For advertising information contact Bethany Baratta at (515) 334-1020 or bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
May 2025 | Vol. 38, No. 7
8 Quality Drives Exports
Central America trade mission illuminates opportunity for U.S. soy.
14
Fueling the Future
New initiative works to support access to feedstocks.
18 Sustainable and Reliable
Certification assures buyers of sustainability attributes of U.S.-grown soy.
24
Growing Markets for U.S. Soy
U.S. Soybean Export Council highlights growth and challenges in global trade.
On the Cover: Iowa farmers cultivate connections globally through personal visits on trade missions and by investing in other efforts where boots-on-theground training and educational opportunities help build preference and demand for U.S. soy.
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’s Heart and Soul
Just days before I was to keynote a meeting of farmers in northeast Iowa, key U.S. trading partners imposed doubledigit tariffs on soybeans and other ag products. Guidance for biofuels remained missing in action, Iowa’s drought map was expanding and federal funding promised to farmers for reducing their carbon footprint was frozen.
With so much good news, I couldn’t wait to take the stage!
Not knowing where to start, I searched Paul Harvey’s recitation of “So God Made a Farmer.” I clicked on the audio track and, within seconds, the iconic broadcaster’s stirring words filled the room.
“And on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, ‘I need a caretaker,’ so God made a farmer.”
The speech, shared by Harvey at the 1978 Future Farmers of America (FFA) convention, went viral when Ram Trucks featured it in an ad during “the big game” in 2013.
“I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper, then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board, so God made a farmer.”
The story, suited perfectly for Harvey’s unmistakable narration, was anonymously composed and mailed to him. Its author remains a mystery (Harvey guessed it to be a farmer).
“I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild; somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait for lunch until his wife’s done feeding visiting ladies, then tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon — and mean it. So God made a farmer.”
At a time of so much chaos, confusion, and uncertainty in agriculture, it’s worthwhile to rise above the noise and reflect on the profession’s heart and soul — the farmer.
“God said, I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt, and watch it die, then dry his eyes and say, ‘Maybe next year.’ I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps; who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, and then pain’n from tractor back, put in another seventy-two hours, so God made a farmer.”
The busy world is speeding us up. E-mails, social media chatter, cell phone calls and text messages are constant, while podcasts, TV channels and talk radio options continue to proliferate. The noise and pace are so overwhelming we soon allow what’s urgent to distract us from what’s important.
“God said, I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark.”
With spring planting in full gear and no shortage of issues to prioritize, let’s take a step back, reset and refocus on the blessing that is the people involved in farming.
“It had to be somebody who’d plow deep and straight and not cut corners; somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week’s work with a five-mile drive to church.”
If you focus on the hard, life gets harder. But if you focus on the good, it’s going to get better. And there’s nothing better than the dedication, resiliency and neighborliness of the Iowa farmer.
“(It had to be) somebody who would bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh, and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says that he wants to spend his life ‘doing what Dad does.’ So God made a farmer.”
Thank you for doing what you were called to do. Thank you for being a farmer.
In the last five years, soy checkoff investments have generated a 4.5-to-1 ROI in export market development and an 18% increase in U.S. soybean exports.1 Investing $400,000 for infrastructure research, analysis and design at the Port of Gray’s Harbor helped to expand the facility and increase capacity for the export of soybean meal.
WISHH leverages partnerships for U.S. Soy to help meet the protein needs of 8 billion consumers
Here’s to Moms
Growing up, I thought my siblings and I were ‘gifting’ my mom by planning memorable Mother’s Day occasions. As I’ve reflected, however, it was Mom who actually made the occasions memorable.
We celebrated Mother’s Day by going to church as a family (as we did every weekend). But it was Mom who ensured we had clean clothes for said church gatherings. Mom and Dad also taught Sunday school for 25 years, so her day, in part, was also spent teaching others.
Rural Route 2
Editor’s Note by Bethany Baratta bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Handmade cards were often Mom’s gift for Mother’s Day. But Mom smiled brightly as she opened her cards. Mom’s the keeper of moments and memories; of hospital bracelets and smudged art. Of playdates with friends and rock collections.
Mom insisted on sharing meals at home on Mother’s Day, noting the women who prepare and serve meals in restaurants ought to have the day off, too. As a mom now, it’s humorous thinking about a day off. There’s a day off of work, but is there really ever a day off from the day-to-day housekeeping with kids in the house? Eating meals at home meant that Dad fired up the grill while my siblings attempted to help make the rest of the meal. But again, it was Mom who procured the groceries, ensured there were fruits and vegetables on the table and washed the dishes.
If crops were still being planted, Dad would head to the fields (with a meal my mom packed).
Mom provided the transportation between fields and was the parts gofer.
On a rare Mother’s Day Sunday, when the crops were planted (or it was rainy), we would scout out the local greenhouses for flowers to plant. But it was Mom who prepared the pots and weeded and watered the flowers throughout the summer when we lost interest in the endeavor.
