A newsletter adding value to your ISA farmer membership
October 2020
Greetings fellow soybean farmers Welcome to “Farmer Driven!” You’ll receive this newsletter from time to time courtesy of the Iowa Soybean Association. The title incorporates our brand promise “Driven To Deliver.” It’s our outward commitment to relentlessly serving you in everything we do. It's a privilege to greet you as ISA president. Experience tells me that serving as an advocate for issues important to our livelihood as farmers has never been more important. I’ve chosen not to stay on the sidelines; there’s too much at stake not to be involved. Issues regarding policy, regulation and consumer trust in modern agriculture may not seem as urgent as prepping for harvest, purchasing seed or making a soybean sale. Yet The Iowa Soybean Association is
DRIVEN TO DELIVER increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish.
on the market price of soybeans and ability to farm the way we know best.
in-person conversations with their constituents are most meaningful. Therefore, they are also the most effective way to engage; • Attending an ISA meeting in your crop district and make your opinion known – or just listen in and become more familiar with the issues; • Engage through ISA’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Need help? Sharpen your communication skills as an ISA Communications Squad participant; and • Joining ISA as an Advocate Member. Your investment provides non-checkoff resources so ISA can affect policy by visiting with legislators, delivering testimony at hearings and making our voice heard on issues like maintaining the integrity of the RFS and ending the unworkable Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.
ISA is proud to represent your interests when farm life requires your undivided attention (like harvest season), but your personal engagement at other times of the year is irreplaceable.
To close, I ask just one favor.
Consider…
way.
• Joining ISA at the Iowa Statehouse during the legislative session (JanuaryApril) as we advocate for policy that protects our livelihood and allows us to produce food,
Have a safe and successful harvest. Don’t hesitate to reach out and share an opinion (or yield report) with me.
As you’re running the combine or moving grain, commit to participating in one ISA activity over the next year. Start small.
Jeff Jorgenson, ISA President jorgens@iowatelecom.net
Program Updates Soybean Demand • Following all export numbers, tracking soybean purchases made by China in accordance with the phase 1 trade agreement and working with the U.S. Soybean Export Council to diversify our market portfolio. ISA helped lead a highly successful trade mission to Bangladesh and Pakistan in February. • The ISA board participated in a virtual harvest tour with AGP, showcasing Iowa-grown soybeans to key international soybean meal customers. President-elect Robb Ewoldt led a virtual tour of his farm to more than 800 buyers through the Global Trade Exchange. • Collaborating with animal agriculture partners, most recently working with the United Soybean Board’s Animal Nutrition Innovation Challenge to increase consumption of soybean meal in the livestock industry.
Get Involved:
• Help boost soybean demand by
Information & Education • Check out the new and improved iasoybeans.com! It offers improved functionality, content offerings and easier navigation. Whether it’s a farmer, point of contact is a positive representation of our organization and the industry. • We continue to provide timely and relevant information important to your farm through print and digital newsletters, audio and video offerings and the Iowa Soybean Review circulated to 38,000 soybean farmers around the state. • Initiatives like the Iowa Food & Family Project increase consumer trust in modern agriculture while showcasing Iowa ag in an interesting and easy-to-understand way. Become a subscriber of Fresh Pickings magazine to see it in action or go to iowafoodandfamily.com.
Get Involved:
• Become a part of the ISA
REQUESTING B11 BLENDS of
COMMUNICATIONS SQUAD to be on
biodiesel from your local fuel provider.
the f rontline of media requests and
• Once normal travel resumes, we’ll be looking for Iowa farmers
consumer engagement opportunities. • Join the ISA DISTRICT ADVISORY
to HOST FARM TOURS for
COUNCIL OR ISA EXPERIENCE CLASS,
international buyers.
which are designed to introduce you to every aspect of ISA.
Contact Grant Kimberley, ISA director of market development at gkimberley@iasoybeans.com.
Contact Aaron Putze, ISA sr. director of information and education at aputze@iasoybeans.com.
Your team at the Iowa Soybean Association is DRIVEN to provide the research, marketing opportunities and information you need to be successful in your farm business. Here’s what the ISA is up to.
Public Affairs • ISA’s engagement with policymakers at the state and federal level helped secure two rounds of Market Facilitation Program payments and two rounds of direct aid through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. ISA was also instrumental in working with Iowa’s congressional delegation to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation Account.
petitions that destroy demand for biodiesel. the EPA recently rejected 54 of the 68 ‘gapyear’ petitions, while ISA still calls for denial of the remaining 14. Without denying these exemptions, the biodiesel industry would lose 550 million gallons in demand. That is the amount of biodiesel Iowa produces in one and a half years!
