CONTENTS TABLE OF
0
6 President’s foreword: WSA’s next chapter
7 Up to the task: WSA tabs Adam Kask as new executive director
8 Moving ‘Forward’: WSA’s publication takes new direction
4 On the ballot: What growers need to know on eve of 2024 election
8 Checkoff champion: Patrick Mullooly caps long run as WSMB president
1 0 Session successes: WSA notches policy wins in Madison, preps for 2025
2
1 Season of change: Jonathan Gibbs assumes new role on WSMB
2 Game changer: Soybean farmers throw forever chemicals a curveball
8 ‘Boatload of benefits’: Soil Health program covers ground
3
0 Connecting routes: WI farmers lead inaugural See For Yourself visit
4 Waterway imPORTance: Rotterdam visit explores trade options
6 Harvest weed control: Experts lend advice on keeping beans clean
About the Cover
While CVTC Fire Training Manager Mark Schwartz looks on, Wisconsin farmer Nancy Kavazanjian puts SoyFoam, a checkoff-funded fire suppressant, to the test.
Photo by Doug Monson. Read on page 22.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board members from across the state represent the voices of Wisconsin soybean growers to advocate for government policies and support research that helps improve the profitability of soybean farmers.
Sara is currently serving in her second term as WSA president, representing District 2. She operates a diverse farming operation that includes soybeans, corn, peas, green beans and cattle in Wautoma. She also represents Wisconsin on the United Soybean Board.
Sara Daniel Tanner Don Doug Matt Stelter Linse Johnson Lutz Rebout Rehberg
Daniel represents District 1 and serves as WSA secretary. He grows a mix of soybeans and corn with his father on his farm in Mondovi. Along with crops, the Linses also raise turkeys.
Doug serves as vice president on WSA’s officer team, representing District 3. He raises soybeans, corn and wheat in Janesville alongside his brothers and nephews.
Matt serves as treasurer on the WSA officer team and represents District 3. A firstgeneration farmer, he raises soybeans, corn and wheat on his operation in Darien.
Tanner is a first-generation farmer from Prairie Farm. He is an at-large director for WSA and serves on the American Soybean Association (ASA) board. Tanner is also a 2017 graduate of ASA’s Young Leader Program.
Don farms in the Central Sands region in Scandinavia, where he grows soybeans and corn with his brother and nephew. He is an at-large director for WSA and serves on ASA’s board.
EDITORIAL STAFF ADVERTISING
WSA Executive Director Adam Kask akask@wisoybean.org (608) 274-7522
Sr. Director of Integrated Marketing Doug Monson doug@agmgmtsolutions.com
Art Director
Kristeena Thisius kristeena@agmgmtsolutions.com
Managing Editor Drew Lyon drew@agmgmtsolutions.com
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Advertisements within this publication contain the opinions and information of the advertisers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the Wisconsin Soybean Program or affiliated groups.
Steve is a past WSA president who currently represents District 1. He farms primarily soybeans and corn in the central Wisconsin area near Amherst.
Katie Jake Danny Steve Dr. Shawn Dave Kaczor Steffes Brisky Trzebiatowski Conley Coggins
Dr. Conley is a professor of agronomy and the soybean and small grains specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Shawn is WSA’s representative on the board for the University of Wisconsin’s College of Agricultural & Life Sciences.
Katie was elected in 2024 as an industry director for WSA. She is the district sales manager for Legacy Seeds and resides in De Pere, representing District 4.
Jake farms in Mineral Point and serves as a WSA at-large director. He graduated from ASA’s Young Leader Program in 2023 and participated in the program’s third phase in Washington, D.C.
Dave is a recently retired banker with a lifetime of experience in both agricultural and commercial lending. He joined the WSA board in 2023 as an industry representative.
Danny grows soybeans and corn near Columbus alongside his three uncles. He completed ASA’s Young Leader Program in 2024. Brisky also works as a crop insurance agent, is a swine and crop leader for the Astico Perseverance 4-H club and is a member of the Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil – Healthy Water.
Sara Stelter
President’s Foreword
In the blink of an eye, Wisconsin soybean growers are gearing up for another harvest season – if they haven’t already hit the ground running. Time flies when you’re having fun, right?
Though harvest marks the end of the growing season, The Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) is just beginning a new chapter in a story that now stretches back more than 50 years. In August, we welcomed Adam Kask, who also serves as Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) executive director, to the organization as WSA executive director. Adams’s ability to work efficiently with WSA and WSMB will allow cohesion yet maintain the individuality of each group.
We’re also entering a new day for our quarterly publication. Formerly known as Soy Sentinel, our magazine has been refreshed and rebranded as Soy Forward. We’re excited for Wisconsin’s nearly 17,000 soybean farmers to turn to Soy Forward as a trusted source for timely policy, production and soy checkoff news.
There may have been a lot of recent changes within WSA, but some things never change – like our partnership with our friends at WSMB. Though we cannot use checkoff dollars to advocate in Madison or Washington, D.C., by collaborating with WSMB, we can help move the needle for Wisconsin soybeans. An example of this partnership is the recent SoyFoam demonstration at the Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire. While SoyFoam is a checkoff-funded product, WSA’s role in working with the DNR to influence state policy is critical to commercializing the product. In this issue, you’ll also read about our joint efforts to diversify transportation routes and soy exports via the Great Lakes.
We’re in the thick of our busy season but before we know it, Old Man Winter will be knocking on our doors with the Wisconsin Corn·Soy Expo in tow. Mark your calendars for Feb. 6-7, 2025, at the Kalahari Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells for two days of educational sessions, engaging speakers and networking! If there are any topics or speakers that you’d like to see in this year’s agenda, please reach out to me or the Wisconsin Soybean office.
WSA works on behalf of our members to ensure farmfriendly policy is set at the local, state and national level. But advocacy efforts begin at the polls on Nov. 5. I encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote and participate in this fundamental pillar of our democracy.
As harvest season progresses, I hope that everyone has a safe and uneventful harvest. I’ll see you when the snow is falling.
Sara Stelter President, Wisconsin Soybean Association
KASK TASK IS UP TO THE
EXPERIENCED LEADER NAMED WSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
By Soy Forward staff
Leaders often don many hats, and Adam Kask is ready to add another role to his decorated career, as he begins his new position this fall as executive director of the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA).
“I am looking forward to working with the WSA board as its executive director,” Kask said. “Our farmer leaders are passionate about working on legislation that benefits Wisconsin’s producers and I’m excited to help them achieve that, both in Madison and Washington, D.C.”
Kask, who has also served as executive director of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) since January 2023, is a U.S. Army veteran and well-versed in farm policy, market development and agronomy. Prior to joining the Wisconsin Soybean Program, Kask served as South Dakota Soybean’s market development and research director for seven years.
Kask said he is ready to use his experience to continue WSA’s legacy of ensuring that Wisconsin soybean growers have a united voice in Madison and Washington, D.C. Since 1973, WSA has served as the primary source of Wisconsin soybean information for legislators and political influencers. Through working with WSMB, Kask is also skilled in knowing how the two organizations overlap (and where they can’t).
“WSA has made a lot of strides in the past couple years to increase our presence as an advocacy organization and be more proactive,” Kask said. “By working with our team and stakeholders, we’re doing our part to advocate on behalf of our members and improve the outlook for Wisconsin’s soybean producers. Hopefully we can continue to move the needle.”
With Kask serving as staff lead, WSA leaders believe the organization is in prime condition to advocate for sound, farm-friendly policies to support its members and Wisconsin’s more than 16,000 soybean farmers.
“Adam brings valuable experience and energy to WSA,” said Sara Stelter, president of WSA. “His ability to work efficiently with WSA and WSMB will allow coordination yet maintain the individuality of each group.”
Heading into 2025, Kask maintains several goals: strengthen WSA’s connections with fellow advocacy groups in Madison; continue growing the Wisconsin Corn·Soy Expo; increase membership and contributions to WSA’s PAC; and see the new Farm Bill to completion.