Mom left her childhood home in an urban area of Ohio and moved nine hours north and west to marry my dad. She left the familiar shop her family kept for the farms and fields that were unfamiliar. She quickly became a partner on the farm, working with Dad in the fields and caring for the chickens, cows, rabbits, pigs, sheep and the two goats (who were escape artists).
It wasn’t until I became a mom that I fully appreciated all of the other things that Mom did (and still does) on the farm. She’s a mom to five, but her devotion to her family goes beyond the walls of our childhood home.
Here’s to moms — especially mine — this Mother’s Day. I hope your day is memorable for all the right reasons. And if you haven’t heard it lately, thanks for all you do.
Quality drives exports
Consumer preference for quality drives U.S. meat, soy exports to Central America
processor and retailer Procasa, embodies why demand for meat and poultry is surging in the country of 18 million people.
Memorable food is also the reason why exports of U.S. soybean meal, a key feed ingredient for livestock, poultry, fish, shrimp and dairy production, and U.S. beef and pork are increasing to destinations throughout Central America.
“Once they taste quality — whether dining in or away from home — they want more of it,” says Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) President Brent Swart of Spencer.
He was one of 10 farmers participating in an Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) trade mission to Central America.
“They also know that no one provides a better quality product than Iowa and U.S. farmers.”
Opened in 1974 as a Guatemalan livestock processor, Procasa has evolved into a leading meat retailer. The family business is Guatemala’s largest importer of meat (yes, more than Walmart)
STORY AND PHOTOS BY AARON PUTZE, APR
In addition to visiting Guatemala, the Iowa Economic Development Authority-led trade mission included stops in Costa Rica. The delegation, headed by Iowa Ag Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, stand adjacent U.S. sourced soybean meal during a visit to Grupo Pig, an animal feed, production and logistics company.
▼ Procasa Meat House storefront in Guatemala City; inside, butcher cuts fresh pork to order; meat case stocked with steaks ready for grilling. Per capita meat consumption for Guatemala and Central America region could grow 30% over the next 2-3 years as consumer preference for quality protein intensifies.
“Consumer preference is trending to the grab-and-go. They are in and out as they want to get home for dinner.”
Natalia
Morales, Procasa media and strategic coordinator
and among a growing number of retailers throughout the region networking with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to market quality and tasty food.
ISA District 4 Director Jeff Frank of Auburn joined Swart, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig and representatives of Iowa Corn, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Pork and the Iowa Beef Industry Council on the trade mission to Guatemala and Costa Rica. He noted how representatives of both USSEC and USMEF are working on behalf of the U.S. farmer to increase exports of high-quality protein.
“They do a great job talking about our focus as farmers on quality and being environmental stewards while demonstrating the many ways to prepare and enjoy meat and poultry,” Frank says. “They’re also building relationships between the U.S. farmer and the buyers of what we produce.
Trust matters in business, and it starts with good, strong relationships.”
USSEC focuses on differentiating, elevating preference, and attaining market access for the use of U.S. soy for human consumption, aquaculture, and livestock feed in 80+ countries internationally. USMEF collaborates with USSEC and other partners to increase the value and profit opportunities for U.S. beef, pork and lamb by putting U.S. meat on the world’s table.
Both organizations receive funding annually from ISA to enhance their work and outreach. Procasa provides product to numerous Guatemalan eateries including Burger King, Wendy’s, TGI Fridays and Carl’s Jr. In 2018, it introduced the tomahawk, a steak and pork cut that became an immediate star in high-end restaurants throughout the country.
Continued on Page 10
Surging demand in Guatemala for high-value meats is driven by the growing restaurant scene and fine dining featuring local, international and gourmet cuisines, hotel food service and love of backyard barbecues.
In 2024, Guatemala purchased $1.9 billion of U.S. ag products. It’s exports to the U.S. totaled $2.9 billion. leading exports were bananas, coffee and fresh fruits.
In addition to its wholesale meat distribution, Procasa operates more than 40 consumer-oriented stores, including 28 in country’s capital of Guatemala City. Each sells premium, cut-to-order products in smaller quantities. This business strategy caters to consumers who want to spend less time shopping and preparing meals.
“Consumer preference is trending to the grab-and-go,” said Natalia Morales, media and strategic coordinator for Procasa. “They are in and out as they want to get home for dinner.”
With help from USSEC and USMEF, consumers are becoming more skilled at choosing and preparing the kind of product they want to enjoy in the company of family and friends.
“Customer knowledge of the various meat cuts and ways to prepare it is growing,” Morales says. “We have people in the stores who answer their questions, which adds to the in-store experience.”
Procasa and other meat retailers prominently tout their relationship with U.S. soy, pork and
Iowa trade mission participants cut the ribbon on the completion of additional grain storage by Guatemalanbased CABAL. Located a short distance from the Port of Quetzal, CABAL imported, stored, distributed and marketed more than 260,000 metric tons of soybean meal, yellow corn and dry distillery grains in 2024.
