Iowa Soybean Review | Spring 2021 by Iowa Soybean Association

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SOYBEAN Spring 2021

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE: AIMING FOR HIGH-FUNCTIONING SOILS

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Spring 2021 | Vol. 33, No. 7

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Regenerative Ag

A systems approach to soil health.

Saving Time & Money Change in weather shifts farmer’s conservation trajectory.

Patterns of Promise Relay cropping experimentation shows protential.

Prairie Strips

A Win-Win-Win for Farmers, Communities and Environment.

On the Cover: Elyssa McFarland, a corn and soybean grower from Columbus Junction, wants you to remember there’s a difference between soil and dirt. “Soil is the basis of life,” says McFarland, an Iowa State University (ISU) agronomy graduate who earned her master’s degrees in agronomy and soil science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Soil is what grows our food. It’s connected to everything we are.”

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 3

Executive Insights Kirk Leeds, ISA Chief Executive Off icer kleeds@iasoybeans.com

Creating a Legacy

f there were awards given for most-used phrases, “regenerative ag” would be a top nominee. The topic is trending as the Administration and “new” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack intertwine climate and agriculture in numerous and significant policy proposals. I’ve seen it defined in many ways. Permit me to add one more. Regenerative ag is the combining of biological systems with the use of innovative tools and resources to improve agricultural production and sustainability. Or, put another way, it’s about protecting the health of our soil so it can continue to produce. The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) has been driven to deliver improved soil health and more sustainable ag production long before these topics were considered “cool.” Over several decades, Team ISA has explored and evaluated many tools and technologies to better understand the interconnectivity between production practices and soil and water health. We’re deeply invested in this work and, most importantly, generating results. ISA is home base for nearly two dozen

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professionals devoted to agronomic and conservation research and the analytics to make sense of it all. You’ll also find a certified water testing lab in our facility. To my knowledge, no other commodity organization in the country can say the same. Just as unique is our approach to research. About a year ago, the team combined its agronomic, conservation and analytics work into the Research Center for Farming Innovation. In doing so, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of the unique value proposition ISA can now provide for farmers who want to go deeper in exploring practices that regenerate soil health. It’s little wonder, therefore, that ISA is able to engage on the topic so effectively with policymakers, regulators, seed and trait companies, and other ag organizations. Our focus on research holds tremendous value for soybean farmers. You’re all about data and rightfully so. The bottom line matters. Information gleaned from years of analyzing in-field and edgeof-field trials can get farmers from Point A to B more quickly. Time is

money, as is avoiding practices that don’t work or underperform. One additional point about regenerative ag. The farm community has long struggled to find enough resources to fund the number of conservation practices farmers want to implement. That must change. ISA has been aggressive and entrepreneurial to aggregate resources so we can walk beside more farmers on this journey to better water and soil. An example of this commitment is creation of the Soil & Water Outcomes Fund. I encourage you to learn more at www.theoutcomesfund.com. We live in a “now” world. Patience is in short supply, whether doing something as simple as connecting to the Internet or complicated as making measurable and long-term water quality improvement. Only by combining better production methods with infield and edge-of-field conservation practices and then making it work financially will we quicken the pace of innovation and results outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Regenerative ag is just a cool way to describe the work we’ve been leading thanks to the foresight of Iowa’s soybean farmers.

unitedsoybean.org

RESEARCHING A BETTER BEAN

Whether you’re dealing with drought, flood, heat or other climate-related stress, the soy checkoff is working behind the scenes to diversify U.S. soybean genetics and increase stress tolerance. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And it’s helping make a valuable impact for soybean farmers like you. See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for soybean farmers at unitedsoybean.org

Brought to you by the soy checkoff. ©2018 United Soybean Board. Our Soy Checkoff and the Our Soy Checkoff mark are trademarks of United Soybean Board. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Policy Update Michael Dolch, ISA Director of Public Affairs, MDolch@iasoybeans.com

When the Dust Settles

t is that time of the year. Whether chasing a seed tender down a gravel road or kicking up behind a closing wheel, dust is flying, and seeds are germinating across the state. It is planting season, which for my family and so many others, means one thing, it is go time. An interchangeable reference to planting or harvesting, go time is a nonstop, around-the-clock seasonal affair crucial for farmers as they have a lot of ground to cover in a short amount of time. Despite a cold, wet start for much of the state, folks are driving hard and making strong progress. By the time this edition of the Iowa Soybean Review slid into your mailbox, the 2021 Iowa Legislature adjourned sine die. Sine die is a Latin term meaning “without day.” All bills passed and received by Gov. Kim Reynolds during the last three calendar days of the legislative session are now on the clock and must be signed or vetoed within the 30-day window after adjournment. No different than sessions past, the several days and weeks leading up to adjournment this year saw a flurry of activity extending deep into the night more often than not. As these words hit the page, I am hopeful that one of the bills approved within the final days and