“All of us who work in agriculture know we’re in some difficult times, but there are plenty of opportunities to capitalize on,” he said. “My job is to maximize those openings and help put WSA and our board in a position to thrive for our industry.”
By Drew Lyon
Sure, agriculture might be an industry steeped in nostalgia and tradition going back to time immemorial, but farming only moves in one direction: forward.
That’s why the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) – partly in homage to the state’s “Forward” motto – is relaunching its quarterly publication (formerly known as Soy Sentinel) as Soy Forward magazine.
“We’re excited to continue re-introducing and promoting Wisconsin Soybean Program to our readers and industry partners while sharing our messaging, goals
and successes,” WSA President Sara Stelter said. “Soy Sentinel had a great run for over 20 years, and now we’re starting fresh with Soy Forward.”
The new magazine concept is designed by Ag Management Solutions, which has assisted Wisconsin Soybean in its daily operations since the April 2023 death of Executive Director Bob Karls.
“We’re very humbled and energized about this new opportunity with WSA and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB),” said Doug Monson, AMS senior director of integrated marketing. “Our team is
WSA TAKES
passionate about telling stories in an engaging, visually appealing way. That’s what WSA has tasked us with, and we’ll aim to hit the mark.”
During editorial meetings prior to the magazine’s launch, Monson and his team challenged each other to think outside the box and go against the norm of traditional publications, starting with a unique, eye-catching masthead gracing the cover.
“There are no shortages of quality agriculture magazines,” said Monson, a veteran of newspaper and magazine publishing for more than 20 years. “Our industry is full of talented writers, editors, designers and publishers. Ultimately, we want to stand out and be bold and perhaps take a few risks in promoting Wisconsin’s soybean industry.”
WHAT CAN READERS EXPECT WHEN FLIPPING THROUGH THE PAGES OF SOY FORWARD?
» Future vision: As a quarterly magazine, it’s important to inform readers of what Wisconsin Soybean has accomplished since the last issue, but it’s equally important to explain where future goals, plans and investments are heading. At Soy Forward, we’re keeping our eyes on the horizon – from events to production challenges to policy issues.
» Timely policy updates: WSA has been the policy voice for Wisconsin’s soybean farmers for more than 50 years. As a membership-based organization, it’s
imperative that WSA continues keeping supporters informed of the latest policy movements in Madison.
» Checkoff check-ins: Wisconsin soybean growers invest in the soy checkoff program to address agronomic issues, build new markets and create value-added uses. In each issue of Soy Forward, readers will learn how checkoff funds are invested responsibly for the long term, while bringing back value to farming operations.
» Dynamic storytelling: Wisconsin has nearly 17,000 soybean farmers, and each farmer has a unique story to tell. Soy Forward strives to profile the leaders and personalities who make Wisconsin’s soybean industry thrive.
» Captivating designs: We know our readers likely subscribe to multiple agricultural magazines. That’s great! Soy Forward’s mission is to stand out in a stack of magazines, take chances and promote WSA and WSMB and their sterling farmer leaders –without any fluff.
“It’s been a very exciting time for our organization,” Stelter said. “We’re moving at a much faster, proactive pace and with Soy Forward, we’re turning the page on the past and looking toward the future.”
SESSION SUCCESSES
WSA notches policy wins in Madison
By Drew Lyon
Successful legislative efforts, like farming practices, often aren’t overnight successes. A long-sought policy win might take months or years to fully bear fruit, even after the legislation passes.
During the 2023-2024 legislative session, the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) and its advocacy partners in the Wisconsin Ag Coalition teamed up for a slew of bipartisan legislative successes that were included in the 2023-2025 biennial budget introduced and signed by Gov. Tony Evers.
The session started in January 2023 and wrapped in spring 2024. Following the session’s adjournment, legislators shifted their focus to the upcoming 2024 election. As part of their advocacy efforts, WSA leaders stayed engaged with lawmakers and participated in the Ag Coalition’s “Ag Day at the Capitol,” which helped advance policy priorities.
“We work together on legislative initiatives because we're such a small percentage of the population but such a large piece of our state’s economy,” said Jordan Lamb, who lobbies on behalf of WSA. “We do better when we lobby together, so we always have some joint legislative initiatives.”
Through proactive engagement, WSA notched legislative wins in Madison across several priority areas.
2024 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Agricultural Road Improvement Program (ARIP):
Provides $150 million in one-time funding through the Department of Transportation to establish a grant program for municipalities with posted roads and bridges to provide funding to improve outdated roads and upgrade them to non-posted construction standards. Funding applications have already exceeded expectations.
“This program is a big win for Wisconsin soybean growers and the kind of legislation that WSA continually advocates for on behalf of our members,” WSA President Sara Stelter said. “Without quality roads and infrastructure, our jobs become more challenging.”
In
Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Grant Program Extension:
Approves $1 million in funding for commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) research project grants in 2024 and 2025 to increase the understanding of and refine new methods that optimize commercial nitrogen applied to agricultural fields.
Cover Crop Insurance Premium Rebate:
Supports $800,000 for $5 per-acre rebates (160,000 acres) against farmers’ 2024 crop insurance premiums for acres that were planted with cover crops in 2023 and then planted with an insurable crop the following year.
“Kudos to the state for making this farmerfriendly and improving the application process,” Stelter said. “They listened to our concerns.”
Behind the Scenes
Membership support is what drives the Wisconsin Soybean Association’s policy activity in Madison and Washington, D.C. Members help ensure WSA’s priorities are heard on the issues that matter to Wisconsin’s soybean industry. WSA members also enjoy numerous benefits, including registration to Wisconsin Corn·Soy Expo, Commodity Classic and other WSA events.
“Our legislators take notice of our membership numbers,” Rebout said. “They know we’re not just representing a small area but the whole state.”
To join WSA, visit wisoybean.org/wsa
just a few months, 37 projects in 28 Wisconsin counties have received ARIP funding.
Producer-led Watershed Grant Program:
WSA’s focus on promoting voluntary-based conservation programs paid off during the session. This legislation provides $250,000 in additional funding to reach a total of $2 million over the biennium for DATCP’s farmer-led Watershed Grant program for nonpoint source pollution abatement projects.
“That program is money well spent because that’s asking the farmers to build it from the ground up, instead of one-size-fits all regulations,” WSA Vice President Doug Rebout said. “WSA is very supportive of that funding.”
Food + Farm Exploration Center:
$3 million in state support to help fund the completion of the Plover, Wisc., Food + Farm Exploration Center that is designed to grow connections between consumers and agriculture through hands-on experiences. The facility will help educate the non-farming public on agriculture and its impact both economically and environmentally throughout the state.
“This project is a great way that we can talk about row crop farms with consumers,” Stelter said, “and it gives another viewpoint to Wisconsin agriculture beyond animal agriculture.”
AGRICULTURAL ALLIES
WSA also credited Randy Romanski, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), for advocating for soybean producers throughout the session and participating in WSA events.
“He’s a very active DATCP secretary and he really cares about all the issues,” Lamb said. “All of Wisconsin agriculture has a really excellent working relationship with Secretary Romanski.”
Wisconsin is one of the few states with a Republican state legislature and a Democratic governor. Though exceptions remain, divided government for farm groups typically means agriculture broadly enjoys bipartisan support.
“From an agricultural perspective, a divided government is not a barrier,” Lamb said. “For my entire career, it's been a very bipartisan effort.
Eating and growing food and feeding people and protecting and maintaining the ability to do so by ensuring that we all have access to productive soil and clean water is in everyone's interest.”
In January 2025, a new legislative class will arrive in Madison. WSA is ready to build relationships with new and returning legislators and highlight the impact of the state’s $2.2-billion soybean industry.
“We’re going to have to do a lot of education with the legislators, and we’re looking forward to getting to work on that,” Rebout said. “That’s what we’re here for.”