The company rotates nearly 20 vessels per year through the port to fulfill demand for its integrated egg and broiler production. In the last two years, CABAL has grown 130% in sales to third parties and 50% in storage capacity and expects to increase its capacity of raw commodities another 50% over the next two years.
(From left) Iowa Ag Sec. Mike Naig, Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture Maynor Estrada, ISA President Brent Swart and District 4 Director Jeff Frank visit during an agricultural reception in Guatemala City. Estrada, who took office in January 2024, holds degrees in agronomy and ag economics.
beef. The alliances are featured prominently in stores and on menus and delivery trucks.
Backyard and community barbecue events where various cuts are introduced, prepared and sampled are becoming increasingly popular in Guatemala and throughout Central America, says Lucia Ruano, a USMEF regional representative.
“People feel the energy,” Ruano says. “It changes their perspective of meat consumption. They want to create new experiences like having bigger and more juicy cuts that bring the flavor.”
Retailers of premium U.S. meat are enjoying a growth spurt. Procasa plans to add six stores this year as consumer demand for prime and choice cuts of U.S. pork and beef continue their upward trajectory.
“People don’t ask about price as much as they are looking for quality and taste,” Ruano says.
“If they have the means, they buy it.”
And that’s music to the ears of ISA’s Swart.
“Exporting more high-quality meat is one of the best value-added opportunities for increasing domestic use of soybean meal,” he says.
“That, combined with selling meal direct to Central America for their growing poultry and egg production, bodes well at a time when Iowa farmers need every market to boost demand and prices.”
Continued on Page 12
“ Exporting more highquality meat is one of the best value-added opportunities for increasing domestic use of soybean meal.”
Brent Swart, ISA Board President
Iowa trade mission representatives led by Iowa Ag Sec. Mike Naig (center) are joined by staff of U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. Soybean Export Council and Guatemalan meat supplier Procasa. U.S. ag exports (including soybean meal) to Guatemala increased three-fold from $612 million to $1.9 billion in 2024.
Iowa Soybean Association President Brent Swart and District 4 Director Jeff Frank represented the soybean industry during visits with key buyers and users of soy during a trade mission to Central America in February.
The forest and mountains of rural Guatemala. The country’s name means “land of many trees” and rightly so as forests cover more than one-third of the country.
POPULATION ▲ 24.6 million by 2050
$103 BILLION (2023) PER CAPITA INCOME
ECONOMIC GROWTH
(2023)
A new, farmer-led initiative seeks to improve biofuel market access
for farmers
MATT HERMAN, ISA CO, DEMAND AND ADVOCACY
Farmers Fueling the Future
is a farmer-led initiative developed by state soybean organizations such as ISA to coordinate state, national and industry partners to improve biofuel market access for crop-based biomass. We pool partner knowledge and resources while elevating the farmer voice to ensure biofuel markets provide a long-term opportunity for U.S. cropbased biomass.
Nearly three decades ago, visionary farmers from Iowa and other states saw untapped potential in soybean oil. Supplies of the coproduct of soybean production were ample as markets lagged. So, the farmers took action by using it for fuel.
Their strategic investments and collaborative research, supported by checkoff dollars, transformed soybean oil into a nearly $20 billion bio-based diesel market, encompassing biodiesel and renewable diesel. These pioneering efforts strengthened agricultural markets and significantly boosted commodity prices, benefiting farming communities nationwide.
Thirty years later, agriculture stands at another pivotal moment. Initially driven by early policies favoring traditional agricultural feedstocks, the global biofuel market has shifted toward feedstocks perceived as more sustainable, such as used cooking oil (UCO), animal fats (tallow), and distillers corn oil. The shift has complicated market access for crop-based biofuels by imposing stringent farm-level certification, data management and carbon verification requirements.
Meanwhile, broader global trends add urgency. Population growth, historically a reliable driver of agricultural demand, is
slowing, while global energy consumption continues its rapid rise. In the United States, a renewed emphasis on domestic energy independence has sparked considerable investment in biofuel infrastructure and production, much of it driven by major oil and gas companies aggressively expanding into renewable diesel. This dynamic, expands biofuel feedstock demand but creates intense competition among fuel producers.
Recognizing this critical moment, agricultural organizations understand the need to realign farmers’ influence within bioenergy markets. Leading agricultural groups including the Iowa Soybean Association, American Soybean Association, the United Soybean Board and Minnesota Soybean Association have united to launch Farmers Fueling the Future (FFF). Other state soycentric soybean organizations are also considering support. Initiated by soybean-focused groups, the initiative is committed to advancing the interests of all farmers producing biomass for biofuels.