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set for ceremonial signing is the governor’s Iowa Biofuel Standards Bill, a top priority of the Iowa Soybean Association this session. Should the legislation meet the governor’s pen, it would not only give Iowa the nation’s leading biofuels policy and significantly boost demand for homegrown soybeans and corn, but also accelerate Iowa’s rural recovery post-pandemic. As expected, critics of the effort argued the bill would limit customer choice and cripple fueling infrastructure. In reality, though, the legislation would only fuel progress and secure Iowa’s renewable and economic future by growing consumer choice and supporting rural jobs and communities. I cannot view the future with a crystal-ball, but based on historical and presentday trends emerging federally, I have reason to believe these same critics could eventually come calling when the liquid fuel market is squeezed by California-like Low Carbon Fuel Standard programs and electrification proposals. Regardless of the bill’s fate, I am grateful for the support Iowa soybean farmers, ISA Advocates, and industry partners demonstrated since the proposal was first introduced

in February. I am also thankful and appreciative for the ongoing leadership shown by Gov. Reynolds and her staff on behalf of Iowa’s farmers and rural communities. These partnerships are just one way the ISA works to achieve positive policy outcomes for the over 12,800 ISA farmer members. The ISA is, and has always been, in the business of driving increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmerfocused research, timely information and know-how, and farmer-led policy initiatives. Beyond biofuels, we are engaging on the issues critical to your bottom line, issues dealing with government regulation and overreach, taxes, trade and market access, carbon credit markets, and increased input costs. These are all high-impact, legacy issues which will have generational implications. I will leave you with this... regardless of what you see and hear, policymakers do understand the enormous economic and social impact of the agriculture industry on the nation. So, when the dust settles in Des Moines and the field, we will be here to map out next steps and demand drivers with you. Until then, have a safe and successful go time.

unitedsoybean.org

KEEPING THE FUTURE OF SOYBEANS BRIGHT

From researching new uses for soybeans to identifying new markets for U.S. soy, the soy checkoff is working behind the scenes to create new opportunities and increase profits for soybean farmers. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And it’s helping make a valuable impact for soybean farmers like you. See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for soybean farmers at unitedsoybean.org

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 7

Activate or Validate Your Membership Your investment in the soybean checkoff powers the Iowa Soybean Association. Farmer membership is available to you at no additional cost. We customize your membership to meet your needs, sending you the information and providing the resources you need to make farming decisions that keep you competitive. Put our expertise and services to work for you — validate your membership today at

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IOWA'S SOYBEANS FEED THE STATE'S LIVESTOCK More than 116 million bushels of soybeans are fed annually to more than 22 million hogs and pigs in the state. On average, each hog eats about 138.5 pounds of meal crushed from 2.9 bushels of soybeans. Hog production statewide utilizes, on average, 2.8 million tons of soybean meal annually. Raising pigs in Iowa is good for the Iowa soybean farmer. The Iowa Soybean Association is a proud, founding member of the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers.

To find out how the Coalition can help you at no cost, visit SupportFarmers.com 1.800.932.2436

BIODIESEL DEMAND FOR SOYBEAN OIL HAS GROWN...

...IN THE LAST DECADE.

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Protecting the Soil Legacy. Productivity. Profitability. It all depends on taking care of the land that grows your crops.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 11

Roger Wolf says helping farmers strike a soil and water balance is a goal of ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation.

Regenerative Ag A systems approach to soil health.

BY BETHANY BARATTA

egenerative agriculture may seem like a buzzworthy, complicated phrase, but Roger Wolf says it’s something the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) has been helping farmers define and achieve for decades. “Regenerative ag is a fundamental start of focusing on soil health,” says Wolf, director of the ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI). It’s a systems approach of thinking about soil health and the practices that encourage carbon response. It’s then balancing soil health and water quality. “Thinking about water and soil balance is important primarily because water has such a big impact on yield,” Wolf says. Soils are too dry or too wet negatively impact crops, so looking at how to achieve a balance with water is also part of this systems approach to soil health. “It’s much broader than picking

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a practice, now we’re looking at how you pick a practice and get multiple benefits,” Wolf says. One example is ISA’s approach to transforming drainage. What impact does drainage system have on water quality and the loss of nutrients? If we capture water on the landscape and irrigate it back, how does that change the cropping system? Combining practices and research makes it all come together, Wolf says. “It’s a data-driven approach and applying a scientific process to understand how systems respond.”

Expanding efforts Regenerative ag and the systems approach to water and soil health isn’t

a new concept, says April Hemmes, an ISA director from Hampton. “I don’t know any farmer who doesn’t want healthier soils,” Hemmes says. When her father and grandfather farmed the land in north central Iowa, pasture rotation and strategically planting alfalfa on side hills or places where corn didn’t grow well were ways to preserve soil without impacting water quality. Today, she implements practices that have the same goals. Hemmes plants cover crops on some of her acres, has natural grass buffer strips to protect water quality, and no-till fields to keep soil disturbance at a minimum. “Leaving the crop residue out there

doesn’t harm anything, in fact, I’m building soil health and organic matter,” Hemmes says. Having served on her local board as a Franklin County Soil and Water commissioner the last 25 years, she’s thinking about regenerative practices not only on her farm, but in her county, too. Evaluating her practices and production led Hemmes to think differently about a challenging four acres that produced crops in just two of 25 years of farming. The piece is close to a creek, has a steep dip, but lies lower than the creek itself. She converted the four acres to a wetland, providing habitat and adding to the conservation efforts on her fourth-generation farm.