A Look Ahead
While WSA continues shaping its top issues for the 2025-2027 biennial budget, the organization maintains many ongoing priorities heading into 2025:
» Funding for roads and bridges
» International marketing development
» Supply chain improvements
» Producer-led conservation efforts
» Renewable fuel production incentives
» Promoting biobased products (i.e. SoyFoam)
» Protecting crop inputs
» Workforce development
» Rural child care/health care
WSA’s policy team advocates for its members by supporting farm-friendly policies in Madison and Washington, D.C.
wisoybean.org/wsa 608-274-7522
WSA’S MISSION
From the Dairyland to D.C., Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) farmer leaders work on behalf of 1,200 members to ensure sound ag policy for Wisconsin’s nearly 17,000 soybean farmers.
Your Team
WSA’S HISTORY
Founded in 1973, WSA is a grassroots, farmer-led, advocacy organization. We rely on volunteer members to help fund our advocacy efforts.
WSA’S LEADERS
SOY FORWARD
WSA is farmer led, which means the men and women fighting on your behalf understand the issues important to the districts and farmers they serve.
Your voice in Madison. Grassroots advocacy is at the core of WSA’s mission. Our volunteer farmer leaders serve as the voice of soybean farmers in Madison and Washington, D.C. WSA’s advocacy efforts are driven by membership dollars, lobbying support and the American Soybean Association on federal policy issues.
WSA?
Profitability – by working to adopt usage of biodiesel, fighting to keep valuable farm inputs and more.
Ideas That Work – we push for plans that bring value back to farmers, such as biodiesel adoption.
Growing Markets – we work for state investments in infrastructure by land or water to get your crops to market.
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BALLOT ON THE
Stakes are high as Election Day approaches
The 2024 election is just around the corner, and Wisconsin voters will have a big say in shaping the makeup of their state legislature. At the national level, as the unrelenting deluge of campaign advertisements clearly underscores, the Badger State is also a critical battleground state for both major parties in the presidential election and could swing the balance of power in Washington, D.C.
Circle Nov. 5 on the calendar to have your voice heard!
“It’s extremely important that folks are educated about voting,” said Sara Stelter, president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA). “I encourage my fellow farmers to do some research and learn where the candidates stand on the issues
Here are five key points to remember in the weeks leading up to Election Day 2024:
Per Wisconsin's voter ID law, citizens are required to present a driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, naturalization papers or tribal ID to vote. A student ID will be accepted with a signature and a two-year expiration date. Citizens who don’t have an ID can still cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted provided they return with proper ID within a few days prior to the election.
To obtain a state ID card, voters must fill out an application at a DMV customer service center and are required to provide proof of name and birth (through a birth certificate, passport or certificate of naturalization), Wisconsin residency, U.S. citizenship and their Social Security number.
DATES TO REMEMBER
The deadline to register to vote in Wisconsin is Oct. 16, 2024. Eligible voters in Wisconsin can vote via an in-person absentee ballot beginning two weeks (Oct. 22) before Election Day. Absentee ballots must be delivered in person or by mail by Nov. 5. Early voting ends Nov. 3, 2024, and election polls across Wisconsin are open on Election Day from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
For more voting and polling information, visit vote.org.
NEW DISTRICT MAPS
Gov. Tony Evers won reelection in 2022 and, if he pursues a third term, won’t be on the ballot again until 2026. Republicans, who have held complete power in the Legislature since 2010, currently enjoy a near-super majority in the Wisconsin Assembly (64-35) and a vetoproof majority in the Senate (22-10). But after lawmakers approved a redistricting of the state’s legislative maps earlier in 2024, which generally appear to favor Democrats, more than 50 legislators in both chambers are running in different districts. Broadly speaking, the new maps could affect rural representation in Madison: Dane County, for example, will now be represented by five different Senate districts. Nearly 20 lawmakers also announced they wouldn’t run for reelection.
Election forecasters predict that it’s highly unlikely the state Senate will flip in 2024, though Democrats could have better prospects at regaining the majority in 2026. With the new legislative maps, Democrats could also gain seats in the Assembly and, possibly, the majority.
WSA directors and its lobbying team will keep a close eye on the results and how the state election affects the Legislature for the 2025-2027 biennium. Regardless of the results, directors are preparing to grow connections while educating incoming lawmakers.
“It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen, but we're going to have some new representatives that have never represented farmers before,” Stelter said.
WSA Vice President Doug Rebout has already gotten a head start by holding meetings with candidates on his farm in Janesville.
“I hope that, once they get in, we can continue those relationships,” he said.
NATIONAL OVERVIEW
The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected Gov. Evers’ request to update the state’s congressional maps. However, as is the case every two years, all eight of Wisconsin’s seats in the House of Representatives are on the ballot this election. According to the Cook Political Report, only two congressional races in Wisconsin were considered competitive as of mid-September: 3rd District Rep. Derrick Van Orden
Behind the Scenes
Look for key takeaways from the election results, and what it means for Wisconsin agriculture, in the winter 2025 issue of Soy Forward.
(lean Republican) and 1st District Rep. Bryan Steil (likely Republican). GOP candidate Tony Wield is expected to win Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District seat, which has been vacant since Mike Gallagher resigned in April 2024.
On the Senate side, Democrat Tammy Baldwin is up for reelection against GOP challenger Eric Hovde. Polls over the summer showed Baldwin, a U.S. senator since 2013, holding a lead over Hovde averaging around 4-6%. Cook Political Report placed Baldwin’s seat as a “lean Democratic” race.
While the outlook could change this fall, control of the House is considered a toss-up, while the Senate map appears to favor Republicans regaining a slim majority.
BADGER BATTLEGROUND
In the race to 270 electoral votes, Wisconsin could decide the direction of the nation, along with a handful of other swing states. According to poll tracker FiveThirtyEight, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, cling to a small lead (2-3%) in Wisconsin over former President Donald Trump and vice-presidential candidate JD Vance.
In 2020, Joe Biden won the state by just .63% (about 20,000 votes, roughly the size of the Kohl Center) across more than 3.2 million votes, while Trump prevailed by about 22,000 votes (.77%) in 2016. Expect another nail-biter in 2024. And remember, keep calm and be patient: Because absentee ballots aren’t counted until Election Day, votes in Wisconsin will still be tallied in the days following Nov. 5, meaning a winner may not be declared on election night.
WISHH leverages partnerships for U.S. Soy to help meet the protein needs of 8 billion consumers
STEADY AS HE GOES
By Kelsey Barchenger
A Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) meeting doesn’t typically conclude with a heartfelt speech spoken between tears, but September’s meeting was an exception, marking Pat Mullooly’s final meeting as president of the organization.
The Clinton farmer took to heart the role of serving as the leader of a board that’s tasked with directing checkoff resources. But he’s the first to clarify he couldn’t do it alone.
“This is really a great group of people that bring a lot to the table,” Mullooly said, reflecting on his presidential position over the past few years. “For every single meeting they take time out of their operations to be involved in the checkoff and do their best to spend it wisely.”
Mullooly guided WSMB during a difficult period when longtime Executive Director Robert “Bob” Karls died in April 2022. Mullooly and the rest of the board turned that tragic loss into an opportunity to keep steering the organization in the right direction with a fresh perspective.
Mullooly’s steady leadership helped strengthen Wisconsin Soybean Program during the transition.
“I worked with Pat over a two-year period as being president of WSA, and in that time is when Bob passed away. Once he passed away, we were really close on a daily basis,” said Steve Trzebiatowski, a Wisconsin Soybean Association director. “It was a tough time, but we made a lot of progress, and it worked out well.”
Just like with any organization, varying perspectives between a seven-member board can create tension at times, but Mullooly said it’s that same tension that helped them grow to where they are today.
“During my time as president, we obviously had some challenging times,” Mullooly said, “and the collaboration with WSA really helped us get the ship upright.”
Mullooly farms on his sixth-generation operation alongside his wife, Sheri; dad, Mick; and brother, Bill. While he no longer holds the title of president, Mullooly
will remain a WSMB director and says he is excited to still play a role in the future of the organization.