The Mission
Placing farmers at the forefront emphasizes their primary role in biofuel market discussions. It also
Iowa Soybean Association launched Farmers Fueling the Future (FFF)
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOCLYN BUSHMAN
The American Soybean Association, United Soybean Board and Minnesota Soybean Association have joined the effort. Other state soy-centric associations are also considering this initiative.
seeks constructive collaboration with energy and industry stakeholders. FFF’s mission is three-fold:
1. To maximize market value for cropbased biofuels;
2. Ensure resilient and economically efficient agricultural systems, and;
3. Support research aimed at expanding crop-based biofuel demand. This farmer-driven initiative focuses on developing innovative market access strategies, fostering market designs that reward sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring markets remain viable and beneficial to farmers.
Farmers Fueling the Future emphasizes farm-centered approaches, encouraging research into sustainable and efficient biomass production practices. By championing robust, resilient feedstock supplies, FFF aims to shape biofuel markets that reward rather than penalize farmers’ sustainability efforts. Through strategic collaboration, targeted research, and innovative market solutions, FFF aims to secure the economic prosperity of agriculture, reinforcing its central role in America’s sustainable energy future.
The Vision
FFF will serve as a key forum to facilitate discussion and establish collaborative research between farmers
and new and existing partners. This includes agricultural organizations, the traditional petroleum industry, universities, airlines, fuel consumers, and environmental groups. Fostering these critical partnerships ensures that diverse perspectives inform market strategies and innovations, aligning agricultural production with broader industry and environmental goals.
This initiative is not intended to replace or compete with any existing commodity or fuel trade associations at the state or national levels. Instead, it will complement their efforts by focusing on feedstock supply issues, coordinating and amplifying their efforts to protect and grow bioenergy markets for farmers. By coordinating state and national commodity organizations of all stripes, alongside key industry partners, we believe we can help enable a resilient and growing biofuel market for row-crop farmers for decades to come.
With broad support across the agricultural spectrum, FFF unites farmers, researchers, and industry experts under a shared vision. The initiative not only seeks to protect farmers' market positions but also positions agriculture as a cornerstone of sustainable energy production, vital to vibrant and resilient farming communities across America.
THREE KEY FOCUS AREAS
Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC)
Lead the coordinated research and development of alternative approaches to indirect land use change assessment in U.S. biofuel markets while supporting research to reduce the ILUC scores using current modeled approaches.
Reducing Direct Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Coordinate and commission research to support the reduction in carbon intensity scores for domestic soy, canola, corn and other member crops. Work with initiative partners to ensure that carbon intensity scoring methodologies reflect and prioritize sound agronomic practices that promote a resilient and robust food and feed market.
Farmers
Fueling the Future Mission: To maximize market value for crop-based biofuels, ensure resilient and economically efficient agricultural systems and support research aimed at expanding crop-based biofuel demand.
Improve Access for Crop-Based Biomass and Crop-Based Fuels
Support efforts to gain market access for member biomass in biofuel markets when appropriate (e.g. soybean oil, canola oil, etc.). Coordinate dialogue between the biodiesel, renewable diesel, and oil industry to update labeling rules which are limiting farmers access to lucrative incentives in the west coast and Midwest markets.
Soy Snaps
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY JOCLYN BUSHMAN
A collection of images capturing farm life in the spring of 2025.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
Sunset serenity in Luther.
A tractor and auger stand ready in Story county.
Evan Brehm with a bioreactor tool in Benton county.
An antique tractor rests in Boone County.
Abby Badger feeds cattle near Bagley.
A creek flows through Ledges State Park.
Sheep pose on the Hanson farm near Roland.
Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol ensures quality and opens up more markets
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF HUTTON JOCLYN BUSHMAN
If you’re a buyer or a consumer and you want the best quality soybeans, you look to the United States. If you want to make sure those beans are raised sustainably and that those practices are conservationminded, while also meeting a myriad of international standards, you turn to the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s (USSEC) Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP).
SSAP certification
The SSAP verifies that soybeans and soy products produced in the United States are compliant with a system of sustainability and conservation laws and regulations and farmer participation in the U.S. Farm Program, administered by the Farm Service Agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
SSAP is one of the largest sustainability verification programs in the agriculture industry and has proven to be a highly reliable measure of U.S. soybean farmers’ commitment in areas like biodiversity, sustainable production practices, public and labor health, and continuous improvement of farming practices.
SSAP certification began in 2013 to meet international source guidelines (first in the Netherlands and then through parts of Europe), says Abby Rinne, USSEC director for sustainability.
“It brings together laws and regulations and the voluntary efforts that farmers are engaged in,” she says.
Relying on farmers’ enrollment in the U.S. Farm Program and meeting compliance rates through on-farm audits, international buyers can be assured that they are getting the best beans in the world.
“Considering 60% of the soy grown in the United States is exported, the SSAP is an important tool for farmers to get their products to foreign markets,” Rinne says.
In 2024, 72% of all U.S. soy exports had a SSAP certificate.
Beginning in Europe and moving toward northeast and southeast Asia, the Americas and in some African markets, buyers are demanding sustainability measures be met, ensuring soy is sourced properly for international consumers.