Explaining conservation benefits One of the latest tools developed by ISA RCFI’s analytics team is helping farmers demonstrate how adding cover crops to their system may provide opportunities and benefits. The Cover Crop Economic Simulator tool is designed for farmers, landowners and anyone else interested in measuring the environmental and economic outcomes of cover crops. ISA member Pat Murken from Story City realized the benefits of this new tool when presenting a business case to his landowners, as he does each year. “For the past 11 years, I’ve told them about the benefits of cover crops, but I didn’t specifically have the economics worked out to show them,” Murken says. “By plugging my information into the simulator tool, I’m able to show the income opportunities through cover crops on those farms.” There are cover crop tools available from other entities, but the ability to use aggregated figures or custom numbers makes ISA’s tool unique. Plus, ISA’s simulator

shows users the other benefits cover crops provide that are difficult to put a price on, such as increased pollinator population, and benefits for future generations. Murken says he’s realized increased soil stability and nutrient availability year-over-year. The 2020 crop year showed these benefits. His fields were in the path of the August 2020 derecho. The storm decimated crops across the state. Though one-third of his corn stalks were broken or downed as a result, he was still able to produce a bumper corn crop. “Thanks to cover crops and the positive condition of the soil, we averaged over 200 bushels on the acres with 35% of corn stalks broken,” Murken says. Healthier soils mean he’s been able to use less nitrogen. Three years ago, he dropped nitrogen usage by 10 pounds per acre. This year, he’s decreasing nitrogen applications by an additional 15 pounds per acre.

“It’s much broader than picking a practice. Now we’re looking at how you pick a practice and get multiple benefits.” — Roger Wolf, ISA RCFI

Leveraging strengths Leveraging farmers’ in-field practices with data and decision support tools help expand conservation efforts and furthers the work in the regenerative ag space, Wolf says. “As we continue to scale up nutrient reduction practices, we’ll continue to see this need of capturing multiple values, whether that’s adding diversity to the rotation or leveraging the symbiotic relationship of livestock and crops,” Wolf says. “It’s fundamentally going back to leveraging the productive strengths of the soil and thinking about movement and management of water and loss of nutrients. If we can keep more nutrients in the system, it creates more value for farmers.” Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.

Multiple conservation efforts on April Hemmes’ farm in north central Iowa help maintain and build soil health.

Fa c t Soil Health s of six inche If the top anic rg o f st 1% o soil had ju ld u o c il en so matter, th ly te a roxim hold app ter o n s o f wa ll a g 27,000 per acre. es nited Stat ture Source: U Agricul of t en tm Depar

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 13

Implementing conservation practices has been a boon to Wayne Fredericks’ budget and crop yields.

Saving Time & Money Change in weather shifts farmer’s conservation trajectory

BY BETHANY BARATTA

ayne Fredericks and his wife Ruth began farming in northern Iowa in the early 1970s. For the first 19 years, their farm was managed conventionally. Corn stalks were plowed and soybean stubble was tilled before planting. It was a change in the weather that altered their conventional farming practices for the better. “In the winter of 1991, we had an early freeze, and I didn’t get any of our fall plowing done,” Wayne recalls. “I sat in my office in December wondering what the heck I was going to do.” Wayne stumbled upon an article in a farm magazine about a farmer no-tilling soybeans. He was intrigued. Later, a discussion with his John Deere implement dealer turned into a proposition. The dealer was going to get a no-till drill to run a trial, and he would lend it to Wayne if he was interested. The result: good growth and weed control plus outstanding yields.

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“I was hooked,” Wayne says. “I went from plowing to no-till soybeans in one fell swoop.” Though Wayne was initially wary of no-till corn, he has found a way to optimize the economics of his corn fields using a strip-till system. He applies phosphorous and potassium in the fall in those strips with the goal of maximizing nutrient efficiency and reducing nutrient loss. In the spring, he no-tills into those fall-built strips. He’s found the strips more suitable for planting; 7 to 10 degrees warmer and drier. It works well in his system, especially since he’s operating without additional labor.

Addressing weather and water quality His motivation for implementing cover crops was improving water quality, not economics. Over time, however, he found combining cover

crops with no-till generated substantial financial value. Wayne first got involved with cover crops through replicated strip trials run by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation. The trials revealed what species worked well on his farm and how cover crops affected crop yields. Partaking in the trials heightened Wayne’s awareness of cover crops and the benefits they have for water quality, including meeting Iowa’s nutrient reduction goals. On-farm water quality monitoring through ISA measured nitrogen levels at 13.23 mg/liter in the water draining off his soybean fields – higher than the drinking water standards at 10 mg/L. When the field was in corn, the samples revealed a nitrogen rate of 13.98 mg/L. After implementing cover crops into his system in 2016, Wayne saw a vast improvement in nitrate levels.

Soil Health Fact It takes 2,000 years for natural processes to make 10 centimeters of fer tile soil from bedrock. Source: The Nature Conservancy

“I planted into the tall green cereal rye, and our tiles tested at 4.17 mg/Liter, a 70% reduction in nitrogen,” Wayne says. “I was starting to get excited when I saw the results.”

A close look at economics Reduced tillage practices and implementation of cover crops has improved soil structure and increased organic matter in Wayne’s fields while reducing soil loss and fertilizer input costs. Various studies show advantages in several areas of his operation, including equipment, labor and fertilizer costs, improved weed control, and reduced soil loss (see chart). Wayne’s transition to conservation practices has also provided financial benefits through increased soil organic matter content. Studies in cooperation with the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment have shown a 2.5% increase in soil organic matter from 1990 to 2015. Estimates through NRCS show that a 1% increase in organic matter generates, on average, $18 per acre in moisture retention and $11 per acre in mineralized nitrogen and phosphorous (represented in the table as fertilizer cost savings). Considering savings through

“Maybe it’s hard in the beginning to point out the profitability associated with cover crops, but I think in the long term – like no-till is in relation to moldboard plowing – it’s the right thing to do.” — Wayne Fredericks, Osage

BUDGET ITEM

VALUE PER ACRE

crop insurance and subtracting $27 per acre in cover crop costs leaves a net savings of $138 per acre through conservation.

