.
“This is putting us light years ahead of controlling erosion,” he says.
Trials to truth
Russell says he finds on-farm research enlightening.
“Some farmers do not put enough of their time into innovation,” he says. “A successful business prioritizes its money on innovation.”
His research reaches more than just his farm. Russell is living by example to his fellow farmer-neighbors.
“I was once told that any product advertised has a 15% success rate of selling
Key Soy Leaders Network
Participants of ISA’s Soy Leaders Network engage with ISA through in-person and virtual opportunities. We know not every opportunity will work for everyone — that’s why SLN offers a series of events, giving farmers the option to join when it best fits their interests and schedule, including:
the product. The other 85% comes from word of mouth,” he says. “The likelihood of a university dictating a practice to us might be 15% effective. When people drive by or come to field day, there is a much higher chance of absorption.”
Valuing ISA membership
For 15 years, Russell has been a part of the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Soy Leaders Network (SLN).
SLN offers new engagement opportunities designed to keep members informed on industry news, join exclusive events, network with fellow farmers and other industry professionals, and further promote the soybean industry.
Finding value in his ISA membership by participating in SLN and on-farm trials is helping him be a better farmer.
“It’s been good to be a part of legislative and policy meetings,” he says. “I feel like I am part of the voice for the soybean farmer. I am better informed on issues and closer to the cutting edge of new and upcoming techniques and technologies that can help make me more profitable as a soybean farmer.”
Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com
Access to lunch and learn webinars on emerging issues and topics;
Invites to exclusive events and tours; In-person summer lunch meetings; Virtual winter sessions; and more.
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When summer heat doesn’t
THAT’S THE SOY EFFECT
Soybean meal can help reduce heat-stress losses
By strategically feeding higher levels of soybean meal (SBM), you can minimize the predictable reductions in carcass weight by maintaining feed intake. Optimize performance and profitability by formulating for the full value of SBM in your swine diets.