“With this benchmarking process, and with a number of U.S. laws and requirements that have to be met, (the SSAP) takes us a step further and lets customers know that our farmers are doing the right thing,” Rinne says.
“There’s no surprise there, but the SSAP shows what U.S. farmers do sustainably — they are good stewards of the land and protect their most valuable assets. This allows them to shine internationally.”
USSEC Board Member Randy Miller of Lacona, says the SSAP gives buyers around the world assurances that U.S. soy is the best.
“They know it’s not coming from deforested land; rather it’s grown under sustainable practices that are conservation minded,” he says.
Rinne says concerns how soy is raised continues to spread around the globe and says U.S. farmers demonstrate what a great tool SSAP can be.
“(Buyers) know U.S. soy is quite superior and they are getting a more consistent product,” she says.
USSEC notes that through SSAP, 126 companies, 1,100 products and 20 countries mark their goods with a sustainable U.S. soy logo. This allows consumers to see that the company they are purchasing from has a commitment to sustainability.
Continued on Page 20
The SSAP is a national-scale, aggregate approach, audited by third parties, which verifies sustainable soy production in the United States. It outlines the regulations, processes and practices that ensure sustainable soy production. For more information, go to: ussec.org/u-s-soy-committed-to-sustainability
Abby Rinne, USSEC director for sustainability
Randy Miller, USSEC board member and Lacona farmer
We need to use this sustainability platform to help us find other markets for our soy.”
Randy Miller, USSEC board member and Lacona farmer
“And I think the interest in sustainability in how soy is raised is not going to go away, but will only increase,” she says.
Social responsibility and market access
Violet Wang, an import coordinator with Concourse International based in Taiwan, says there’s no question that U.S. soy is the preferred soy.
Wang, Concourse International import coordinator
“U.S. soybeans are very good quality,” she says. “The protein levels of U.S. soy are very stable.”
Wang says U.S. soy also has an advantage over their global competitors thanks to the infrastructure in place, as well as shipping and transportation practices.
The SSAP certification process, she adds, is “part of our social responsibility by taking steps toward improving the environment and sustainability.”
Grant Kimberley, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) senior director of market development, says the SSAP is a valuable tool for Iowa producers and makes good economic sense.
“The SSAP helps Iowa soybean farmers and U.S. soybean and soybean meal exporters assure international buyers that their products meet high sustainability standards and
Kimberley, ISA sr. director of market development
that is a market distinction we have over our competition in South America,” he says. “This opens up more markets and makes U.S. soybeans more competitive globally.”
Quality is key
Miller, a former ISA board president, says the protocol certification helps soybean farmers seek out more global markets.
He points to concerns with trade wars and tariffs and how China’s interest in U.S. soy has waned a bit.
“We need to use this sustainability platform to help us find other markets for our soy,” he says.
“This gives the American farmer an advantage. Consumers and buyers around the world are choosing U.S. soy because of the quality.”
Rinne says USSEC’s SSAP evolves as international buyers’ demands adjust for their customers’ preferences. This affects what might be required for certification.
She believes the SSAP will continue to be a useful tool for American soybean farmers, exporters and importers, and in the end consumers.
Miller says global competitors should be aware:
“We will always have the quality product,” he says.
Contact Jeff Hutton at jhutton@iasoybeans.com
The SSAP is based on U.S. conservation requirements, laws protecting the rights of workers and more to assure the sustainability of the U.S. soybean production system. Farmers sign up annually and are subject to comprehensive audit and data-collection systems, which verify sustainability through a third-party process. For more information, go to: ussec.org/u-s-soy-committed-to-sustainability
Grant
Violet
Blu-Jet® 15-Series liquid fertilizer applicators can elevate your yields and profit potential with durable construction and economical designs that your budget will love! Tank capacities range from 1,025 gallons to 1,775 gallons, and toolbar sizes are available from 25-row 30” down to 11-row 30” depending on model. The coulters feature 1,500 pounds of down pressure to cut through the toughest conditions, and both injection nozzles and knives are available. The 15-Series fertilizer applicators offer a wide range of options, so you can customize them to fit your needs. The 15-Series fertilizer applicators allow you to apply the right source of fertilizer right where it’s needed, at the right time and with an accurate rate to maximize yields.
Mfg. Co., Inc. | P.O. Box 357, Kalida, OH 45853 | Unverferth.com | 419.532.3121 Visit BluJetEquip.com or see your nearest dealer for more information.
TUsing Woodchip Bioreactors to Reduce Nitrate Loss
Alex Buseman ISA conservation services manager abuseman@iasoybeans.com
ile drainage and nitrate (NO3) inputs have developed Iowa into an agricultural powerhouse by enabling the production of crops that feed and fuel the world. While beneficial for agricultural productivity and profitability, the combination has contributed to exports of NO3 into the surrounding environment. This can lead to challenges with drinking water sources and harmful algae blooms in aquatic ecosystems, justifying the need for edge-of-field water quality practices such as woodchip bioreactors.