Cost Savings

Data Drives Decisions

Equipment

$44

Labor

$27

Fertilizer*

$27

Herbicide

$11

Soil loss

Research and trial data help drive decisions on Wayne’s farm. He’s also a believer in collaboration, cooperation and conservation. He’s worked with various groups to demonstrate how additional practices on the farm can help move the needle on water quality in Iowa. He’s designed and planted a windbreak, waterways, bioreactors and strategically placed pollinator habitats on his farm. He knows, however, that federal and state policies also influence farm-level decisions, just as the 1985 Farm Bill placed an emphasis on conservation and reduced tillage methods (from moldboard plowing to chisel plows). Evaluating these decisions on a farm-by-farm basis can aid other farmers in their decision making too, he says. “Maybe it’s hard in the beginning to point out the profitability associated with cover crops,” he says. “But I think in the long term – like no-till is in relation to moldboard plowing – it’s the right thing to do.” Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.

Soil water retention + increased organic matter value*

$45

Total

$156

Conservation Incentives and Crop Insurance IDALS cover crop, crop insurance program

Crop insurance premium savings

Total

Total Benefits

$165

Cost Increases Cover Crop Costs

$27

Total Increases

$27

NET IMPACT

cost savings -cost increases

$138

*Organic matter increased 2.5% over 25 years.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 15

Cover Crop Simulator New interactive tool helps farmers see costs and opportunities related to cover crops

BY BETHANY BARATTA

he Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), as part of an Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grant, developed an online tool

ct Soil Health Fa ually Fence rows us st soil ie th al have the he duces re ge lla on farms. Ti r content organic matte erosion and increases g and pores collapsin e. sealing over tim States Source: United Agriculture Department of

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to show various management strategies that can make cover crops profitable. The Cover Crop Economic Simulator also helps farmers and landowners see the cost and income opportunities available by adding cover crops. Cover crops have the potential to be a financial asset for farmers when managed well, but not everyone has the time to sift through information to find real-world values and come to a bottom-line conclusion. This tool provides an easy starting point for those unfamiliar with cover crop management, as well as a useful platform for long-time cover crop beneficiaries.

Access the Cover Crop Economic Simulator from the ISA website at www.iasoybeans.com/research/ results. There, you’ll find a “how to” video to assist you in using the tool and a simulator for you to adjust the default values to more closely match your own farm operation. The simulator tool is just one piece of a larger soil health test interpretation portal, which ISA’s analytics team is in the process of creating. Have additional questions? Contact ISA Analyst Suzanne Fey at sfey@iasoybeans.com or at 515-334-1046. Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.

Figure 1. Figure 1. Cover Crop Economic Simulator pages allow users to specify the cost of implementing cover crops and evaluate the impact of income and cost mitigation opportunities.

Page 2 Costs

Page 3 Income

Figure 2. Erosion reduction is one

Page 4 Cost Offsets

The simulator provides a drop-down list of four of the more successful cover crop options used in Iowa today. It includes a basic cost for each step of the process but also allows all values to be edited and customized by the user (Figure 1). The simulator provides basic cost and revenue values for grazing or harvesting cover crop forage, as well as for some of the basic cost offset payments from state and federal programs and from newly emerging ecosystem services opportunities, such as ISA’s Soil and Water Outcomes fund. The fund pays farmers for carbon sequestration and water quality benefits related to newly established cover crops. Revenue sources have quick-select options to offset base costs, which can also be tweaked to reflect the specific programs available in your area.

Figure 2.

of the important benefits of cover crops. But it is not a one-size-fits-all proposition because not all farmlands are valued equally. An interactive statewide soil loss map helps users better assess the economic value of the cover crop in reducing soil erosion and improving soil health. This tool includes an interactive map that has precalculated the estimated savings from reduced erosion at each local HUC12 watershed level.

Figure 3. The interactive net return matrix allows

Figure 3.

users to adjust within a selected range for crop market prices and yield change increments and other cost mitigation and income opportunities (lines and circles here are to illustrate operational relationships only).

The Net Return Grid is visible from every page in the simulator and it instantly adjusts to reflect new cost and offset selections or edits as they are made by the user. The chosen average yield will represent no or zero yield change in the center (white) row of the grid, and values in the Y-axis will illustrate the impact of any yield change (blue for the increase, red for the decrease), with values along the X-axis illustrating the impact of market price fluctuations above and below the base market value should yield changes occur. The two sliders enable users to determine the increments and range of change that is illustrated by the grid. In the given example (Figure 3), with average fall and spring biomass accumulation used for grazing, a specific watershed erosion reduction savings estimate, and a first-year government subsidy, this farmer will be money ahead even with a yield loss and corn above $4.60.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 17

ISA researchers discuss conservation efforts that improve soybean yields, profitability and sustainability.