It’s time for new voices to step up.
“We’re not at full speed yet, but I’m proud to be around yet to support the progress,” he said. “We’ve got new leadership, and it’s always good to change things up and proceed forward.”
Jonathan Gibbs has taken over as president of WSMB. Gibbs, who farms in Fox Lake and has been on the board since 2013, transitioned to his new role following a stint as secretary/treasurer.
Andy Bensend, who served as WSMB vice president under Mullooly, praised his fellow farmer’s dedication.
“We appreciate Pat’s outstanding leadership,” he said. “It doesn’t go unnoticed.”
As he steps aside, Mullooly believes there are plenty of opportunities on the horizon for WSMB to find new projects and avenues to improve Wisconsin’s soybean industry.
“We’ve got a lot of great things ahead,” he said. “Our budget this year with soybean prices might be down, but we still have our rainy-day fund, where we’ll continue to fund research projects, continue our work promoting the Port of Milwaukee and the St. Lawrence Seaway and keep finding ways to get new markets.”
Checkoff
Impact
During Mullooly’s run as president, WSMB wisely invested checkoff funds in areas designed to improve farmer profitability, including:
» Funding cutting-edge agronomic and production research via state and national specialists
» Investing in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System by supporting The DeLong Co.’s Export Facility at Port Milwaukee
» Promoting biodiesel
» Encouraging development of value-added uses for soy
» Funding a feasibility study to determine ideal location for Wisconsin’s first soy crushing facility
» Sponsoring Wisconsin Soybean’s Yield Contest
» Promoting emerging farmers
» Hosting new events and increasing engagement with public
» Partnering with national and regional organizations
Patrick Mullooly (left) and Executive Director Adam Kask discuss WSMB projects during a 2023 board meeting.
ANGE F ON O CH SEAS
By Kelsey Barchenger and Sydney Harris
There’s a shift in leadership at the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB). During its September board meeting in Madison, board members elected a new officer team for 20242025 to represent the state’s nearly 17,000 soybean growers.
Transitioning from secretary/treasurer to president, Fox Lake farmer Jonathan Gibbs will take over for past president Patrick Mullooly to lead the organization’s efforts on checkoff investments in production research, market development and new uses.
“We’ve been through a lot of changes,” said Gibbs, WSMB’s District 4 director since 2013. “Pat Mullooly, our former president, was a great leader and respecting his time and what he desires during his time on the board, he was looking to make a transition, and I am looking forward to the challenge and opportunity that lies ahead.”
While he’s stepping down from his lead role, Mullooly will remain active as a member of the board. Other changes in leadership include Matt Wagenson, who was elected to replace Andy Bensend as vice president. Bensend will remain in his position as District 1 director.
“I am most excited about the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes and making sure our checkoff dollars are getting exported out of Wisconsin and into our farmers’ pockets,” Wagenson said.
District 6 Director Steve Wilkens of Random Lake was reelected to WSMB earlier in September and will serve in Gibbs’ former role as secretary/treasurer.
“I’m hopeful that we can work toward getting a crush plant in the state,” said Wilkens, who farms near Random Lake. “We’ve done a lot of work and it’d be nice to see that come to fruition. And I’d like to see a continuation of working to build export markets.”
In his new role as president, Gibbs is looking forward to exploring the many ways the soy checkoff is improving farmers’ bottom lines.
“What excites me the most about our checkoff is the research that we are doing,” Gibbs said. “We do a lot of classic research, small block trials through the University of Wisconsin, but we’re also looking at some bigger picture items that are applicable on the farm a little quicker than the smaller trials. To see that come to fruition quicker excites me a lot.”
NEW TERMS BEGIN
In addition to Wilkens, District 2 Director Justin Bauer was also reelected to WSMB. Both farmer leaders began threeyear terms that run through Aug. 31, 2027.
GIBBS ELECTED
WSMB PRESIDENT
“I’m excited to be able to represent Wisconsin soybean growers for another term on the board,” said Bauer, who farms near Eau Claire. “Investment decisions are not made lightly; checkoff investments have the power to change the trajectory of our industry, and I’m humbled to be able to play a role in improving the industry.”
With the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection administering the election, the balloting period ran July 10-Aug. 15. A total of 423 ballots were cast.
“The board needs strong leaders like Justin and Steve to help guide Wisconsin soy checkoff investments,” WSMB Executive Director Adam Kask said. “We’re excited to welcome them to the board for another term and look forward to working with them to increase farmers’ bottom lines.”
SOYBEAN FARMERS THROW FOREVER CHEMICALS A CURVEBALL
By Doug Monson
In baseball, a player with a batting average of .333 would be considered good. The player fails more times than he succeeds, and fans adore and cheer them. In firefighting there is a statistic, too. Sixty-eight percent. Sounds like a recipe for success, if only firefighting were a sport, and the fans cheered every heroic save. Yet 68 percent for a firefighter is the worst possible statistic.
“I’m just waiting for the doctor to tell me I have cancer,” an emotional Ray Richards said. “I hope it doesn’t happen, but the reality of it is, someday those words are probably going to be said.”
Richards, a captain for the Spotsylvania County Fire Department in Virginia, is one of several firefighters turning to soybean farmers to help extinguish fires in a safer way by using a foam retardant made from soy.
68 PERCENT
According to the nonprofit Firefighter Cancer Support Network, firefighters are 68% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than the general population (22% likelihood). At the center of the why are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Firefighters are exposed to these chemicals at a higher rate through the tools they use to combat fires, whether it be the clothing they wear, their helmets or the foam used to put out a fire.
Enter the soy checkoff, which invested in the initial research to use soy flour to create a foam fire suppressant that solves several problems, most notably the environmental impact and hazardous use of PFAS foams.
“Half of that bucket you are using came from soy,” Dave Garlie told a group of firefighters during an August demonstration at Chippewa Valley Technical College. Garlie, a chemist, serves as a managing partner and Chief Technology Officer for Cross Plains Solutions, which developed SoyFoam TF1122TM.
“We’re trying to use the best ingredients available to eradicate the fire in an environmentally friendly way and protect firefighters.”
Richards, whose son is also a firefighter at another department in Virginia, appreciates the efforts of soybean farmers.
“If we can do things now to prevent those younger generations in the fire service from being in that situation,” Richards said, “why not do it? Why not find a way to make those things happen?”
Behind the Scenes
SoyFoam’s soy flour component brings a unique benefit to the soybean industry. While most soy-based products for biofuels, adhesives, coatings, lubricants and plastics primarily use soybean oil, SoyFoam uses the meal component of the soybean. With the growth of markets like renewable diesel striving to decarbonize the transportation sector, building new demand streams for the increased soymeal crush that makes up 80% of the bean remains a top priority for groups like WSMB and the Wisconsin Soybean Association.
Cross Plains Solutions estimates the current applications of SoyFoam TF 1122 have the potential to use the protein from 12 million bushels of soybeans.
“We also see demand for numerous additional applications, ranging from canisters to sprinkler systems,” said Cross Plains Solutions’ Managing Partner Alan Snipes.
Wisconsin farmer Nancy Kavazanjian gives SoyFoam a test during a demonstration at Chippewa Valley Technical College in August 2024.
NO-BRAINER
United Soybean Board (USB) Directors Sara Stelter, Nancy Kavazanjian and Tony Mellenthin attended the demonstration at CVTC along with Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) Director Justin Bauer. While the initial investment into SoyFoam came from USB, the Marketing Board is conducting initial research into using soymeal versus soy flour, which is more readily available.
“Investing in this project made a lot of sense for us,” Bauer said. “As a board, we feel strongly about investing in products that help our communities and the people who protect our communities.”
Stelter said she is hopeful about the soy checkoff’s investment in SoyFoam.
“This is just one of the most exciting things I think that a checkoff can fund,” Stelter said. “It’s apparent how our checkoff dollars are being used, and it’s such a good product to have that will not only save lives but will be good for the environment.”