Woodchip bioreactors divert tile flow into an underground, woodchip-filled chamber. Within the chamber, denitrifying bacteria naturally establish communities due to favorable conditions.
These bacteria remove the excess NO3 in the diverted tile water through a natural process called denitrification. This process is comparable to humans consuming food as fuel and respiring oxygen (O2) in the atmosphere, the denitrifying bacteria use the woodchips as fuel and respire the oxygen in the NO3.
The denitrifying bacteria use the carbon in the woodchips as fuel and respires the oxygen in the NO3. The denitrification process reduces the NO3 to nitrogen gas (N2), which is a harmless gas that makes up 78% of our atmosphere.
Research shows bioreactors remove 43% of NO3 in tile water on average. Because of this success, they were added in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy as an official practice in 2013.
This practice is viable because it operates with minimal human input, can be installed in almost any landscape with tile drainage and has minimal impact to in-field farming operations.
Assessing performances
The performance of bioreactors is assessed by their ability to remove NO3 from tile water and effectively conduct flow through the woodchip-filled chamber. Nitrate removal in bioreactors is assessed by measuring the NO3 content in the inlet and outlet control structures to calculate the removal efficiency. Flow is another important factor we inspect because the system’s design is ineffective if flow through the chamber becomes restricted.
Like all things in life, the performance of bioreactors decreases as they age. Most research investigating bioreactor longevity was done in lab-controlled settings, meaning they were not subject to environmental factors such as freeze-thaw cycles and wet-dry cycles that might accelerate woodchip degradation.
Water from tile systems is diverted using a water control structure to a bioreactor chamber, where natural bacteria denitrify the water before it flows into aquatic ecosystems.
Additionally, sediment clogging and woodchip compaction could decrease a bioreactor’s longevity by restricting flow.
Research results and implications
Most lab studies suggest bioreactors can last 10 to 15 years. ISA and its partners sought to expand this research to field-scale bioreactors by recruiting 10 Iowa farmers with aged bioreactors. Each site had a history of monitoring which enabled us to examine how performances changed over time. Out of all 10 bioreactors, three were in failing condition. Failing condition is defined as average NO3 removal efficiencies less than 30% for an entire drainage year and/or indications of restricted flow. Two sites exhibited NO3 removal below the 30% threshold, while one bioreactor showed extreme sediment clogging restricting the flow. The remaining sites were still operating effectively at extended ages, with the oldest original site in Iowa still operating above average (>50% NO3 removal) after 16 years of operation.
This study indicated the lifespan of bioreactors can vary from site to site and does not depend on their age. The
results show that 70% of bioreactors can effectively operate beyond 10 years. Farmers can help extend their bioreactor’s longevity with good management practices such as:
1. Minimizing traffic on top of the chamber to reduce compaction potential
2. Maximizing saturated conditions by keeping stoplogs in the control structure to limit woodchip degradation
3. Be vigilant about sediment sources and clogging potential
When bioreactors reach failing conditions, the old woodchips are excavated and replaced with new woodchips; essentially installing a new bioreactor and resetting its lifespan. ISA is currently partnering with the landowners with the failing aged bioreactors from this study to do a woodchip recharge.
Woodchip bioreactors have become a popular water quality practice in Iowa, with more than 200 installations. Reach out to ISA’s edge-of-field experts, Alex Buseman at abuseman@iasoybeans.com and Brandon Iddings at biddings@iasoybeans.com, with questions regarding water quality practices on your farm.
The data and performance status of each bioreactor monitored in this study.
Iowa's second woodchip bioreactor (now the oldest orgiginal site) was installed in 2009 in Hamilton County. It's still in operation today.
⟨ U.S. Soybean Export Council expands U.S.-grown soy’s global footprint ⟩
For the past 20 years, the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) has been working to create preference, open markets and increase demand for U.S.-grown soy.
The U.S. economy benefited by $31.2 billion from soy exports last year, a record year for soybean meal exports. USSEC deserves significant recognition for its work in maximizing U.S. soy's global use, value and market access, says Randy Miller, a farmer near Lacona.
“Without USSEC, the growing demand for soy in other countries would be nonexistent,” says Miller, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer director representing the American Soybean Association (ASA) on the USSEC board. “There's no other organization that can elevate a preference for U.S. soy, differentiate the benefits to use U.S. soy over soy from other regions and attain market access for U.S. soy.”
Randy Miller, ISA director representing ASA
Bridging industries
When farmer directors from ASA and United Soybean Board started USSEC as a membership organization, they challenged USSEC to create close working relationships with exporters and allied industry firms.
“By becoming a membership organization, we invited exporters and allied industry members to become members of the United States Soybean Export Council,” says
Paul Burke, USSEC's executive director of Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) coordination and marketing operations. “If you have a membership organization, you have to have robust membership services, and they have to see value out of that. That was one of the initial challenges. Within the first year, we had 50 members, and we have grown to 117.”