Patterns of Promise Relay cropping experimentation shows potential

BY THEO GUNTHER, SENIOR RESEARCH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

hile Iowa farmers continue to grow large quantities of soybeans and corn each year, there has been a push to incorporate small grains back on the landscape, primarily as a cover crop. Cereal rye is hardy, nitrogen scavenging and quality forage for livestock.  Modern no-till planting equipment can easily establish soybean crops into stands of living rye. It’s a practice more farmers are using to achieve stewardship, economic and agronomic goals.    Research is clear on the effect of small grains in crop rotation with warm-season crops of corn and soybeans. Extensive fibrous roots aggregate and stabilize soil

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and suppress weeds. Nutrient cycles change in predictable ways to reduce possible loss from the system.  There are potential challenges with growing small grains for seed, including quality issues from a humid climate, highly variable yield and inconsistent markets. “We enjoy growing small grains for several reasons,” says Alec Amundson, who farms in Mitchell County. “Soil health benefits, additional crops in our rotation and less fall workload are among a few. “The drawback is getting small grains to compete with corn and soybeans from a profitability standpoint,” Amundson explains.

“We are lucky to have a local cover crop business that cleans and sells rye, but it is hard to compete with rye grown in the Dakota’s in quality and price.”   The old joke is that there are many reasons to grow small grains, but money usually isn’t one of them.  Joking aside, as farmers consider the big picture, one thing is clear: Iowa soils and waterways benefit from small grains on the landscape and can complement corn, soybean and livestock production.   Several Iowa farmers have been experimenting with relay crops of small grains with soybeans. This involves seeding soybeans early in the growing season while the cereal rye is still in vegetative growth stages. The soybeans grow together with the rye, and when the rye reaches maturity, it is harvested above the canopy of soybeans growing

below. The soybeans then proceed to maturity generating two grain crops.   Working with Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer participants have implemented replicated strip trials testing this method compared with sole crop soybeans.  Across all sites, rye yields ranged from 20-49 bushels per acre, with soybean yield reductions of 6-28 bushels compared with a sole crop (these reports are available on the research section of ISA’s website). Two sites achieved 90% of sole crop soybean yield while producing 30-40 bu/ac of rye seed. Several strategies are necessary to help keep soybean yields comparable and get a quality seed rye crop. They include fertilizer, crop protection and soybean maturity group. “We still have a lot to figure out when it comes to growing two crops simultaneously without too much competition between them,” says Amundson.

“We’ve experimented with different populations, row spacings and planting timing, but the biggest challenges have come from the weather including lack of late summer rainfall.” Even after accounting for additional management costs, producing seed quality rye and minimal soybean yield reductions can make economic gains and generate the soil and water quality improvements that come with growing small grains.  In 2021, more than 10 farmer participants are planning to compare relay and sole crop methods in replicated comparisons with ISA and Northeast Iowa RC&D. This will expand the knowledge base on this system for all farmers in Iowa. As farmers continue to identify the necessary management refinements and agronomic details of this system, the result will be more local seed for cover crops and forage, environmental improvements, and marketable soybean crops produced at the same time.

Soil Health Fact Advanced analytical and computational tools suggest that approximately 1 billion bacterial cells reside in a single gram of soil. Source: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

Contact Theo Gunther at tgunther@iasoybeans.com.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 19

Prairie Strips A win-win-win for farmers, communities and the environment

BY SEAN MCMAHON

very field has its trouble spots; those places within the field that the yield monitor will dip as farmers pass over them in the combine; the low spots that are too wet most years, the eroded hill tops and side hills, the sandy ridges, or the compacted turning headlands. One company that pioneered subfield scale profitability analysis found within every single field analyzed, 3% to 20% of those acres lost big money at least four out of five years. What if there was a way to flip the script on those acres? How would you like to go from losing more than $300/ acre in one of those problem spots to getting paid $300/acre? What if you were able to replace one or more of those trouble spots where you lose good money on expensive inputs with tall, noble, native prairie grasses; beautiful Iowa

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prairie flowers, monarchs and other butterflies, Goldfinches and other songbirds, and beneficial insects and pollinators? What if those problematic places within your field became new places where you can delight in the beauty of God’s creation and nature’s bountiful palette of colors, as well as more green in your wallet? Well, there is. Meet your new friend. You can call her “Prairie Strips.” Iowa State University (ISU) has spent the better part of the last 15 years perfecting placing strips of prairie in those problem spots within fields where they can do the most good for both farmers and nature. By replacing approximately 5% of your field acres where you currently lose money most years, you can cut your water run-off by 42%, reduce your soil erosion sediment

loss by 95%; and nearly eliminate your nitrogen and phosphorus losses by 70% and 77%, respectively. Prairie strips hold back the soil, water and nutrients for other parts of your fields while improving water quality. And they create important habitat for butterflies, pollinators and beneficial insects that are the enemies of crop pests and several bird species. Best of all, ISU partners with farmers to put prairie strips where they make the most sense in terms of farm operability and profitability. Ryan Kay, an accredited farm manager and land consultant for Hertz Farm Management, has helped multiple clients incorporate prairie strips and has even done so on his family farm. Kay says, “prairie strips are a flexible tool for improving farming efficiencies within the field.