Get Involved:
• Become an ADVOCATE MEMBER and learn more about the policy issues affecting the soybean industry. • Serve as a DISTRICT DELEGATE to help guide ISA’s direction on these important policy issues. Contact Michael Dolch, ISA director of public affairs at mdolch@iasoybeans.com.
Soybean Supply • A 5-year study on the impacts of cover crops on soil health is nearing the end of its fourth year. The study has shown increases in soil organic matter while also mapping yield trends. This study is one of many being conducted to help guide farmers in practical decision making.
provide to plant health are being evaluated. Surveys on soybean cyst nematode, corn rootworm and corn nematodes help determine statewide levels of infestation and help growers make management decisions. Soybean gall midge pressure continues to be a concern and research is being devoted to
• Interactive tools are available at no cost online at iasoybeans.com/research/results. These decisionaid tools were designed to serve a wide range of audiences. Users can conduct different types of “what if” scenarios based on their farming practices.
Get Involved:
• Participate in FIELD TRIALS related to cover crops, pesticides, nutrient management or other areas of interest. • Participate in fully-funded WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS on your farm such as habitat restoration on non-productive land.
Contact Ed Anderson, ISA sr. director of research at eanderson@iasoybeans.com.
Funded in part by the soybean checkoff.
Membership Matters Farmer Membership If you market at least 250 bushels of soybeans annually, your checkoff investment makes ISA membership available to you at no additional cost — we just need you to opt in to connect you with sign up, we go to work to help you identify your operational needs and connect you with information and programming that best serves you. Activate or validate your farmer membership at iasoybeans.com/ join or call the ISA Producer Services team at 515-251-8640.
Advocate Membership Your Advocate membership empowers ISA to positively matters impacting the U.S. soybean industry. We leverage your non-checkoff investment
Summer Meeting Recap Due to concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, summer soybean meetings looked a bit different. But what didn’t change was ISA’s commitment to connecting with members across the state. Nine small group discussions were held in the state, allowing staff to provide updates and seek input. Clarity through chaos There’s no doubt Covid-19 has impacted the industry, but ISA directors and staff are working to turn those impacts into opportunities for members. “I’ve been on several calls, be it with American Soybean Association (ASA) or the National Biodiesel Board or ISA, and most groups know that we can look at the (Covid-19) situation as an opportunity to re-evaluate priorities and work,” said Dave Walton, District 6 director, at his district’s small group meeting on Aug. 6. “Those discussions and what we talk about today aren’t just about recovery but really determining where we need to be and use it as a launching pad.” Research restructure ISA has restructured the research department. Once home Analytics, Environment Programs & Services, and the On-Farm Network, ISA has created a holistic approach through the Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI). The center: investments with additional noncheckoff sources;
with additional partnerships to engage at the state and federal level to enhance the competitiveness of your farm. Invest in an Advocate membership at iasoybeans.com/join or call the ISA Producer Services team at 515-251-8640.
visit iasoybeans.com
• Strengthens partner relationships with Iowa State University’s Soybean Research Center and the Iowa Nutrient Research Center; and • Collaborates with other farm and commodity organizations, state and local agencies and companies engaged in seed, crop protection, precision and digital agriculture. Targeted opportunities Farmers in districts 1, 2, 4 and 5 heard from RCFI staff regarding how they can be involved with lobbying for additional conservation funds or bringing forward shovel-ready projects. ISA has developed “road maps” for these priority areas, outlining needs and timelines. Productive policy District 9 farmers asked ISA Public Affairs Director Michael Dolch questions about dicamba and access to important agronomic tools. “If we don’t have a strong tool to kill weeds, it will be hard to plant beans,” commented Jeff Ellis who farms near weed control program look like?” Membership matters Farmers in districts 3, 7 and 8 brainstormed new ways to reach area soybean farmers with the invitation to activate and validate their memberships. All farmers agreed that personal connections are key.
Iowa Soybean Association | 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa 50023 | 800-383-1423 | iasoybeans.com
Coming Up
Validate your membership at iasoybeans.com/join or call the ISA Producer Services team at 515-251-8640.
Join us for all or part of our Advocate Day events at the Embassy Suites Des Moines Downtown in January!
Monday, January 25: 5:30 p.m. ISA Leadership Awards & Industry Celebration reception and dinner.
Tuesday, January 26: 9:00 a.m. Advocate Day and policy Conference
Tuesday, January 26: 6:30 p.m.
Follow Us @IowaSoybeans
Iowa Soybean Association
Legislative Reception at the Iowa Taproom For more information or to RSVP contact Carrie at ckelly@iasoybeans.com.
@IowaSoybean
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