Iowa Soybean Review, Spring 2018

IOWA

SOYBEANreview

®

Spring 2018

CONSERVATION: EFFORTS IMPACT WATER QUALITY

W E A R E U. S. S O Y B E A N F A R M E R S

SUSTAINABILITY NEVER GOES OUT OF SEASON C U S T O M E R S P R E F E R U . S . S O Y B E C A U S E I T ’ S S U S TA I N A B L E .

But as demands for sustainability continue rising, meeting those demands remains a journey of continuous improvement. Which sustainable practices do you do now? Which ones could you adopt to improve your sustainable footprint? Show your commitment to sustainability with a free truck magnet available at unitedsoybean.org/sustainability

C OV E R CROPS

WAT E R M A N AG E M E N T

NUTRIENT M A N AG E M E N T

DECISION FA R M I N G

REDUCED T I L L AG E

PEST M A N AG E M E N T

President Bill Shipley, Nodaway | D7 President Elect Lindsay Greiner, Keota | At Large Treasurer Stephanie Essick, Dickens | At Large

Spring 2018 | Vol. 30, No. 7

Secretary Tim Bardole, Rippey | At Large Executive Committee Dave Walton, Wilton | D6 Board of Directors Mark Vosika, Pocahontas | D1 Chuck White, Spencer | D1 April Hemmes, Hampton | D2 Casey Schlichting, Clear Lake | D2 Rick Juchems, Plainfield | D3 Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg | D3 LaVerne Arndt, Sac City | D4 Jeff Frank, Auburn | D4 Rolland Schnell, Newton | D5 Morey Hill, Madrid | D5 Robb Ewoldt, Blue Grass | D6 Jeff Jorgenson, Sidney | D7 Randy Miller, Lacona | D8 Warren Bachman, Osceola | D8 Pat Swanson, Ottumwa | D9 Tom Adam, Harper | D9 Brent Renner, Klemme | At Large American Soybean Association Board of Directors Morey Hill, Madrid Wayne Fredericks, Osage Brian Kemp, Sibley John Heisdorffer, Keota Dean Coleman, Humboldt

12 All Systems Go The U.S.

and China agree on a systems approach to reduce weed seeds in soybean shipments.

14 Water Quality: In the Round Watershed coordinators

discuss achieving Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.

20 Oxbow Restoration In

United Soybean Board of Directors Delbert Christensen, Audubon Larry Marek, Riverside Tom Oswald, Cleghorn April Hemmes, Hampton

Iowa Watersheds Landforms

Staff Credits Editor | Ann Clinton Communications Director | Aaron Putze, APR Senior Creative Manager | Ashton Boles Photographer | Joseph L. Murphy Staff Writer | Matthew Wilde Staff Writer | Allison Arp Staff Writer | Carol Brown Sales Director | David Larson

24 Avoid Sun Spills and

Iowa Soybean Review is published eight times a year by: Iowa Soybean Association 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa 50023 (515) 251-8640 | iasoybeans.com E-mail: aclinton@iasoybeans.com For advertising information in the Iowa Soybean Review, please contact Larson Ent. LLC (515) 440-2810 or Dave@LarsonentLLC.com.

Comments and statewide news articles should be sent to the above address. Advertising space reservations must be made by the first day of the month 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.

dictate conservation practices.

Refrain from Naked Fields Veteran cover crop farmer creates list of top considerations.

On the Cover: Cara Morgan, watershed coordinator for the East and West Nishnabotona Watershed Project, is recruiting farmers to work with cities and county supervisors on projects to improve water quality. Learn more about what watershed coordinators are doing in Iowa on page 14.

SPRING 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM | 3

Kirk Leeds Chief Executive Officer, Iowa Soybean Association kleeds@iasoybeans.com, Twitter@kirkleeds

The Art of the Deal “I've read hundreds of books about China over the decades. I know the Chinese.

I've made a lot of money with the Chinese. I understand the Chinese mind.”

— Donald J. Trump, The Art of the Deal (1987)

A

s I write this column, I just returned from another trade mission to China where we met with key customers and “old friends.”

While we were there, the Trump administration announced various trade sanctions and tariffs against China.

Soybeans have since been listed by China as a potential for counter tariffs.

(None have been implemented).

In 2017, the U.S. exported 1.3 billion bushels of soybeans to China with a value of approximately $14 billion. (See more facts about China's importance as a soybean buyer on pages 8 and 9.) Most folks we talked to in China were well aware of these numbers and raised concerns that soybean trade between our two countries could be impacted.

Although Brazil is the No. 1 supplier of soybeans to China, the volume we ship to them would be hard to replace, at least in the short-term. Longerterm, Brazil and other countries have the ability to increase production at the expense of the U.S. For Iowa’s pork producers — key customers of soybean farmers — the impact of the Chinese counter tariffs (or the “suspension of tariff concession on U.S. products” as the Chinese like to describe it) has

4 | SPRING 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM

been more immediate and painful.

The U.S. exported more than $1 billion of pork last year and with the announced tariffs, some anticipate that U.S. pork exports to China could essentially cease. Although soybeans have not been directly impacted, when the livestock industry suffers, so do Iowa’s soybean farmers.

I have been going to China two to three times a year for the last decade or so, but have never suggested that this qualifies me in any way to be seen as an expert. Unlike President Trump and his statements in his 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal,” I make no claims that I have “read hundreds of books about China,” or “know the Chinese,” or “understand the Chinese mind.” And I have certainly not “made a lot of money with the Chinese.”

But I do know enough about the Chinese to understand that the President’s “get tough” approach is a high-risk strategy that could end up costing Iowa soybean farmers dearly.

Perhaps it will work. Perhaps not.

I think it is important to keep in mind that issues related to the imbalance of trade between the U.S. and China are not new and previous administrations have also raised concerns about “unfair practices.” There are indeed real problems with numerous Chinese practices, trade policies and the protection of intellectual property.

These issues need to be resolved and addressed. Hopefully, our two governments can have these discussions without a full-blown trade war breaking out between the two countries with the largest economies in the world.

Iowa Soybean Association's Chief Executive Officer, Kirk Leeds, has visited China nearly two dozen times. Photo Credit: Aaron Putze

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Relationship Conservation

A

s the 2018 legislative session winds down, many legislators are announcing their retirement plans. As we look through the list, we find many long-time friends of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). This means that in the summer and fall, we will have to make a strong effort to make friends so that we can influence future decisions to support agriculture.