“We have designed prairie strips to reduce turn rows, establish buffers by timber, and reduce erosion in specific field locations,” says Kay. “This allows us to farm the productive regions of the field and create diversity while keeping conservation in mind. He encourages landowners and farmers to look at areas within the field that are susceptible to compaction, erosion and water flow to incorporate prairie strips. By reducing expenses and ceasing to throw good money after bad, farmers have more resources available to allocate to zones of the field that generate the highest productivity and profitability. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, which mentions prairie strips by name, this important practice pioneered right here in Iowa is now available through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). It has been implemented in 13 states. Iowa NRCS is making cost-share available for farmers for this exciting and innovative conservation practice through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). “Prairie strips provide a great opportunity for our farmers to produce crops and environmental benefits at the same time. “With the appropriate costshare to offset expenses, farmers can also increase profitability,” notes Iowa NRCS State Conservationist Jon Hubbert.

A generous grant from the CropLife Foundation is helping ISU and the Iowa Wildlife Federation partner with farmers and landowners to scale up adoption of prairie strips in Iowa and beyond. “CropLife America is excited to work with the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and the CropLife Foundation to promote prairie strips and the Precision Prairie project,” says Chris Novak, CropLife America president and CEO. “The practice of returning nonproductive parts of the field to native grasslands not only provides habitat for pollinators and other wildlife species, it also helps farmers increase ROI while enhancing environmental sustainability. Prairie strips offer a win-win that helps farmers produce food more sustainably and profitably on less land, using fewer resources.” IAWA is coordinating the CropLife Foundation grant and its grantees to raise awareness for prairie strips. “We’re thankful for the Croplife Foundation’s and Iowa Wildlife Federation’s help in increasing the pace and scale of farmland conservation in Iowa,” notes Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore, ISU professor of natural resources ecology and management, who helped create the prairie strips concept. “We have a real opportunity to show the world what agriculture that works for both people and the land looks like.”

“We have designed prairie strips to reduce turn rows, establish buffers by timber, and reduce erosion in specific field locations.” — Ryan Kay, Hertz Farm Management

Fa c t Soil Health

to be t your soil If you wan ld not u o en you sh g the healthy, th in p e e K . n ofte akes m see it that e m ti d all the at th e soil covere iz al en you re sense wh ving in li s m is organ the micro od and d need fo the groun – just like e iv rv su n to res. protectio tu ea ng cr other livi es nited Stat Source: U re Agricultu of t en Departm

Editor’s Note:

Sean McMahon is the executive director of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, the vice president of the Iowa Wildlife Federation and the chairman of the board of the CropLife Foundation. The CropLife Foundation is supported by CropLife America, its member companies and other donors.

Lisa Schulte Moore of ISU leads a group of farmers, scientists and prairie enthusiasts through a prairie strip in the foot slope of a soybean field by the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 21

Chris Gaesser says his parents instilled a strong conservation ethic.

Family Tradition Preserving conservation values and legacies

BY BETHANY BARATTA

ccording to Iowa State University, 60% of Iowa farmland is owned by people over the age of 65, and 35% of Iowa farmland is owned by those over 75. By 2024, landlords in the U.S. expect to transfer 91.5 million acres, or 10%, of all U.S. farmland. The way in which the land is transferred from one generation to the next could have a profound impact on the future of conservation efforts and of the land itself. Having a farm transition plan that includes conservation not only ensures the continuation of the farm — it also helps preserve a farmer’s conservation legacy.

One farmer’s “aha” moment “We are all committed to trying new practices that make soil better and protect our water,” says farmer Ray Gaesser of Corning. “We need to have a plan for how we can continue those

22 | SPRING 2021 | IASOYBEANS.COM

efforts when we step away from the farm.” Ray and his wife Elaine are currently working through their formalized transition plan with their son Chris and his wife Shannon, who are partners in their row crop business. Chris recalls the moment when he and his parents watched four inches of rain fall in one hour’s time, washing away crop residue built up over decades. The painful event prompted them to increase their conservation efforts. “Even though we were doing something, it wasn’t enough, and we knew we had to do better,” Chris says. The family planted cereal rye as a cover crop to help stabilize their soil and build soil health. Currently, the Gaessers have about 65% of their acres covered in cover crops. They’ve been incorporating terraces and waterways for more than 40 years, and they’ve been 100% no-till for 30

years. They see their dedication to conservation as a perfect complement to their transition plan, which sets up the continuation of the family’s commitments. “We have a responsibility to transition and help the next generation,” Ray says. “We also have to be able to learn to let go and let them make some of those decisions. As we learn that, we need to keep the value and the business model intact.”

Mentoring the next generation The transition looks different for Wayne and Ruth Fredericks, who haven’t identified an heir who will take over the farming operation when they retire. Their daughter lives in Texas with her family. “We will definitely write a conservation lease,” says Wayne. “In there, we will have the goal on what

we want to happen in terms of tillage practices and conservation efforts.” The Fredericks raise soybeans and corn in a 50-50 rotation and have been long-time users of no-till and strip-till. They have spent many years working on trials with the Iowa Soybean Association and have implemented cover crops on all their acres. Though he doesn’t have a transition plan formalized for his land, he expects to reach out to younger farmers who show progress and promise in continuing his conservation legacy.