During the demonstration, participants, including nonfirefighters, were able to test how the product worked. Kavazanjian, who has been a staunch supporter of the project through her work with USB, took her turn using several delivery methods to disburse the foam.
“It’s really neat to see the foam and see it in person,” she said. “And to try it, of course it wasn’t easy to do because I had to lift a heavy fire extinguisher, but to be able to see it really makes me a believer.”
The Marketing Board intends to make five-gallon pails available to departments across Wisconsin to help bring awareness to the product and to let stations test SoyFoam.
“I feel so proud as a soybean farmer we can provide a solution that keeps our firefighters safe who are the backbone of our country and protect us,” Kavazanjian said. “We also have an environmental solution. We have a product, soybean meal, that’s biodegradable, it’s renewable and its sustainable and it will replace some forever chemicals.”
This product we’re helping to fund with checkoff dollars is not only supporting soy farmers in Wisconsin by finding new markets, but a lot of our firefighters in our communities are farmers. If we can get rid of those forever chemicals, it feels really good to us. - WSMB Director Justin Bauer
WSMB was represented at the SoyFoam event by directors and staff leaders.
Financial Incentive
To help cover the start-up costs of cover crops, Farmers for Soil Health o ers financial assistance of up to $50/acre over a three-year period.
Exclusive Marketplace
Enrollment in Farmers for Soil Health provides access to an exclusive future marketplace connecting farmers to top-tier supply chain partners that are focused on sustainability.
Technical Advisor
Each state has dedicated on-theground technical advisors to provide research-based information and educational resources to aid in the transition of your field.
Through the soy checkoff, U.S. soybean farmers are investing in new production practices to continuously improve their sustainability while protecting the air, water and soil for generations to come.
‘BOATLOAD OF BENEFITS’
Soil health program targets 80,000 acres at $50 per new acre over three years
By Drew Lyon
The cover crop movement is having a moment across Wisconsin, and growers are enjoying the environmental and economic benefits thanks to Conservation Technology Information Center’s (CTIC) partnership with Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) program.
The farmer-led initiative is incentivizing the use of cover crop practices like never before.
“It’s a fresh take and farmer-friendly program,” said Teagan Duffy, CTIC’s new soil health specialist. “The appeal of the program is its simplicity, and I’m excited about the cover crop coaches that are unique to this program.”
Joe Ailts, a Certified Crop Advisor and regenerative ag expert, is one of three CTIC cover crop coaches in Wisconsin (along with Jeff Gaska and Adam Lasch) who provide mentoring to farmers and technical assistance to CTIC’s soil health specialists. Ailts has been instrumental in using his connections in Wisconsin’s ag community to expanding CTIC’s reach, said CTIC Executive Director Ryan Heiniger.
“Joe has been a leader in helping make introductions to his clients with our team,” Heiniger said. “We have a great team of cover crop coaches, and Joe has been an absolute rock star and this extra farmer mentoring would not have been possible without the generous support from General Mills.”
A collaboration led by the United Soybean Board, National Corn Growers Association and the pork checkoff, along with USDA, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and other key partners,
FSH launched to advance the use of sustainable soil health practices like cover crops to improve farmer profitability and promote climate-smart practices.
Since joining forces with FSH in 2023, CTIC has spotlighted cover crops through webinars and exhibiting at farm shows across the Midwest, including marquee events like Wisconsin Corn•Soy Expo. During a 2024 Expo panel led by CTIC, Andy Bensend, a director with the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, touted his experiences as a cover crops pioneer and encouraged his colleagues to pursue FSH enrollment.
“This program is one of the most flexible you can find,” said Bensend, who farms in northwest Wisconsin. “You’re not limited to what covers you can use; it’s not one-size-fits all.”
The soil health movement across the state is helping encourage experimental practices, Bensend said.
“There’s no end to the creativity of my fellow farmers when they try different things,” Bensend said. “We’re always learning new things, and with cover crops there’s a boatload of benefits.”
Ailts said his clients – many of whom farm near Wisconsin’s 45th parallel, creating a condensed growing season – aren’t afraid to take chances.
“We’re blessed to work with such an open-minded group of farmers,” he said. “We’re at the northern boundary of the Corn Belt, so for us to have been able to put down cover crops legitimately really says something about their ability to be adopted everywhere else.”
Improving soil organic matter, greater weed suppression, limiting nutrient runoff and sequestering carbon are just some of the benefits growers earn when they invest time and resources in cover crops.
What is CTIC?
“Pumping carbon into the soil is the most important thing we can do as a farming community because ultimately that sets the stage for soil microbes in the soil itself to get back to the crop,” Ailts said. “If the goal is productivity and profitability from a farmer’s standpoint through soil health, putting more carbon in is the key to that gateway.”
In the first year, CTIC has enrolled more than 6,500 acres across 14 farmers in Wisconsin. In total, Wisconsin has recorded the third-most enrollees among the 20 states participating in FSH. CTIC also supports soil health specialists in Minnesota and South Dakota in its long-term goal to enroll 500 farms and more than 80,000 acres into FSH by 2026.
“Any sort of movement toward promoting soil health is a positive step for Wisconsin,” said Duffy, a Kenosha County native, “and we’re moving in that direction.”
CTIC and FSH continue working toward improving soil health by encouraging farmers to expand their cover crops use across 30 million acres by 2030. Wisconsin farmers boosted cover crops use by nearly 25% since 2017, totaling more than 753,000 acres across the state, according to USDA.
“Wisconsin is the leading edge when it comes to cover crops,” Ailts said.
Farmers can also apply for FSH benefits retroactively: Cover crop enrollment for 2024 remains open into March 2025 (enrollment for 2025 is also expected to open in March 2025), and farmers can learn more by visiting farmersforsoilhealth.com/.
The CTIC team will also be available to engage with producers at the 2025 Wisconsin Corn•Soy Expo Feb. 6-7.
Wisconsin Enrollment Contact
Teagan Duffy
WI Soil Health Specialist, CTIC Phone: 262-325-6637
Email: duffy@ctic.org
Farmers for Soil Health
Program Details
Farmers for Soil Health Program Details
» 2024 enrollment remains open at farmersforsoilhealth.com
» Enrollment is flexible, easy and takes less than an hour to enroll. Farmers can self-enroll remotely but are encouraged to seek out a soil health specialist
» Program is a three-year commitment
» Currently, any crop fields with corn and soy in the rotation are eligible for transition incentives totaling $50 per new acre of cover crops across three years
» Signing incentives of $2 per acre are available for existing cover crops on corn and soybean fields
» The program requires participation in measurement, reporting and verification to demonstrate progress toward the program’s goal
Established in 1982, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is the technical advisor for the Farmers for Soil Health Program in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota. CTIC promotes the widespread use of economically and environmentally beneficial agricultural systems. Learn more at ctic.org under the “Projects” tab.
By Drew Lyon
Checkoff investments are directed to cross the globe by any means necessary. But often, those dollars that help grow demand for soy start at home.
In August 2024, directors representing the Wisconsin Soybean Program traveled to several spots near Milwaukee and Joliet, Ill., to learn more about export logistics for Wisconsin soybeans via the region’s waterways, along with a look inside a processing plant and container terminal.
“It’s so important that we connect the dots and encourage and support growth in our industry,” said Andy Bensend, director and past vice president of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB)
Grand Marsh farmer Kevin Bork, a District 3 director with WSMB, found the first portion of WSMB’s inaugural See For Yourself (SFY) tour, which featured stops at Port Milwaukee and Quality Roasting, enlightening.
“It was a great experience with our board learning about how our checkoff dollars work throughout the supply chain,” Bork said. “We have a board with a lot of knowledge of how connected our industry is. It’s encouraging to see.”
The tour braved the elements to venture to Port
Milwaukee for a visit with Director Jackie Q. Carter. The visit came on the heels of a breakfast meeting near the port the previous week with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, where advocates spoke with the secretary about the port’s potential. Port Milwaukee, Carter explained, is broken into its commercial side, which handles goods and commodities, and recreation space, which includes restaurants and events.