You’ll recognize many names on this list:

Senate: • District 7-Bertrand — Sioux City • District 21-McCoy (running for Supervisor) — Des Moines • District 25-Dix (resigned) — Shell Rock • District 35-Horn — Cedar Rapids • District 37-Dvorsky — Coralville • District 41-Chelgren — Ottumwa

House: • District 5-Holtz — LeMars • District 9-Miller — Ft. Dodge • District 190-Watts — Adel • District 20-Baudler — Greenfield • District 28-Heartsill — Chariton • District 44-Rob Taylor — Des Moines • District 47-Baltimore — Boone • District 56-Hager (running for supervisor) — Waukon • District 68-Rizer — Cedar Rapids • District 75-Pettengill — Mt. Auburn • District 79-Vander Linden — Oskaloosa • District 80-Sheets — Moulton

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• District 83-Kearns — Keokuk • District 84-Heaton — Mt. Pleasant • District 43-Hagenow (moving to District 19) — Windsor Heights • District 70-Taylor (running for Senate District 35) — Cedar Rapids • District 99-Finkenauer (running for Congress) — Dubuque

This list includes several committee leaders and legislators who have served from one to 12 terms. Next session will include many new faces.

You’ve heard it said in business — it’s always, “who you know.” That’s even more true in getting legislation passed. One of the best times to get to know someone is when you have something they want — your vote.

This summer, even though you’ll be busy with vacations and county fairs and keeping ahead of the pests in your fields, please take time to work on building new relationships.

We’ll need to work extra hard at these relationships, as the friends we’re losing knew our story well and believed in our ability to deliver information to all farmers across the state. As more and more people become several generations away from living on the farm, newly elected senators and representatives might feel less

motivated to listen and understand ISA’s value. However, they will likely remember the folks who helped them with funding and facts on their “way up.” Be a helpful source of information for new legislators — even if they aren’t in your district.

If you need to know who is running to replace any of the legislators above, please call ISA at 515-251-8640. We can provide you with biographical and contact information to get you started.

For those of you who don’t recognize your legislator among those retiring, take a few minutes to take stock of your current incumbent legislative relationship. Does it need work? Have you put the appropriate “conservation” measures in place to keep communication flowing? If not, let us know, and we can provide some background and suggestions for relationship-building and effective information sharing We all understand the importance of conservation practices in our fields.

We need to work extra hard in the next few months to keep our legislative relationships strong by being a trusted resource for all policymakers.

Senate: District District District District District District

7- Bertrand -- Sioux City 21- McCoy running for Supervisor – Des Moines 25-Dix (resigned) –Shell Rock 35- Horn – Cedar Rapids 37- Dvorsky -- Coralville 41- Chelgren – Ottumwa

House: District 5 Holtz -- LeMars District 9 Helen Miller – Ft. Dodge District 19 Watts – Adel District 20- Baudler -- Greenfield District 28- Heartsill -- Chariton District ® ® 44- Rob Taylor – Des Moines District 47- Baltimore -- Boone consistently outperform others District 56Hager running for supervisor -- Waukon industry. I know my fields will be clean because it’s a good product.

District 68- Rizer – Cedar Rapids District 75- Pettengill – Mt. Auburn STINE HAS WHAT I WANT AND WHAT MY FARM NEEDS. District 79- Vander Linden -- Oskaloosa District 80- Sheets -- Moulton District 83 Kearns – Keokuk District I choose what I can count 84 on.Heaton – Mt. Pleasant District 43- Hagenow moving to District 19—Windsor Heights I choose Stine because…Stine has yield.

District 70- Todd Taylor running for Senate District 35 – Cedar Rapids District 99- Finkenauer running for Congress -- Dubuque

STINE LIBERTYLINK SOYBEANS in the

I CHOOSE QUALITY. I CHOOSE RESULTS.

DENNIS GIENGER Gladbrook, Iowa

CHINA: BY THE NUMBERS Numbers courtesy of USDA Foreign Ag Service unless otherwise noted

93: total soybean imports (mmt) in 2017, a record 97: anticipated soybean imports (mmt) for 2018

100: estimated soybean imports (in mmt) in 2019

36.8: mmt of soybeans China imported from U.S. last year 7.37: population growth, in millions, in 2017

33: percent of total U.S. soybean exports destined for China (USDA National Ag Statistics Service)

your

cooperative

soybean processor

www.agp.com

62: percent of global soybean exports consumed

98.4: million metric tons (mmt) of oilseeds imported, the most of any country 39.4: percent of China’s soybean imports supplied

by U.S. farmers, or 36.8 mmt

48.5: percent of China’s soybean import supplied by Brazil, or 45.3 mmt

220: total meat, milk and cultured aquatic production (in mmt) by 2020, up from 215.4 mmt in 2015.

12.4: value, in billions, of U.S. soybean exports to China in 2017 (USDA)

6.9: percent Gross Domestic Product increase in 2017

22: number of residents (in millions) moving from rural to urban in 2016

600: number of rural residents (in millions)

6.5: percent GDP increase forecast for 2018

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW 1-18.pdf

Maintaining strong agricultural trade relations with China is a priority for the Iowa Soybean Association and was the purpose of a delegation’s visit to the country of 1.4 billion March recently.

Led by ISA President Bill Shipley of Nodaway and President-elect Lindsay Greiner of Keota, the delegation met with key Chinese officials representing soybean processors and feed companies.

“China consumes 60 percent of global soybean production and Iowa farmers are a key supplier,” Shipley says. “With U.S. commodity prices sliding and other countries ramping up production, this is precisely the wrong time for the U.S. to retreat as a trusted source of high-quality soybeans.”

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U.S.-CHINA TRADE DISPUTE ISA leaders worry about long-lasting tariff implications

By Matthew Wilde

I

owa soybean leaders hope U.S.-China trade issues are resolved, but not at the expense of farmers and a 36-year-old friendship the soybean industry built with its No. 1 customer.

China recently announced it would impose a 25 percent tariff on U.S soybean imports, along with other goods and agricultural products, if the U.S. placed similar duties on Chinese goods.

The Trump administration proposed $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese products as punishment for stealing U.S. trade secrets and forcing U.S. companies to hand over intellectual property to do business there.

The escalating trade rift started when President Donald Trump placed acrossthe-board import tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum to protect national security and bolster domestic production. Some countries were exempted, but China’s $2.8 billion worth of imports was not. The nation countered with tariffs of similar value that included U.S. pork and ethanol.

Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) CEO

10 | SPRING 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM

Kirk Leeds isn’t surprised China included soybeans in its $50 billion retaliatory tariff action. While trade issues between the two superpowers aren’t new, he hopes common ground can be found before a trade war erupts that will hurt farmers and the soybean industry.

“Iowa soybean farmers understand there are legitimate issues needing resolution, particularly those involving intellectual property rights,” Leeds says. “We appreciate the importance of these matters and encourage additional dialogue between the two countries to resolve them.”

ISA leaders are worried an ongoing trade dispute with China will reduce soybean demand and lower and stoke anti-Americanism sentiment that could jeopardize strong trade relations between the two countries. Relationships that have taken U.S. soybean farmers more than three decades to develop.

Good relations spur growth China purchased more than 3.4 billion bushels of soybeans last year — nearly 40 percent from the U.S. worth

12.4 billion. It’s the U.S.’ largest and most valuable ag export to China.

ISA President Bill Shipley of Nodaway wants exports to the country to increase, not decrease. Checkoff-funded trade missions and programs in China are ongoing to build demand.

Shipley recently led an ISA trade delegation to China, which included Leeds and other farmers and staff. He says the trade dispute and possible tariffs were a hot topic.

Neither Chinese buyers nor farmers want tariffs enacted, he adds.

“They want to continue doing business,” Shipley says. “They are just as nervous as we are, which surprised me.

They want that uninterrupted supply of good quality soybeans.”

Mike Steenhoek, Soy Transportation Coalition executive director, says the U.S. has a good reputation of being a costeffective, reliable supplier of soybeans to China and other international customers.

Steenhoek says Brazil’s current infrastructure issues and China’s soybean demand is so substantial that the U.S

Photo left: Iowa Soybean Association leaders visited Chinese soybean buyers, like Bohi, recently to strengthen relationships as trade tensions between China and the United States escalated. Photo submitted.

will continue to export a significant volume to the nation. But any industry that aspires to be customerfocused will rightfully bristle at the prospects of any reduction, he says.

“The thing about good reputations is that they take years to accumulate and moments to evaporate,” Steenhoek adds. “Current actions are impugning that well-earned reputation.”

Shipley hopes “cooler heads” prevail and a settlement can be reached to stop soybean tariffs from going into effect. Published reports say trade negotiations are ongoing between U.S. and Chinese officials.

Farmer impact If talks fail and a 25 percent soybean tariff is implemented, Shipley says it will compound the pain of already low commodity prices. A Purdue University study predicts a 30 percent tariff would reduce U.S soybean imports to China by 71.2 percent and lower farm-gate prices by 5.2 percent.

“It will affect my bottom line and the industries I do business with like Sukup Manufacturing and John Deere due to higher manufacturing costs,” Shipley says. “Equipment will cost more and soybean prices will be lower, reducing profitability.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue told farmers the Trump administration won’t abandon them.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, with President Trump’s backing, is working on a plan to compensate farmers for related losses.

“If these tariffs actually come into play, it's going (to concern) our farmers,” Perdue told reporters earlier this month in Ohio. “I talked to the president. And he said, 'Sonny, you can assure your farmers out there that we're not going to allow them to be the casualties if this trade dispute escalates. We're going to take care of our American farmers.'"

ISA Senior Communications Manager Joe Murphy contributed to this story.

Contact Matthew Wilde at mwilde@ iasoybeans.com.

Soybean oil is often used to cook in China.

Rapid urbanization in China is a driving force behind protein demand as the population becomes more affluent.

Photo Credits: Aaron Putze

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ALL SYSTEMS GO Nations agree on systems approach to reduce weed seed in soybean shipments

By Matthew Wilde

I

owa farmers and industry officials say new recommendations to reduce weed seeds in U.S. soybean shipments to China are crucial to preserve the multibilliondollar market.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) unveiled the systems approach for U.S. soybean exports at Commodity Classic (Classic) in Anaheim, California, in late February. It contains 20 practices that farmers, grain elevators and exporters can adopt to reduce foreign material (FM) in soybeans, particularly quarantining weed seeds of concern to China.

The nation’s farmers are projected to plant 89 million acres of soybeans, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Prospective Plantings Report.

Iowa producers say they can’t afford not to implement the recommendations to

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keep their No. 1 export customer happy.

About one out of every three bushels of U.S. soybeans is exported to China, valued at $12.4 billion in 2017, according to government data.

“Every farmer in Iowa knows the importance of exports,” says Lindsay Greiner, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) president-elect from Keota. “We need to get the ball rolling and possibly change some practices so our soybeans continue to meet Chinese standards. They are a very good customer.”

Greiner and ISA District 8 Director Randy Miller of Lacona flocked to the APHIS trade show booth at Classic, as did hundreds of other farmers, to learn about the systems approach firsthand.

Both agree the recommendations pertaining to producers are fair and many are already being done.

Miller plants soybeans in 15-inch

rows, rotates herbicide modes of action, rotates crops and uses cover crops. He’ll study and consider implementing other government suggestions.

“It’s our job as farmers to implement the systems approach,” Miller says. “I think farmers will do what’s right and take the steps needed to reduce weed seeds.”

Concerns about spreading invasive weeds aren't new or exclusive to China.

The country has voiced concerns about weed seeds in soybean shipments for years. The U.S. has a zero-tolerance policy on weed seeds in imports.

In 2016, China implemented a new grain law targeting shipments from all exporters to keep invasive weeds from entering the country. Chinese officials informed APHIS in September that the U.S. was out of compliance with phytosanitary requirements. Ragweed,

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cocklebur, Johnson grass and pigweed seeds account for 80 percent of weed seeds that are intercepted in U.S. grain imports, primarily in soybeans, according to the USDA. The U.S. soybean supply chain has two years from January to implement the systems approach to reduce weed seeds in soybean exports to levels acceptable in China, per a deal struck in December by the two governments.

In addition, the agreement states: • APHIS will notify China of all U.S. soybean shipments exceeding 1 percent FM — weed seed, dirt, stems, etc. — which will receive an additional declaration on phytosanitary certificates.

• Soybean cargoes containing 1 percent FM or less, which is the end goal, will be expedited.

The Chinese agreed a collaborative, integrated approach is the best way to reduce weedseed content in soybean shipments, says George Galasso, USDA APHIS national trade director-grain. The government worked closely with grain associations, land grant universities and ag companies to formulate the approach.