Value in conservation inheritance Wayne says conservation practices and improved soil health should be figured into farmland values, much like Corn Suitability Ratings are for farms in Iowa. “When you really sit down and put

a value on soil carbon and what the inherited value of that organic matter is to the soil, there’s some real value there,” Wayne says. Wayne calculated a 2.5% increase in organic matter on three different farms over the past 25 years. According to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) analysis, every percent increase in soil organic matter equates to an additional 16,500 gallons of water available in the soil and approximately $18-peracre value in improved moisture and soil resilience. Wayne also sees nutrient retention value in this organic matter increase and assigns it an $11 per acre value. “My field should be more productive than the farmer across the road that has the same soil and does full-width tillage,” Wayne says. He added that incentives like reduced crop insurance rates should be provided for more productive acres with increased soil health scores since they reduce risk potential.

Pass it on David Baker is a farm transition specialist and the director of Iowa State University’s Beginning Farmer Center. “There shouldn’t be anything holding farmers back from continuing conservation practices,” Baker says. Baker says mentorship coupled with financial assistance programs for conservation practices will help grow conservation efforts in the state. He’s worked with several farmers to determine the best ways to include conservation in contracts and agreements with their heirs and non-heir tenants and operators. Whether carried on through contracts or mentorships, farmers like Ray and Wayne are demonstrating why conservation legacies are worth preserving, contributing to both a personal sense of fulfillment and in setting the next generation of farmers on a better, more resilient course for the future. Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.

Soil Health Fact Average loss in Iowa is between 5-5.5 tons per acre. That's roughly the thickness of a dime.

Ray Gaesser sees the opportunities in transitioning the farm to his son and daughter-in-law.

Source: University of Minnesota Extension

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 23

A.J. Blair is working with ISA researchers to learn more about an innovative system of drainage water recycling.

Transforming Ag Drainage Farmers take a new look at water management

BY DARCY MAULSBY

f you’re like most Iowa farmers, you have areas in your fields that never seem to drain well. What if you could put that water to work for you? A.J. and Kellie Blair are partnering with Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) researchers to see how their Dayton-area farm can benefit from an innovative system of drainage water recycling. “As a farmer, you’re always cussing the weather, because it’s never right,” A.J. Blair says. “I always thought we didn’t need irrigation, but it would be cool to have water at the right time.” The Blairs have started transforming a 3-acre area on their farm into a holding pond. The excess water captured in the pond will be used in a pivot-irrigation system during drier parts of the growing season. The Blairs are working with Chris Hay, Ph.D., an ISA senior research scientist, to implement a new resource called Evaluating Drainage Water

24 | SPRING 2021 | IASOYBEANS.COM

Recycling Decisions (EDWRD). This tool helps farmers estimate the potential benefits of capturing drained agricultural water in ponds or reservoirs. This water can be used for irrigation, either with a center-pivot system, sub-irrigation or drip irrigation. “What if we take a new look at drainage?” Hay says. “What if we don’t just remove excess water, but store it and use it when the crop needs it? That’s what drainage water recycling is all about.”

Financial Benef it Drainage water recycling isn’t a new idea. University researchers began studying these systems in the 1980s and 1990s, Hay notes. Greater interest in water quality today, however, is spurring renewed interest in the concept.

ISA has been researching drainage water recycling since 2015. The data show that ag drainage recycling boosts yield potential and protects downstream water quality by managing nitrogen and phosphorus levels. “While a lot of water quality practices don’t benefit farmers financially, drainage water recycling does,” Hay says. “It’s a combination of multiple win-wins.” The ISA Research team is testing EDWRD and drainage water recycling systems through pilot projects around Iowa in 2021. “Each system is unique and is designed to fit the landscape,” Hay says. On the Blair’s farm, the drainage water recycling system will tap into a

drainage district main that runs under the field. “We’re building some levees and adding a sump pump that will transfer water to the reservoir,” Hay says. The size of an earthen, clay-lined reservoir depends on the area the farmer wants to irrigate. ISA uses field data and soils information to help determine the size of the reservoirs for the farms in the 2021 pilot projects. If the system is designed for 4-to-6 acre inches, for example, the volume of water applied would cover an area of 1 acre to a depth of 1 inch. “A few extra inches of water could come in handy when corn is pollinating or soybeans are flowering,” Hay says. Irrigation opens up additional farm management options, too, including the ability to fertigate. “This lets you spread out nitrogen applications during the growing season,” Hay says.

Boost soil, plant health The benefits don’t stop there. Proper drainage enhances soil health and plant health. “Lowering the water table allows more oxygen in the soil profile and promotes better root growth,” says Darla Huff, agriculture market manager, North America, with Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS), Inc. “Properly drained soil means less compaction, which allows roots to penetrate deeper into the soil.”

Healthy roots lead to efficient nutrient uptake, which contributes to more bushels at harvest. “With proper drainage, we consistently see increases in yields,” Huff says. “It’s not unusual to see up to a 20% to 30% yield increase for corn and soybeans.” Ag drainage is a much more ecofriendly practice than it gets credit for, adds Willie Ubben Jr., who co-owns Ubben Tiling, Inc. at Stratford. “It’s a big misconception that tiling leads to flooding. It actually helps control runoff.” Ubben installed one of the first bioreactors in Hamilton County about 15 years ago. He’s also a fan of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) wetlands and saturated buffers, which improve water quality while offering habitat for geese and other wildlife. “I’ve been in this business 25 years and have seen how farmland improvement and water quality go together.”