Continued on Page 26
STORY BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISS NELSON JOCLYN BUSHMAN
Paul Burke, USSEC executive director of Regional Agricultural Promotion Program
A patriotic view over Iowa farmland near Fort Dodge.
Developing markets
Burke highlights India, China and aquaculture as some of USSEC's top successes of the past 20 years, funded by the combination of the U.S. soybean checkoff, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) matching funds, and industry contributions.
Influence in India
U.S. soy has been involved in the India market since 1996. At that time, the country's feed, poultry and aquaculture industries were underdeveloped.
“Back then, India was a major exporter of soybean meal,” Burke says. “They exported soybean meal throughout Asia, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and as far away as Korea. India's underdeveloped poultry and feed industry could not absorb all the Indian soybean meal.”
USSEC's market development efforts has helped modernize India’s poultry and feed industries, thereby increasing consumption of domestic Indian soybean meal.
“Now, because Pakistan and Bangladesh, for example, can no longer depend on India, they've established a soybean-crushing industry and are importing U.S. soybeans,” says Burke. “This is an example of where soybean farmer investments have made ripple effects that don't show up in export numbers but in terms of large markets opening up in those regions.”
Catalyst to protein expansion
U.S. soy began making its presence known in China in 1982. Then, China was an exporter of soy, with the feed and livestock industry in turmoil.
“We played an integral part in re-establishing their feed, poultry and swine industry,” says Burke. “As their economy began to take off, there was an incredible pent-up demand for animal protein. You had a population of one billion who might have gotten pork once a year. We were an incredible catalyst to China's livestock development.”
China used zero soybean meal in aquaculture diets 33 years ago. Burke says USSEC was challenged to prove that soy belonged in the aquaculture space.
Feeding trials began comparing traditional diets to those of up to 50% soy. Also, an investment from the Iowa Soybean Association helped introduce InPond Raceway Systems, allowing fish farmers to be more profitable by lowering their operation costs.
“We were able to convince the aquaculture industry that not only will fish eat soy, but thrive on soy,” he says. “Just in China alone, we have gone from zero soybean meal being used in 1992 to well over 15 million metric tons included just in aquaculture diets.”
Success has its challenges
USSEC has struggled against difficulties related to soy's use in feed and political issues in various situations.
Despite trade tensions, Burke says China is still the United States' largest export market of soy. He’s determined to maintain and strengthen relationships with importers, crushers and animal feed manufacturers.
“Our message is very clear. We are your partner; we have been here all this time, and we are not going away. We can continue to have a relationship that goes beyond politics,” he says. “In the end, China will reward the U.S. for being their long-term friend and not abandoning them.”
As Brazil continues to bring more soybeans to the market by increasing acres, Burke says USSEC is continuing to differentiate the high quality of U.S. soy to global customers.
“We have been ramping up and gathering the science that shows U.S. soy is a better investment. We have the data to support the impact of good quality versus bad quality of soy protein,” he says.
Miller explains that checkoff dollars enabled USSEC's global outreach, allowing them to meet with international buyers and highlight the quality of U.S. soybeans.
“Most buyers don't understand the quality issues and differences,” says Miller. “I have been fortunate enough to travel around the world. You can pick up a handful of soybeans or soybean meal and I can tell where it comes from based on the quality.”
The future
It's been 20 years, and USSEC is just getting started.
“Of all the commodities economists point out the world is going to need more of, soy is at the top of the list,” says Burke. “The U.S. soy industry is wellpositioned to take advantage of a growing world population and global economy for the next 20 years and beyond.”
Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com
North Central Soybean Research Program
Research improving productivity and profitability
“We are continuously improving how research ideas and results are communicated to farmers and vice versa to ensure the big work is being shared in understandable and adaptable ways.”
Ed Anderson, NCSRP Executive Director
Concentration, collaboration, communication and coordination. It’s through these four Cs that a multi-state effort is bringing actionable opportunities to farmers in Iowa and throughout the U.S.
By concentrating on multidisciplinary basic and applied research to enhance soybean production and resilience to stress, and by conducting thorough research into disease, insect pests, weed control and more, the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) aims to provide substantial advantages to farmers by spearheading collaborative, multi-state research and outreach to benefit soybean farmers and the industry.
Recognizing a need to bring states together in the application of soybean checkoff funds and leadership to address issues and opportunities that cross state lines, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) CEO Kirk Leeds and other Qualified State
Soybean Board CEOs and farmer-leaders formed NCSRP in 1992.
As a bridge between state and national soybean research, NCSRP is large enough to coordinate and support significant research programs while small enough to respond agilely to opportunity shifts and new challenges.
“NCSRP farmers and staff are dedicated to working with other states, regions and the United Soybean Board to provide leadership that encourages collaboration, communication and coordination across the various checkoff entities and public and private sectors,” says NCSRP Executive Director Ed Anderson. “These efforts leverage and extend checkoff monies with public and private funding for high priority and high-impact soybean production research, training and outreach for a greater return on investment in a shorter period.”