Port Milwaukee generates about $156 million in economic activity yearly by handling liquid bulk along with dry goods. In 2023, the port exported 2.36 million tons of cargo, and WSMB is working with strategic partners to ship more of the state’s soybeans via the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System to countries in North Africa and Northern Europe. In total, about 65% of Wisconsin’s soybean crop is exported.
“Soymeal has to find new markets, so we’ve had our eyes on the Great Lakes for some time and we were really thrilled to support the Port of Milwaukee,” said Bensend, who represents Wisconsin on the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC). “We will continue to look for additional places that can have a direct impact on the ag sector, specifically soybeans.”
Inaugural See for Yourself mission gives WI farmers close look at transportation investments
DeLong’s Agricultural Maritime Export Facility in Milwaukee can store 45,000 metric tons of soybeans and 30,000 metric tons of DDGs.
Grain moving through the DeLong container facility is typically low in foreign material (FM), averaging .1-.2% FM.
DAM GOOD INVESTMENT
GAME-CHANGING TERMINAL
The port tour continued with a visit to the DeLong Co.’s Agricultural Maritime Export Facility. Through checkoff investments via STC, WSMB has directed soy checkoff funds toward developing the first-of-its-kind terminal, which launched in 2023 and was recently awarded a $9-million grant from the Department of Transportation for its second phase. Last year, the terminal sent its first vessel of soymeal to the U.K. and supports infrastructure to ship commodities to North Europe, Morocco, the Middle East and the western Mediterranean.
“There’s a lot of opportunity here for soymeal,” said Brian Arnold, DeLong Co.’s senior export trader. “With the growth of the soy crushing industry, this facility provides a unique opportunity within the region.”
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has estimated the DeLong terminal – which can also ship down through the Illinois River – will generate $63 million in new statewide economic impact annually, increasing exports through Port Milwaukee by as much as 400,000 metric tons per year.
Currently, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGs) are the primary goods shipped out from the terminal, which can load at a rate of 1,000 metric tons per hour.
“So far, it’s been very successful,” Arnold said.
WSMB leaders said they’re excited by the growth potential that the DeLong Co’s investment in the area can provide to the region’s farm economy.
“We need all the markets we can find to support a better basis and move our products,” said WSMB Director Pat Mullooly, who attended the SFY trip during his final month as WSMB president.
The Brandon Road Lock & Dam stands nearly 30 miles south of Chicago in Joliet, Illinois. Recognized in the National Register of Historic Places, the Brandon Road Lock & Dam waterway is an artificial channel connecting Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River. Through pandemics, weather calamities and partisan fights over funding, Brandon Road has kept grain moving without a hitch.
“Whatever you grow in your neck of the woods – we feed the world right here,” said Thomas Heinold, chief of operations for the Rock Island Engineer District. “This is the nation’s breadbasket. It’s a critical, key component of our navigation industry and our economy. ... We’re proud of what we do here.”
Throughout his visit with Wisconsin farmers, Heinold touted waterways as the most environmentally and economically advantageous route for agriculture exports.
“This has to be a cooperative system,” Heinold said, “but once your goods get to the river, it is by far the cheapest, most efficient and technologically friendly way to ship bulk goods.”
According to Heinold, every 1,200-foot tow loaded with grain takes the equivalent of about 400,000 tractor trailers off roads. Even still, Heinhold said it’s a constant fight to add “rivers” to the three transportation “Rs”: roads, rails and runways. Brandon Road receives no federal transportation or defense funding from Congress outside of appropriation bills from the energy and water subcommittee.
“This is way more efficient to transport bulk goods than the other Rs,” he said.
Sara Stelter, who serves as president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA), told Heinold that her organization continues to advocate for the fourth “R.”
“Whether we’re visiting with legislators in Madison or D.C., we’re constantly stressing the need to support the rivers and lakes that move U.S. soy across the world,” she said.
QUALITY COUNTS
The final stop of the day brought the delegation north to Valders headquarters of Quality Roasting. In 2024, WSMB sponsored a feeding trial with Quality Roasting that used high oleic soymeal in dairy rations. Most of Wisconsin’s soymeal is used for dairy feed; Quality Roasting processes soybeans produced within a 200-mile radius.
“Our whole business model is, we crush for the meal byproduct,” CEO Scott Robb said. “Right now, we see only upside with it.”
Quality Roasting supports multiple locations in Wisconsin and Illinois and is currently building a new plant 10 miles from Valders. The family-owned company also produces high oleic soybean oil from various sources.
“We had a great visit with stakeholders across the value chain,” Mullooly said. “It’s beneficial because we put money into these projects, and now we’re putting a face to the name of the folks we talk with and receive funding proposals from.”
Behind the Scenes
Wisconsin Soybean Program was represented on its first See For Yourself tour of checkoff investments by WSMB Directors Patrick Mullooly, Andy Bensend, Jonathan Gibbs, Justin Bauer, Kevin Bork and Steve Wilkens, along with United Soybean Board Director Sara Stelter. Don Lutz, a director with the Wisconsin Soybean Association and the American Soybean Association, also participated.
“We were thrilled by the level of involvement from our farmer leaders,” said WSMB Executive Director Adam Kask. “We enjoyed an up-close look at how their checkoff funds are being used across our state and region’s supply chains. I think we all came energized by the many ways in which checkoff investments are creating market opportunities.”
“ We need all the markets we can find to support a better basis and move our products out of Wisconsin.
RIDING THE RAILS
A well-rounded supply chain tour wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the nation’s largest containerized agricultural exporter. The delegation visited DeLong’s Joliet intermodal terminal, which opened in 2016 and moves soybeans (including non-GMO soybeans), corn and spring wheat. Nearly all the grain is shipped by rail to the West Coast, arriving within a few weeks to California container ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach.
“It’s amazing to think the soybeans we grow on our farms, all the transportation steps that they take to get to their destination,” Mullooly said. “It’s fascinating.”
Though containers represent less than 5% of grain trade, Wisconsin soybean growers uniquely enjoy numerous shipping
options to grow their exports.
“Wisconsin has different avenues,” said ag consultant Scott Ritzman, who helped curate the SFY tour. “They can go by boat, by barges, containers, rail. Wisconsin can go west, south to Mexico out west, up to Duluth. It’s a diverse transit system, whereas other places are 100% rail.”
Mullooly hopes the SFY visit is an ongoing mission that will be open to all Wisconsin soybean farmers to apply to participate.
“It’s great to see our board members getting out and educating themselves about what we need to invest in and how our past investments are being utilized,” he said. “It’s important to have this See For Yourself trip to check up on our checkoff investments.”
” - WSMB Director Pat Mullooly
PLANTING THE SEED FOR THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY
WISCONSIN SOYBEAN TRAVELS TO ROTTERDAM TO DRIVE EXPORTS
By Kelsey Barchenger
With a more decorated travel history than most people could muster up, Wisconsin soybeans are known for being world travelers.
“In Wisconsin, basically every soybean grown has to go out of state somewhere, and to have that direct access to international markets is a great opportunity for us,” said Nancy Kavazanjian, who farms in Beaver Dam.
For the state’s soybean farmers, it’s about making that journey beyond Wisconsin’s borders as efficient and sustainable as possible. That’s what had Wisconsin Soybean leaders taking a journey of their own in September to the Netherlands and Belgium, Europe’s largest seaports, to promote the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway as a viable gateway of choice for soybean exports.
“There’s an openness for trade and for more conversation to figure out how we can work together,” said Steve Wilkens, Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) director. “If you look at the map, it is a convenient trade route to go from the Great Lakes over to Europe and where we’re at in the Netherlands, so if you look at synergy, opportunities and efficiencies, there are a lot of things that make sense. We need the imports from elsewhere to drive exports.”