“I don’t think anyone will find these recommendations controversial,” Galasso says.

As the systems approach is

implemented, its effectiveness will be periodically reviewed. The Chinese understand it’s impossible to eliminate weed seeds from soybean shipments entirely, Galasso adds, but progress needs to be made to prevent action that could negatively shock grain markets.

“Chinese officials informed us if they don’t see improvement, they will take unilateral action to reduce weed seed content in imported soybeans,” Galasso says. “That could take one of many different forms like rejecting soybean vessels when they arrive in port.

“That has not happened,” he adds. “So far. the Chinese are satisfied with the progress being made.”

Jim Sutter, U.S. Soybean Export Council CEO, says U.S. soybean farmers are on the clock to reduce FM and weed seed. Not only has China acted, but other countries, including Russia, Egypt and Pakistan have also raised concerns.

In the long run, Sutter believes reducing FM and weed seeds can be a positive for U.S. producers.

“I’m optimistic that if we improve an already great product, our customers will notice, “he says. “That will differentiate U.S. soy and build demand.”

Matthew Wilde can be contacted at mwilde@iasoybeans.com.

The systems approach for U.S. soybean exports WEED CONTROL • Plant soybeans in narrow rows spaced apart 15 inches or less.

• Rotate herbicide modes of action.

• Control escape weeds with additional herbicide applications or mechanical removal.

• Manage weeds in field borders.

• Rotate crops and guard against volunteer crop plants.

• Double crop and maintain vigilant weed control measures through second crop.

• Use cover crops to manage weeds.

• Incorporate some tillage, if possible, when other control measures are ineffective or not feasible.

HARVESTING • Adjust combine cutting heights and other settings to minimize weed seed and other foreign material in the harvested grain.

• Avoid harvesting weeds when possible.

• Regularly clean combines to prevent weed spread and cross-crop contamination.

• Segregate soybeans with low foreign material content from those with higher volumes, when possible.

• Regularly clean out bins and conveyances.

HANDLING • Examine soybeans upon arrival for weed seeds, especially ragweed, Johnson grass, cocklebur, pigweed and volunteer corn.

• Consider separating weed seeds from soybeans through mechanical cleaning or other means and then denaturing or destroying the seeds.

SAMPLING, INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS • USDA and U.S. trade associations will monitor weed seed and foreign material content in soybeans to evaluate the effectiveness of the systems approach. This includes: • Conducting a national survey at country and export elevators.

• Analyzing data to identify opportunities for improving the results of the systems approach.

TRADE SUPPORT • Cooperation between USDA and China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).

• Expedited clearance in China of shipments that have 1 percent or less foreign material.

About one out of every three bushels of U.S. soybeans is exported to China, valued at $12.4 billion in 2017, according to government data.

• Collaboration with AQSIQ to evaluate program effectiveness.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

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WATER QUALITY: IN THE ROUND Watershed coordinators discuss achieving Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals

By Matthew Wilde ISA: Why is the watershed approach the best way to meet the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy?

ISA: What are the key attributes of a successful watershed project and why?

Ersce: “Utilizing a watershed

works in our area is farmers who have implemented practices talking to their neighbors. Partnerships are also very important. We work with the ISA on edge-of-field practices and The Nature Conservancy helps with oxbow restorations. If you keep projects fresh and implement new things, it keeps people engaged.”

approach to improve water quality is important because farmers and Iowans grasp water as a bigger issue than whether or not it runs through their yard or field. It encompasses a lot of people.”

T

he Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) recently held a roundtable discussion with five water quality project coordinators — key implementers of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Coordinators shared opinions about the past, present and future progress of the initiative to improve water quality.

And, what it will take to achieve the strategy’s goal — a 45 percent reduction of nitrogen and phosphorous loads entering waterways from point and nonpoint sources.

Morgan: “It’s more of a holistic approach rather than shotgunning projects. As project coordinators, we can help determine projects that will provide the biggest bang for the buck and make the most impact for flood and nutrient reduction. It allows county supervisors, soil and water conservation districts, and cities to come together to make the best use out of tax dollars and determine what projects are the priorities.”

Participants included: coordinator/resource management specialist — Elk Run Watershed Project

Adam Rodenberg — Middle Cedar Watershed Management Authority Project

Cara Morgan — East and West Tracy Church — Rock Creek Watershed Project

Shane Wulf — Miller Creek Watershed Project

14 | SPRING 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM

ISA: What are your biggest challenges and successes in improving water quality and why?

Morgan: “One of the challenges, not just unique to us but also statewide, is funding for practices. The success is early involvement. All my county boards of directors are committed to watersheds and moving forward with plans. Just because something isn’t within their county, they see the importance of helping the county or city next to them.”

Church: “Our biggest challenge is

Diane Ercse — ISA watershed

Nishnabotna Watershed Management Coalitions

Church: “The biggest thing that

Diane Ercse

we’re at a point that everyone who wanted to participate initially has jumped on board. Now, I must figure out how to reach the next group and get them involved; helping them overcome the hurdle of should I or should I not. One of our biggest successes is we’re still relevant four years into a 25-year project and ahead of five-year goals. For example, over 10 percent of the watershed is in cover crops and six edge-of-field practices have been implemented.”

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ISA: How will the new water quality bill help bolster current and future watershed projects?

Is it the answer or a step in the right direction?

Rodenberg: “There are lot of unknowns with the bill. It’s a slice of the pie. More funding will help, but a substantial, long-term funding source is needed to meet the goals of the Nutrient Reduction Strategy.”

ISA: Why is it important farmers and landowners invest time and money in improving water quality and soil health even though grain margins are tight to nonexistent?

Ersce: “I think you have to show Cara Morgan

Wulf: “It’s a step in the right direction, but not necessarily the answer. I hope funding will go to a lot of watershed projects. Continuing to build the statewide water quality initiative program is important.”

ISA: How do you get reluctant farmers and landowners to participate in watershed projects?

Morgan: “I don’t think we will ever have 100 percent buyin. If the reluctant landowner can understand what conservation and water quality work can do for them, a lot of times that will encourage buyin to try something.”

that it’s a long-term investment.

There are assistance opportunities to transition to more sustainable farming practices. Funding is uncertain, so take advantage of opportunities while they’re available. You can’t argue the value of soil health.”