NCSRP is a leading entity in agricultural research.
Ed Anderson, NCSRP Executive Director
“NCSRP’s programs in soybean breeding for genetic gain, soybean insect pest research and management, soybean cyst and other parasitic nematodes, agronomics and cropping systems are among the best in the U.S.,” says Anderson. “Among NCSRP’s leading programs are its Midwest soybean pathogen and integrated disease management program and the biotech program for gene discovery.”
Farmer-led
A farmer board representing the 13 states of NCSRP prioritizes and develops dialogue among themselves and researchers to determine the highest priority needs.
Soybean checkoff investments are maximized through focused, collaborative efforts in research, student training, Extension, and outreach, reducing overlap while prioritizing practical applications and widespread communication.
“NCSRP gives us the ability to do checkoff-related research projects that impact a big number of people across a lot of states that are bigger than any one state can fund,” says Corey Goodhue, ISA farmerdirector representing ISA on the NCSRP board.
NCSRP priorities
The primary focus of the NCSRP has always been on production or supply research to address farmers’ highest priorities.
“Researchers across NCSRP are working together, bringing things to the table that public companies may not be as interested in tackling right now,” says Goodhue. “A lot of work has been done, for example, identifying genes that give us resistance to Phytophthora, which is a big issue for soybean
Corey Goodhue, ISA farmer-director
farmers across the Midwest. Thanks to that research, those Phytophthora-resistant traits will be in the commercial pipeline soon.”
Anderson says NCSRP seeks research opportunities to improve agronomics, breeding, disease and insect resistance, weed management, and work to discover and develop new technologies.
“Production research is being done for the shortand long-term benefit of farmers, not just for yield and productivity, but for the greatest profitability and ROI in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way,” he says.
Communicating results
For this research to be valuable, it must be in the hands of farmers.
“Commitment to sharing these results allows farmers to improve their selections, decisions, production practices, genetics, disease, weed and insect management strategies — these things are essential for NCSRP to communicate,” says Anderson. “We are continuously improving how research ideas and results are communicated to farmers and vice versa to ensure the big work is being shared in understandable and adaptable ways. Checkoff-funded research also benefits the private sector where many discoveries and validations support new advanced technologies, tools and products.”
Maximizing impact
Researchers understand that their efforts to listen to farmers’ needs and then perform relevant research bring value to farmers who face low soybean prices and the threat of ongoing challenges.
“Looking out over the horizon, there is going to be a pinch with checkoff dollars,” says Goodhue. “We want to make sure we are working hard to invest those checkoff dollars wisely; NCSRP is a great way to give our farmers a solid return.”
Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com
NCSRP is a farmer-led, Midwest, multi-state soybean checkoff research
NCSRP is made up of 13 states that produce approximately 85% of all soybeans grown in the U.S.
collaborative STORY BY KRISS NELSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOCLYN BUSHMAN
Rick Juchems
DISTRICT 3
DIRECTOR | BY JOSEPH HOPPER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOCLYN BUSHMAN
What crops and livestock do you grow and raise on the farm?
We raise soybeans, corn, and custom feed finish hogs for my brother in-law. We are 100% cover crops that are seeded around Sept. 1. We have several CRP areas including filter strips, prairie strips, waterways, tree belts and a shallow water area that catches runoff from our living site.
What makes your farm unique?
We were the first in the area to try cover crops in a strip trial, and saw the improvement in soil quality, crop performance and the benefit of weed suppression. Halfway through the 10-year trial we started using cover crops on all our planted acres. We also have a solar array that produces enough electricity to provide energy to our entire farm.
What does success mean to you on the farm?
The easy answer is to have a good ROI. The better answer is that we want to leave the soil better than we started 45 years ago. We would also like to have the water that falls on our soils leave without taking any nutrients with it.
How do you envision production agriculture 50 years from now?
The last 45 years have taught me that agriculture is always changing from hybrids that can endure drought to soybeans that have a very beneficial oil. I think that the ag world will continue to consolidate from farms to chemical and fertilizer dealers. I see more uses of AI in agriculture from the crop side and the livestock area. I hope to see more conservation put in place to protect our most important natural resource, the soil that sustains our livelihood and those around us.
What do you see as the largest hurdle for homegrown soybeans in the future? Largest opportunity?
The largest hurdle in the near future is the tariffs that are being put in place slowing our ability to export our crops. Long-term, we need to find more uses for soy oil and increase our exports of soybeans, oil and meal.
The largest opportunity has yet to be discovered through research in the bean genome that could change the quality or structure of the oil so that it has more uses. We need to keep investing in research so we can produce a product that has more uses and is easier to export.
What’s something people usually don’t know about you?
I like to spend time with family and friends. I enjoy cooking and baking, sometimes it turns out well and other times it could be improved. Most of the time it is edible. I also like to play video games with my son and grandson. That started when the first computer came into our home.