Wilkens was joined by Kavazanjian and Sara Stelter, who both represent Wisconsin on the United Soybean Board, along with WSMB Executive Director Adam Kask and Jake Steffes representing the Wisconsin Soybean Association. The trip was hosted by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA), a national group supported by WSMB.
Alongside industry leaders, four Wisconsin farmers and Executive Director Adam Kask promoted the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway as a trade source during a tour of Europe’s largest seaports.
“This ag transportation mission served as a great opportunity to hear global perspectives on trade and also offered us the chance to educate stakeholders in Europe about the benefits of utilizing the St. Lawrence Seaway for imports and exports,” Kask said.
Wisconsin Soybean leaders were also joined by several key stakeholders, including Illinois and Minnesota soy checkoff leaders, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, the Department of Transportation, USDA and Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
“If Europe can start using our ports more through the Great Lakes, I feel that could potentially increase our exports on agricultural products, specifically soybeans, which hopefully will create a higher demand for our commodities,” Steffes said.
The tour featured multiple presentations promoting the St. Lawrence Seaway, a tour of the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, a visit to the Samga Grain Terminal and more. Wisconsin Soybean leaders said the visit came at a convenient time, with the recent opening of DeLong’s Agricultural Maritime Export Facility in Milwaukee, which provides seed and agronomy services for growers in Wisconsin and Illinois and prides itself on promoting sustainability.
“They are really targeting those sustainable markets
and with the St. Lawrence Seaway having its green incentive and lower carbon intensity scores for our soybeans, it’s perfect,” Kavazanjian said.
With DeLong’s facility and the St. Lawrence Seaway coupled in the same equation, Wisconsin Soybean leaders say they’re nothing but optimistic about the possibilities.
“We feel that really could be a launch pad for a greater amount of products to come into the Milwaukee area and go out through the export channels,” Wilkens said.
NEXT STEPS
With a week of global networking and fostering new maritime connections in the books, the natural question is, now what?
“This trip allowed us to start making connections and to plant the seeds on what is possible,” Stelter said. “We hope to develop this further by networking with other states and shippers to take advantage of a very underutilized resource.”
It was an opportunity that Wisconsin Soybean leaders hope will set the stage for more diversified use of the St. Lawrence Seaway for years to come.
“We started the conversation,” Steffes said. “Now it is up to the farmers, businesses and government to keep moving on this opportunity.”
WINNING THE WAR ON WEEDS
RESEARCHERS SAY PREPARATION IS KEY
By Mark Askelson
Controlling weeds at harvest is difficult due to limited management options. However, there are still a few routes that can be taken to not only control foreign material and weed seed in the bin, but more importantly, prevent the spread of weed seed and control future weed issues.
Come harvest time, waterhemp is often the primary weed concern. Waterhemp tends to lurk under the soybean canopy but continues to grow and rear its ugly head after the soybeans stop putting on new leaves. During wet planting seasons, farmers can be left with drowned-out areas that could provide a hot bed for waterhemp.
“I am concerned that there is going to be a tremendous amount of seed being produced by waterhemp and some other weeds in those drowned-out spots, which will become problematic in the years to come,” said Rodrigo Werle, University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) associate professor and extension cropping systems weed scientist.
When addressing weedy drown outs, Werle said farmers should avoid those areas at all costs with the combine. He recommends spraying or mowing earlier in the year, but at harvest he says steer clear and take care of them afterwards.
“The weeds in those locations are setting seed and
if you run through them with the combine you will be spreading those seeds all over, which will lead to further weed control issues for years to come,” Werle said. “A single good size waterhemp plant can produce up to 250,000 seeds, so you can see how big of a problem this can quickly become.”
A little manual labor goes a long way in addressing drowned-out fields. Werle suggests pulling by hand and composting or burning the plants to prevent spreading the seed. If producers can get to them earlier in the year, they can also use drone technology to spot spray the infested areas. Once the seeds are set, efforts should be focused on prevention of spreading.
“You also should probably look at alternative options for those drown outs, which are typically low-yielding and troublesome most years anyways,” Werle said. “Planting a cover crop or CRP instead can help suppress the weeds.”
PUTTING IN WORK AHEAD OF TIME
To prevent waterhemp and other weed control issues for next year’s harvest, Werle suggested a few tasks for farmers in the field during this year’s harvest. For starters, harvest the cleanest fields first. By starting with the worst fields,
on managing waterhemp. Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Werle.
farmers run the risk of spreading the waterhemp seeds to uncontaminated soybean fields and infesting those fields down the road. Also, Werle suggests cleaning the combine before switching fields.
“Clean that combine as often as possible,” he said. “We understand that everyone is busy during harvest, but some of our collaborative research with the UWMadison Nutrient & Pest Management program has shown that taking 30 minutes to clean a combine can prevent seed dispersal from field to field and across farms.”
GAINING YIELD THROUGH DESICCATION
Another option that is much more common in the southern United States could potentially be used as another method of weed management in the north.
The UW-Extension is currently in year two of a checkofffunded research project exploring soybean desiccation, which involves applying herbicides to remove moisture from the plant, to early terminated soybeans for the purpose of helping better establish a fall-seeded cover crop or a winter wheat crop. It could also be used as a harvest aid to kill water hemp and other weeds, but still won’t reduce the spread of weed seeds.
“It’s attractive in the South because it allows them to get the crop out in a timely matter. They don’t have the advantage of a frost to terminate it like we do,” said Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Madison state soybean extension and small grains specialist. “But it can come at an extra cost and a potential yield loss.”
The research being done by Dr. Conley is examining the potential quality and yield loss caused from desiccation as well as which chemicals work best for terminating. The hope is that being able to desiccate the soybeans and harvest them earlier will allow for increased winter wheat yield or an increase to biomass for the cover crop by seeding them earlier as well.
“We have roughly a half-million acres of winter wheat in Wisconsin, and after September 20 on average we lose a bushel per acre per day we delay planting,” Dr. Conley said. “We usually don’t harvest soybeans here until October 1 on average, so we are losing out on 10 bushels. We could gain that yield back with desiccation.”
On the flip side for those looking to establish a cover crop, those 10 extra days will greatly increase biomass, which increases water infiltration and carbon sequestration along with better weed control.
“Just a few extra days in the fall can go a long way in helping us facilitate what it is that we’re planting cover crops for,” Conley said.
Research sponsored by the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board has also shown that planting a fall cover crop can be a simple, but effective tool for weed management. Werle noted that if you can let that cover crop accumulate about 4,500 pounds of dry biomass, which translates to around 30-inch tall cereal rye, it can reduce waterhemp emergence by at least 50%.
As harvest 2024 began in Wisconsin, Dr. Shawn Conley predicted dry conditions will mean lower-than-average yields.
KEEPING HIS COOL
Shawn Conley brings it back to the farm
By Sydney Harris
Not every state can boast that there is a soybean superstar cruising up and down its highways – but Wisconsin can shout it from the rooftops.
A soybean and small grain specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Shawn Conley has spent over two decades executing research projects that directly benefit Wisconsin producers. Over the course of an illustrious career, Conley has become a pillar of the Wisconsin soybean industry.
“Along with his expertise, the number one thing Shawn brings to the state is his ability to bring things back to the farm level and explain things so that our growers get a big impact,” said Patrick Mullooly, past president of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB). “He’s just a great individual to work with.”
Raised on a dairy farm in southern Wisconsin, it wasn’t Conley’s original intention to be in soy’s spotlight.
“I went to UW-Madison to be a vet student, and my grades were awful because I did not study,” Conley said. “So, I took a semester off to find myself.”
Eventually, soybeans found him. After graduating with an undergraduate and graduate degree from UW-Madison as a
weed scientist, Conley stumbled into a soybean Ph.D. program.
“I went into my first Ph.D. committee meeting thinking I was going to work on potatoes,” Conley recalled. “Three hours later, I came out working on soybeans.”
The rest is history.
COOLBEANS!