Rodenberg: “The long-term commitment to conservation practices will ultimately save money. Many practices allow farmers to cut back on inputs and field passes. Many can have long-term benefits.”

Church: “Sometimes it takes an aha

Adam Rodenberg

ISA: Why is engagement of landowners and farmers crucial to meeting the goals of Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy?

moment. I had one farmer say he loved plowing and making a field turn black.

He went to a field day where an inch of rain fell an hour before and they went out to a strip-till field with cover crops.

When he got back to the building, he couldn’t believe there was no mud on the ground. That farmer switched and bought a strip-till rig.”

Shane Wulf

Wulf: “Those are the decision makers who are putting practices on the ground. Finding early adopters is easy. We’re trying to find the middle adopters — a person not coming in the Natural Resources Conservation Service office all the time but is open to a conversation on the farm. Having a farmer champion to talk to farmers in the middle about how engagement impacts their operation and me talking about available programs goes well together.”

ISA: Is there enough progress improving water quality to show Iowa is on the right track?

Ersce: “I think we’re making Tracy Church

The 5-year-old Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is the state’s road map to curbing water pollution. Conservation

progress. We can be proud that the wheels are in motion, but we need more engagement from the private sector, farmers and landowners.”

Wulf: “We’re off to a good start, but we need to pick up the pace and scale of implementation of conservation practices.”

Matthew Wilde can be contacted at mwilde@iasoybeans.com.

practices highlighted in the strategy proven to work include cover crops, bioreactors, oxbows, wetlands, conservation tillage and more.

SPRING 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM | 15

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Tim Smith

TILE WATER TELLS A STORY Results are environmental motivators

By Carol Brown

R

aindrops on Iowa’s farm fields take many paths. Some raindrops will nourish the crops and some will evaporate. Others will run off the surface of the fields or enter drainage tile lines. The tile lines empty into smaller streams and rivers, then to the mighty Mississippi River and on to the Gulf of Mexico.

But not all the tile water made it to the Gulf in 2017. Some of it was captured at 342 tile outlets and helped to tell a story in Iowa.

In 2017, the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Environmental Programs and Services (EPS) team, partner organization staff members and farmers spent months collecting tile outlet water samples to measure nitrate-N amounts.

The water sample results were

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combined with individual field information, including previous and current crops, applied nitrogen rates, inhibitor use, conservation practices and more. The research team sent monthly and year-end reports to each participant, informing them of their fields’ performance.

“Tile water monitoring is a good idea for farmers. I’ve found monitoring and seeing their results are motivators,” says Eagle Grove farmer Tim Smith, whose farm is in the Des Moines Lobe. “Before we started monitoring, I thought I was doing things in the recommended way. I thought I was farming conservatively.

“I read the reports to see where my ‘nitrogen contribution’ to the stream is. After I started using cover crops, the nitrogen levels coming from my tile lines were much lower than the levels

upstream,” says Smith. “Looking at Iowa farms collectively, our nitrogen levels are too high leaving the tile lines.”

Combined 2017 results Although individual farm results are confidential, the ISA research team aggregates the data to capture a picture of results across Iowa.

“The water samples are sorted into five categories of nitrate-N concentration, ranging from 0-5 milligrams per liter to 30 or more,” says Anthony Seeman, who oversees the ISA's accredited water lab, where the tests are conducted. “Slightly over half of our samples from 178 sites were in the ‘average’ category of 10-20 milligrams. There were three sites that fell into the ‘very high’ category.”

The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy recommends a statewide goal of a

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11.4 mg/L, although statistically these two groups were not different.

“Since nitrogen fertilizer is not typically applied to soybeans, the similar nitrate concentrations in the tile water often comes as a surprise to farmers,” says Seeman.

For corn, results show that there is not a strong relationship between the amount of nitrogen applied to the crop compared to the concentration in • The average for all sites of nitrate-N the tile water. One may think that the concentration was 13.1 mg/L more nitrogen applied, the higher tile • Fields planted with cover crops water nitrate had lower nitrate-N levels would losses and be, indicating concentrations that managing • One-sixth of the tiles cropping systems monitored accounted and drainage for one-half of the total nitrate-N loss for improved water quality is • Bioreactors complex. While averaged 43 percent Anthony Seeman concentration the crop and the reduction. applied nitrogen amount each play a role in nitrate loss, A closer look at nitrogen the solutions aren't as simple as just Three cropping rotations were reducing application rates to reduce monitored: corn following corn, corn nitrates in the water. following soybeans and soybeans Landforms influential following corn. Fields with corn At the most basic level, the water following corn had the highest average monitoring results reflect that each Iowa concentration of nitrate-N at 17.8 mg/L. landform has distinct differences. The Corn-following-soybean fields were at 12.3 mg/L. Soybean fields following corn ISA water monitoring program samples had the lowest average concentration at water in Iowa’s three largest landform 45 percent reduction of nitrogen in water entering the Mississippi River.

When the ISA research team aggregates the individual data, it cuts a swath of progress for this goal. Although each crop year is different due to weather, crop rotations and other factors, longterm data analysis will be key.

Other findings from 2017 tile water monitoring tests:

Figure 1: Average nitrate concentration in tile water from three agriculture rotations. CC = corn following corn, CS = corn with previous year soybeans and SC = soybean with previous year corn.

regions: the Des Moines Lobe, the Iowan Surface and the Southern Iowa Drift Plain.

The Des Moines Lobe had the highest nitrate-N concentrations and highest loss in pounds per acre per day (Figure 2). The Des Moines Lobe soils are denser and cooler than soils in other landforms because of the higher organic matter concentrations associated with this region. The higher organic matter is a leading factor for the higher nitrate-N concentration and losses from the fields.

This trend has been observed for four years, since ISA began widespread tile water monitoring.

Landforms and their water quality differences present an opportunity to focus appropriate improvement efforts in areas that align with their geology, generating a higher water quality benefit per dollar invested in conservation practices. Each landform has unique challenges that can be addressed by implementing different combinations of water and soil-saving practices.

Keeping tabs on the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy progress is a mammoth undertaking, and ISA's water monitoring program is contributing to the effort one bottle of water at a time.

Carol Brown can be contacted at cbrown@iasoybeans.com.

Figure 2: The average nitrate-N concentration per liter and average loss per acre per day in drainage tile water by landform region.