Stewardship is also interested in costshare programs for the reservoirs, since they capture nitrogen and phosphorus and prevent it from going downstream,” Hay says. Going forward, water management systems may become part of ecosystem markets that can pay for farmers. “While carbon sequestration is the big thing now, conservation-minded investors are also interested in water quality markets,” Hay says. Until then, drainage water recycling offers farmers like Blair an immediate benefit. “This has the potential to increase yield while taking some nitrogen out of the water, cleaning it and returning it back on to the field. We don’t need 20 inches of water to irrigate, but 2 inches at pollination could be huge.”

ct Soil Health Fa

Offsetting the cost While water management systems are effective, they require an investment. Drainage water recycling programs often start in the $250,000 range, Hay says. ISA has been working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) so drainage water recycling is eligible for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). “The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land

the In addition to ainage dr t, fi irrigation bene g reduces water recyclin phosphorus nitrogen and g the water loss by reusin in the field. Source: Transfor

ming Drainag

Chris Hay, ISA senior research scientist, says drainage water recycling offers farmers an immediate benefit.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 25

Soybean Farmers Named to ISA Communications Squad

wenty-one Iowa soybean farmers have been selected to participate in the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Communications Squad. They volunteer to communicate the importance of modern soybean production and agriculture to media, consumers, civic groups and classrooms and help represent ISA at special events. Communications Squad participants meet five times throughout the year for comprehensive training sessions, industry updates and personal outreach projects. Farmer participants include: • Aimee Bissell, Bedford • Klint Bissell, Bedford • Ethan Crow, Marshalltown • Marty Danzer, Carroll • Jeff Frank, Auburn • James Hepp, Rockwell City • Paige Hepp, Rockwell City

become more familiar with social media and other technologies we can use to reach non-ag audiences.”Each participant chooses one of three areas of additional focus and training: social media, writing and spokesperson (media) opportunities. The group kicked off the program year in February and met for task force training days in March where they created communications projects to work on throughout the year. Additional training sessions will be held in June, July and August. Throughout the year, participants network with communications professionals and reporters and receive top-line industry updates from ISA staff. Outreach projects created by participants range from launching Instagram accounts and YouTube channels to authoring children’s books and hosting farm tours.

“Communication is a very positive thing for me and my farm,” adds Murken, who started a YouTube channel after training sessions in March. “I enjoy hearing feedback from people in my community and sharing my farming story with younger audiences. It’s important for farmers to get in front of people and do these kinds of things.” The Communications Squad also engages with staff and leadership of Landus, Key Cooperative and Corteva. For more information about the Communications Squad, including photos and videos from training sessions, visit the membership programs page at iasoybeans.com. To contact a farmer participant for an outreach opportunity, contact ISA Public Relations Manager Katie James at kjames@iasoybeans.com.

• Morey Hill, Madrid • Jeff Jorgenson, Sidney • Rick Juchems, Plainfield • Kevin McGrain, Hornick • Randy Miller, Lacona • Pat Murken, Story City • Laura Myrtue, Smithland • Kristin Oberbroeckling, Garnavillo • Brent Renner, Klemme • Lori Ryner, Winterset • Pat Swanson, Ottumwa • Tarin Tiefenthaler, Carroll • Tom Vincent, Perry • Chuck White, Spencer

“Farmer communication is the most powerful way I can think of to connect with consumers about what farmers do,” says Murken, a secondyear program participant. “The Communications Squad has helped me go beyond my comfort zone and

26 | SPRING 2021 | IASOYBEANS.COM

Communications Squad participants Ethan Crow (left) and Kristin Oberbroeckling work collaboratively at the first training session of 2021.

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

Rock Stars

y parents had a “rock” party at a field my dad recently acquired. The crew of approximately 13 family members spent the better part of the day picking up rocks and other debris left behind from an old building site. With the trailer hooked up to the pickup, we systematically made our way through the section, picking up seemingly everything in sight. I’m being a little dramatic. Dad said we didn’t have to pick up anything as small as gravel. It was hard work, of course, but it was truly a great day. We were filthy, exhausted and more than a little hungry. However, it was a joy to just be together. We laughed and told stories. We eulogized the people who used to live on that farmstead. One of my nephews found an old, plastic army guy and a horseshoe. I can’t imagine discovering better treasures. The pieces of the past being picked up and carefully admired by the future farmers of that piece of land was pretty special. The little boys, whom we had to keep out of the way of the skid loader, will be the same ones who plant and harvest the field

someday. They will have learned from their grandpa how to take care of the land, and they will apply their own knowledge to make it even better. They will remember who used to love it, and they will love it extra hard on their behalf. The stories in this issue of the Iowa Soybean Review focus on soil health. Admittedly, it’s a huge topic, and we only scratched the surface, so to speak. But it’s a topic the Iowa Soybean Association is passionate about and that won’t change. We will continue to conduct and share farmer-focused agronomic and conservation research and results that improve soybean yields, profitability and sustainability. Farmers farm for a lot of reasons, but arguably one of the most important reasons has to do with generational inspiration. Taking care of the soil is just another way to love your family. Drop me a note and tell me about how your family has fun while working. How are you modeling your values while creating your legacy? Stay safe, my friends.

My 4-year-old nephew, Nathan, was a massive help as we worked to pick up rocks out of a farm field recently. He was already exhausted from playing with his cousins the day before. “Work hard, play hard,” my sister mused to him as he lugged debris to the trailer.

If you have a comment about a story in the magazine, I want to hear about it. If you have thoughts about farming or agriculture in general, hit me up. It all matters to me. Ann Clinton Aclinton@iasoybeans.com 515-251-8640

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 27

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