The life of a soybean researcher might not always be glamorous, but with WSMB’s support, Conley is making soybeans cool again through his “Coolbean” Extension program webpage. It’s via this platform that Conley relays his wealth of soybean knowledge.
“My information is unbiased,” Conley said. “I’m not serving anyone except growers. I think that helps me, as a researcher, maintain and increase my credibility.”
Conley’s slogan – “Coolbeans!” – might seem like a throwback, but his research approach is futuristic. With roughly 80 percent of his research funded by checkoff dollars, Conley focuses on applied research that farmers can implement on their operations.
“I’m looking out five to 20 years to see how soybeans are going to change both industry-wise and also the regulatory process,” Conley said. “What do I need to be
To learn more about Dr. Shawn Conley’s research and to join his email list, visit coolbean.info.
doing research-wise to make sure farmers are prepared for what’s coming down the pipeline?”
Not only has Conley’s work gone viral among Wisconsin soybean growers, but the quality and value of his work is recognized by his peers. Recently, Conley’s research paper, “Corn and soybean planting order decisions impact farm gross revenue,” was selected as the 2024 Outstanding Paper in the Crop Management Section of Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management.
“What do you plant first? It’s a simple question and when we looked in the literature, I was shocked to find there was no research,” Conley said. “We can show as much as $40,000 extra profit for a farmer that runs 2,000 acres just by prioritizing which fields to plant first and which crop to plant in those fields.”
IN THE NAME OF SOYBEANS
Ranking 14 in soybean production in the U.S., Wisconsin is home to over 16,000 soybean growers, each of whom benefits from Conley’s research. And, year after year, Conley proves that he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in the name of soybeans with the help of Wisconsin soybean checkoff dollars.
“Checkoff dollars allow us to continue digging into the
The future of soybeans in Wisconsin is very bright. We’re seeing a lot of new technologies coming down the pipeline. We’re working with drones and Artificial Intelligence, and that’ s really super exciting to me. - Dr. Shawn Conley
challenges we see and come up with applicable solutions that farmers can implement today and to think about down the road,” Conley said.
As Conley crafts his research projects and curates real-life solutions to real-world problems, he keeps every one of those nearly 17,000 Wisconsin soybean growers in mind. In addition, he’s also WSMB’s staff lead on another soy-checkoff group, the North Central Soybean Research Program.
“When farmers get those checkoff dollars removed at the elevator and wonder where their money is going, I’m able to show them where it’s going,” Conley said. “They can see the end goal. And I remind them – ‘I’m working for you.’”
Ensuring Wisconsin’s soybean farmers have the tools, markets and research needed to succeed, WSMB is the steward of state soybean checkoff dollars.
“I always want to thank WSMB for continuing to support our research,” Conley said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
When the sun goes down, Conley doesn’t count sheep to fall asleep. He’s dreaming up his next soybean research project.
“I have the best job in the world,” he said.
Farm groups make push to pass Farm Bill
Citing worsening economic conditions impacting the nation’s farmers, the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) and more than 300 national and state groups sent a letter to congressional leaders in September calling for passage of the Farm Bill before year’s end.
“It is critical that Congress pass a new Farm Bill that strengthens the safety net as many producers are facing multiple years of not being profitable, and this is causing their overall financial situation to deteriorate,” the letter said. “Some will have challenges as they seek operating credit for the 2025 crop year.”
Following the letter, farmer leaders from across several commodity groups met with legislators, including Wisconsin Rep. Scott Fitzgerald.
The Farm Bill is usually passed every five years and supports the nation’s farmers, ranchers and forest stewards through a variety of safety net, credit, conservation and other critical programs. The law was originally scheduled for reauthorization in 2023. Last November, Congress voted to extend the existing legislation to Sept. 30, 2024. Since that point, leadership from both parties on the Senate and House Agriculture Committees have worked to push the legislation forward.
As the legislation has faced delays, producers across Wisconsin and the country have experienced headwinds, ranging from extreme weather to high input costs to uncertain global demand to supply chain disruptions. Since the beginning of the year, the harvest price of major crops traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the
Intercontinental Exchange have dropped by an average of 21% while total production costs remain near record levels.
Farmers and their allies say these challenges have exposed areas of the Farm Bill that need to be strengthened.
“Since the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law, we have realized considerable gaps in the farm safety net due to sharply changing conditions, including the trade war with China, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, COVID-19 and related supply chain challenges, rising foreign subsidies, tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers and other harmful practices,” the letter said. “These conditions seriously tested the effectiveness of the 2018 Farm Bill, and it was only by the aggressive use of supplemental assistance that many farms survived.”
The letter noted that the outlook for farm country is even more daunting, as the USDA-projected market prices for the 2024 crop are well below costs of production, and current projections paint another bleak picture for 2025.
During WSA’s summer Hill Visit, At-Large Director Danny Brisky was selected to participate in the American Soybean Association Corteva Young Leader program’s third phase. Brisky said the camaraderie with his fellow farmers made his first trip to the Capitol a memorable one.
“It was truly an amazing experience,” said Brisky, who joined Wisconsin farmers for Hill Visits. “We’re lucky to have an organization like WSA representing us in Madison and D.C., and I was glad to play a role in telling our story.”
Brisky hopes to remain a WSA director.
In summer 2024, WSA partnered with an industry supporter for the inaugural Clean Fuels Soybean Classic hosted at the Evansville Golf Course.
All proceeds from this event benefited WSA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of Wisconsin’s nearly 17,000 soybean farmers in Madison and Washington, D.C.
“WSA was proud to partner with Clean Fuels Alliance America for this fundraiser,” said WSA Vice President Doug Rebout. “Together, we stand in supporting biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel as a way to reduce our carbon footprint and support Wisconsin’s soybean farmers.”
Clean Fuels Alliance America works to support sustainable biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industry growth and serves as the industry’s central coordinating entity for technical, environmental and quality assurance programs, along with the strongest voice for its advocacy, communications and market development.
at least five contiguous acres of one variety, with the actual contest harvested area being at least three acres. Two winners will be selected from each of the four geographical divisions in the state and additional awards include the Planting Green award, New Contestant award and Wisconsin 100 Bushel Soybean Club.
Organized to encourage the development of new and innovative management practices that highlight the importance of using sound growing practices in Wisconsin soybean production systems, the Yield Contest celebrates soybean growers across the state and their dedication to improving their operations. Yield Contest winners will be recognized at the 2025 Wisconsin Corn·Soy Expo Feb. 6-7, 2025, at Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells.
Did your soybean crop have that big bean energy in 2024? Keep an eye out on Wisconsin Soybean Program’s website and social media pages for an upcoming announcement on the winners of the 2024 Wisconsin Soybean Yield Contest.
Any soybean production system was eligible to compete, as long as the contest field was located in Wisconsin and
Since 2005, Farm Rescue has been a saving grace for farm families experiencing major injury, illness or natural disaster by providing free planting, haying, harvesting, commodity hauling and livestock feeding assistance.
Now, Wisconsin farmers are eligible to apply for Farm Rescue services.
“Wisconsin farmers – soybean growers included – are fortunate to now have access to Farm Rescue’s assistance when life throws a curveball their way,” Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board Director Patrick Mullooly said.
Farm Rescue operations in Wisconsin began July 1 with harvest assistance. Planting, haying, commodity hauling and livestock feeding assistance will be available starting in 2025.
The company is helping coordinate the delivery of a combine for 2024 harvest assistance efforts in Wisconsin and the surrounding region, as well as supplying tech support and service for Farm Rescue’s initial launch of operations in the state.
To date, Farm Rescue has assisted more than 1,000 farm and ranch families. With the addition of Wisconsin, the organization serves farm and ranch families in nine states.
To learn how to support Farm Rescue or to fill out an assistance application, visit farmrescue.org.
Young Leader completes program’s third phase
WSA hits fairway in fundraising venture
Farm Rescue now accepting harvest assistance applications in WI
WI Soybean Yield Contest winners to be announced
WSA
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