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IOWA GEOGRAPHY IN ACTION Landforms dictate conservation practices

By Roger Wolf, ISA Environmental Programs and Services Director The “Iowa Geography in Action” article in the March 2018 issue of the Iowa Soybean Review illustrated the variations in Iowa’s landscape because of the impacts from its geologic past and how these landforms influence farm performance. Now, let’s look at how using geography and these unique landforms inform management decision-making.

M

aps and spatial data analysis help us to holistically look at land as we work on challenges and opportunities in the agriculture industry. For example, the Raccoon River Watershed has two distinctly different landform regions and includes numerous feeder streams in west central Iowa all leading to Des Moines.

The terminal moraine, created from the Wisconsinan glacier, divides the Raccoon River Watershed on a line from the city of Des Moines running northwest near the small town of Breda in Carroll

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County. The landscape north and east of the river is characterized as the recently glaciated soils, which is a visible and noticeable landscape feature. It is relatively flat to gently sloping and was poorly drained with high organic soils.

Beginning about 100 years ago, this area was hydrologically modified for the land to be farmable. These lands eventually drain to the North Raccoon River.

The landscape southwest of the moraine is much older with greater topographic relief and well-developed drainage. The South and Middle Raccoon River tributaries are the main streams that eventually confluence with the North Raccoon near the town of Van Meter.

Water quality and quantity in the Raccoon River has been studied for many years, primarily because it impacts Iowa’s highest populated city, Des Moines. Iowa’s Great Flood of 1993

was considered among the costliest in the U.S. with approximately $15 billion in damages. Des Moines experienced this flood firsthand losing many private homes, the water treatment plant and consequently drinking water, as well as other significant infrastructure, for several days.

Nutrient export via the Raccoon River also has implications for source water since the Des Moines metro area relies on it for drinking water. Beyond Iowa, the Raccoon River is among the highest sub-watersheds of the Mississippi River Basin for nitrogen export.

People have been working in the Raccoon River Watershed upstream from Des Moines since the mid-1990s.

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) partners with others to monitor water quality before it arrives in Des Moines.

This monitoring, among other things, is informing us about the variability of

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Priority practices in the South Raccoon Watershed are very different, primarily due to landscape and landform features found in and around the watershed. This highly erosive landscape calls for solutions to treat surface water and keep soil in place.

Grade stabilization structures essentially stairstep water downstream and help mitigate streambed and bank erosion, sediment loads and turbidity. These in-stream structures, coupled with in-field practices such as terraces, contour strips, no-till and cover crops, have been key solutions to keep soil in place in this watershed.

Many of the practices best suited for nutrient removal in the North Raccoon Watershed will do very little to keep soil in place in the South Raccoon Watershed.

Although, there are some nonlandscape-specific practices that could provide multiple benefits, including reduced tillage, cover crops and nutrient management.

These practices work no matter the landscape and present both environmental and economic benefits.

Roger Wolf can be contacted at Rwolf@iasoybeans.com.

Raccoon Rivers Data Comparisons

Nitrate-N (mg/L)

the landscape and has generated information useful in helping guide work in the watershed. Figure 1 (on the next page) compares relative nitrate-N concentrations between the North and South Raccoon Rivers.

By recognizing the differences in overall contributions of flow and nutrients, it informs and influences the places where we focus our work. These also help direct the conservation farming practices best suited to address these impacts. The North Raccoon River watershed has significantly more row crop acres and tile drainage systems compared to more pastureland and steeper topography in the South Raccoon Watershed. Today, targeted projects in both watersheds are helping farmers to adopt practices suited to the characteristics of their land, improving their management plans, natural resources and downstream environmental quality.

The best-suited practices in the North Raccoon Watershed include those that manage nutrients infield and treat tile drainage water, including bioreactors, saturated buffers, nitrate-removal wetlands and drainage water management practices.

Figure 1: Comparisons of the amount of nitrate-N concentrations in the North and South Raccoon Rivers data collected at confluence near Van Meter, Iowa, from 2011-2017.

Watershed

North Raccoon

South Raccoon

Area (acres)

1,580,808

727,315

Row crop area

81%

68%

Tile drained area

62%

26%

Average slope

1.8%

5.0%

Stream density (miles/square mile)

0.83

1.28

Des Moines Lobe

Southern Iowa Drift Plain

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OXBOW RESTORATION IN IOWA WATERSHEDS Old river channels get new life

By Carol Brown

G

oogle Earth offers a great perspective of the landscape. Locate a river and follow its path. Look for arc- or circular-shaped areas near the river. These areas are old river channels where the water meandered so much it separated itself from the prevailing path.

These are called oxbows, and they have a life of their own.

Over time, oxbows can fill with sediment and are no longer part of the river system. Researchers in the Upper Midwest are studying the restoration of oxbows for their ability to work within agricultural systems while providing

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environmental benefits. Oxbows could someday be listed in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy as a nitrogen removal edge-of-field practice.

“Oxbows can remove 45 to 90 percent of nitrates from intercepted tile lines,” says Keegan Kult, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) environmental specialist. “They also provide habitat for birds, reptiles and fish species that depend on the back-water habitat.”

Acting similarly to a denitrifying wetland, most oxbows are fed slowly from groundwater. Water is held until flood waters find these old channels

and reconnect them to the main stream.

After flooding, the oxbow is replenished with water and organisms from the stream.

Restoration of oxbows was included in the goals of watershed improvement projects in the Boone and North Raccoon Rivers. ISA partnered with others, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Syngenta and The Nature Conservancy.

“Oxbow restoration is fairly simple,” says Aleshia Kenney, fish and wildlife biologist with USFWS. “Most are filled with sediment from adjoining farm

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fields. To restore an oxbow, 3 to 6 feet of sediment is dug up – until the groundwater is found. The oxbows usually have great topsoil in them so in most cases, the sediment is put back on farmers’ fields.”

An environmental perk For farmers and landowners who restore oxbows, an environmental benefit includes creating habitat for those who call oxbows home – including the tiny Topeka shiner. This minnow species has been on the endangered species list since 1998. It was originally abundant in rivers and streams throughout South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas.

Now, Topeka shiner population is fragmented and few as the streams they call home have been cut off from each other.

“These 3-inch fish prefer slowmoving pools of water. They enter the oxbows during flood events and stay until it dries up or the next flood,” Kenney says.

Kenney has been researching the Topeka shiner for more than 10 years, particularly in the Des Moines Lobe landform area. The USFWS designated 836 miles of streams in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska as critical habitat for the Topeka shiner.

In Iowa, their habitat is slowly coming back. Kenney says that the first oxbow restoration in Iowa was in

2002. As of 2017, 70 oxbows have been restored in the North Raccoon River Watershed and an additional 17 in the Boone River Watershed.

Kult says ISA and watershed project coordinators find former oxbows through aerial and color-infrared imagery. Then, they locate the landowner or farmer to gauge their interest in restoration, while being mindful of Topeka shiner populations, to potentially connect with or establish.

“To help determine which oxbows should be prioritized, we look at watersheds that have undergone the planning process and where oxbows can meet multiple goals outlined in the plan,” says Kult. “Often Topeka shiner oxbows can help in achieving multiple watershed goals, such as nitrogen and soil loss reduction, wildlife habitat and flood storage while maintaining agricultural profitability and productivity.”

A sweet deal for farmers Kult and Kenney were speakers at the Iowa Water Conference held in March sponsored by the Iowa Water Center.

Along with several others, they were part of the Oxbow Restoration track of presentations. Sessions were held

on oxbows for conservation, nutrient reduction and improving wildlife habitat.

Chris Jones, a research scientist at the University of Iowa, talked about farmer benefits for restoration, including costs.

“Oxbows are cheaper than installing a wetland and the same benefits are achieved,” says Jones. “Costs to reduce nitrogen through an oxbow are about 35 cents per pound. Through a CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) wetland, it can be anywhere from $2 to $20 per pound.” Funded through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, CREP provides cost share for installation of nitrogenremoving wetlands in 35 counties mainly in the Des Moines Lobe.

“Farmers want proven practices and multiple benefits — livestock watering, pollinator habitat, enhanced land value and reducing soil erosion without inconveniencing their production activities,” Jones says. “Oxbows don’t take land out of production; they have habitat and recreation benefits like hunting, fishing, bird and wildlife watching. It’s a sweet deal for farmers.”

Carol Brown can be contacted at cbrown@iasoybeans.com.

OXBOW DEFINITION: 1. A U-shaped piece of wood placed under and around the neck of an ox with its upper ends in the bar of the yoke. 2. A bowshaped bend in a river, or the land embraced by it. Or a bow-shaped lake formed in a former channel of a river.

ISA environmental scientist Keegan Kult collects a water sample from a tile line before it enters an oxbow in the North Raccoon watershed. Oxbows can reduce nitrogen in the water by up to 90 percent.

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FARMER, AGRONOMIST, HYDROLOGIST Water monitoring from DIY to expert level

By Allison Arp

F

armers have many job titles depending on the day: mechanic, agronomist, herdsman and sometimes, hydrologist. A hydrologist is a scientist who looks at the movement, distribution and quality of water.

“It’s important for farmers to know how water is leaving their operation and the quality of that water. Iowa's agricultural systems can have effects on water quality but the specifics depend on several factors,” says Theo Gunther, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) resource management specialist. “For example, all corn and soybean fields will lose some nitrogen when drainage tiles are flowing, but some fields have higher concentrations than others.”

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Although intensive water and soil sampling are expensive, time-consuming and can require special equipment, there are ways to find out how much nitrogen is leaving the landscape. Options range from simple answers to consistent, reliable breakdowns of water or soil contents.

DIY options For farmers who have never measured water runoff before and want to start with just numbers, concentration strips may be the right choice. These strips come in a pack of 50 for around $20 and estimate parts-per-million (PPM) nitrate concentration in a water sample. The strips only offer an indication of whether

concentrations are relatively low or high.

They don’t detect small changes in PPM, tile flow or an overall loss estimate.

Knowing what is leaving a field is only part of the water quality equation.

Knowing what was there in the first place is essential to measuring progress.

Understanding an operation’s water quality can be improved through soil sampling. Gunther and the ISA Environmental Programs and Services (EPS) team use a 360 SoilScan machine to process soil samples for nitrate concentrations in watersheds across the state. The same machine can be used to measure water nitrate concentrations with a separately purchased test kit.

Although accurate, the 360 SoilScan

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system has an upfront cost and uses a few hundred dollars’ worth of supplies every three months, depending on the number of samples processed. An alternative to purchasing a system, these machines are available at several Natural Resources Conservation Service offices around the state.

Benefits of the 360 SoilScan include the ability to help with nutrient management, giving farmers an idea of their tile nitrate concentration levels and, when used by a group of growers in a region, can be helpful in determining how specific conservation practices work over time.

The software and hardware technology used in the 360 SoilScan is packaged to simplify its use — a single sample can be processed in a few minutes. However, it has limitations: sample collection on a large scale can be time consuming since an operator is required to process each sample.

Calibration and maintenance can be tricky as well. Like any tool used to

help with decision-making, the results should be kept in context with other measurements and information.

Leave it to the pros Another option for farmers wanting to know about the amounts of nitrate in their water is to use a certified laboratory.

Laboratory tests are also the most accurate. Farmers can help with the process by collecting their water samples and freezing them until a batch can be sent to a lab for analysis.

Freezing the samples ensures the nitrate concentration remains stable until testing can occur. Sometimes, self-collected samples can be difficult to obtain as some fields don’t have an accessible outlet, may drain multiple fields or are across management zones. For the effort to be worthwhile, good water samples are crucial for a decision maker.

Leaving water analysis to the pros provides the farmer with the most choice for scale and accuracy than the other

“

options. While each lab is different, water samples could cost around $15 each, with soil samples costing around $5 each to analyze.

“Certified laboratories follow established protocols and must follow specific guidelines to ensure the results they provide are accurate,” says Gunther.

“Farm field water samples don’t have the same requirements of a water utility. In most cases just getting in the ballpark is a good start.”

While these options are currently available to farmers, Gunther says new technology will make sampling and monitoring easier.

“In the future, sensors and data management tools will likely bring down the costs and simplify collection of this information. The question will remain of how the data can be used to improve the production system and their operations.”

Farmers interested in learning more about their water monitoring options or getting involved with ISA EPS are encouraged to contact Tony Seeman, environmental research coordinator at aseeman@iasoybeans.com.

Allison Arp can be reached at aarp@ iasoybeans.com.

I T ’ S I M P O R TA N T F O R FA R M E R S

TO K N OW H OW WAT E R I S L E AV I N G T H E I R O P E R AT I O N A N D T H E Q UA L I T Y O F T H AT WAT E R .

— THEO GUNTHER

”

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AVOID SUN SPILLS AND REFRAIN FROM NAKED FIELDS Veteran cover crop farmer creates list of top considerations

By Joseph L. Murphy

F

armers rely on science for many aspects of their farming operations. The realization that cover crops are more of an art than a science led a northeast Iowa farmer to create a Top 20 list of tips.

Kevin Glanz, an Iowa Soybean Association member from Manchester, has been an unabashed fan of cover crops since 2009. During that time, Glanz has found success and failure with the conservation tool. To build on the success and erase the failures, he decided to write down principal points he had learned.

What started as a point or two on a piece of paper grew to a Top 10 list and then a Top 20 list, and he's not

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so sure he's done yet. He may still add terms like sun spills – losing the energy of the sun over bare fields. And having naked fields that are without cover crops during the winter months.

"Cover crops Kevin Glanz are like a fine wine. They just get better with age," Glanz said. "You have to let the cover crop work for you but it can pay for itself."

Utilizing no-till and cover crops for weed suppression, he found savings

in fuel cost that totaled 20 gallons of diesel per acre. Glanz has utilized the fuel savings and a lower maintenance bill to pay for the cost of his cover crops.

"When I drive down the road I'm window farming," he said. "I want my fields to look as good as any other field, and I think I'm achieving that with cover crops and no-till."

Joseph L. Murphy can be reached at jmurphy@iasoybeans.com.

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TOP 20 TIPS TO BE A BETTER COVER CROPPER 20. Farmers are not experts in agronomy, but you are an expert on your farm.

19. Mother Nature does not like to be

bare, she will cover and protect herself with some form of growth.

18. A volunteer green cover of growth is in no way, shape or form equal to a selected, grown and managed cover crop.

17. Your first tillage pass in the spring is

the most detrimental to the future of your growing crop.

16. If you till your cover crop in the

spring, you have zeroed out most of the benefits of the practice.

15. If you work your fields to a gardenlike state, you have worked all the life out of them. In the spring, a black field is a "dead field.�

14. Cover crops may not be for

everyone, but everyone has an area, field or farm that would benefit from a cover crop practice.

13. It is as exciting to watch your cover

crops emerge in the fall as watching your primary crops emerge in the spring.

12. When planning a cover crop

5. Do your homework. Start

11. When developing and starting a

4. Farmers are science-based

practice, start with your end goal.

This will dictate what your start will be.

cover crop practice, dot your i's and cross your t's and have a Plan B... for backup.

10. If a cover crop practice doesn't

work as planned, it is not the cover crop’s fault. LEARN FROM IT!

9. Earthworms have a higher calling

than fishing, they are your greatest asset in your fields. Worms work for you 24-7 enhancing your soils.

8. When you stand in your field,

there are more species of life below your feet than above your feet.

simple, find out what works for you, find your comfort level and expand from there. decision makers. Cover cropping is more of an art, not a science. This practice does not work the same every year.

You build knowledge from each of your past years' experience.

The sooner you start, the sooner you start learning.

3. Terminate your cover crop

before planting. You will sleep better knowing your cover crop is dying and your primary crop is growing.

7. Your neighbors ARE watching.

2. Soil health and water quality

6. Beauty is only skin-deep. What

1. Your soil is your greatest asset.

They are as interested in your cover crop experience as you are.

From successes to failures, they are watching. you see of your cover crop above ground is only a small fraction of the growth and benefits going on below ground.

are going to be the two mostused catch phrases you will hear for the next five to 10 years.

Respect it, care for it and build it with everything you have. If you take care of it, it will take care of you.

A farmer near Rose Hill plants soybeans into a terminated cover crop last year.

SPRING 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM | 25

W E A R E U. S. S O Y B E A N F A R M E R S

SUSTAINABILITY NEVER GOES OUT OF SEASON D E C I S I O N FA R M I N G Customers prefer U.S. soy because it’s sustainable. But demands for sustainability continue rising. Making informed management decisions by using data from all aspects of your operation helps you minimize inputs and maximize yields. Adopting this practice is another step forward in improving your sustainable footprint. Show your commitment to sustainability with a free truck magnet available at unitedsoybean.org/sustainability

26 | SPRING 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM

The Last Word Editor’s Notes by Ann Clinton aclinton@iasoybeans.com

Naturally Impacted: Conservation Efforts Are Good for You

W

hen my children were very young, I read a book that I still think about all these years later.

The premise isn’t complicated, but its message resonated with me.

The book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from NatureDeficit Disorder” by Richard Louv, encourages readers to understand the importance of connecting with the environment. The author says children need to go outside and play. It’s good for their brains.

Today’s children are often plugged into technology and spend more time inside than outside. Louv links the lack of interacting with nature to some of America’s most concerning childhood trends such as obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder and depression.

“Nature-deficit disorder is not a medical condition; it is a description of the human costs of alienation from nature,” says Louv. As a result, an association with our environment seems to be eroding in our society.

When you walk through a stream, you feel why water is important.

When you dig in the dirt, you create a connection to the earth — a relationship. You care for it because it is important to you.

In agriculture, this concept is obvious to most of us. The majority of farmers consider themselves environmentalists. You take care of the land because you make your living off of it. You understand the land because it’s part of who you are. You try to make it better because you are creating a legacy for your family.

However, there’s a significant part of our population who simply don't have a reason to care about our environment as deeply as you do.

Maybe they would if they’d just go outside more.

In this issue of the Iowa Soybean Review, we focus our attention on topics impacting the environment. Most notable perhaps is the story featuring a roundtable discussion with water quality project coordinators. These key implementers of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy must have spent their childhoods playing in streams.

They now help farmers achieve the strategy’s goal of reducing nitrogen and phosphorous loads entering waterways from point and nonpoint sources by 45 percent.

Iowa Soybean Association’s Environmental Programs and Services (EPS) team is always at the ready to help Iowa farmers advance their conservation goals. The team consists of experts in watershed planning, water monitoring, conservation planning and conservation drainage. Additional stories in this issue touched on those different areas, but I encourage you to take a deeper dive by contacting the EPS team with questions or ideas.

Speaking of ideas, if you have stories you’d be willing to share with me, shoot me an email or give me a call at 515-251-8640. Maybe there’s a book you think I need to read or a topic that needs to be hammered out. Let’s talk.

Meanwhile, I hope you are enjoying nature at its best this spring. Soak it up.

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