Iowa Soybean Association, 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa 50023
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DES MOINES, IA PERMIT NO. 1333
Summer 2018
INSIDE: AUGUST IS SOYBEANS ARE BIG IN IOWA MONTH
W E A R E U. S. S O Y B E A N F A R M E R S
SUSTAINABILITY NEVER GOES OUT OF SEASON COVER CROPS Customers prefer U.S. soy because it’s sustainable. But demands for sustainability continue rising. Adopting a common practice like planting a cover crop to slow runoff and increase soil organic matter is another step forward in improving your sustainable footprint. Show your commitment to sustainability with a free truck magnet available at unitedsoybean.org/sustainability
President Bill Shipley, Nodaway | D7 President Elect Lindsay Greiner, Keota | At Large Treasurer Stephanie Essick, Dickens | At Large
Summer 2018 | Vol. 30, No. 8
Secretary Tim Bardole, Rippey | At Large Executive Committee Dave Walton, Wilton | D6 Board of Directors Mark Vosika, Pocahontas | D1 Chuck White, Spencer | D1 April Hemmes, Hampton | D2 Casey Schlichting, Clear Lake | D2 Rick Juchems, Plainfield | D3 Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg | D3 LaVerne Arndt, Sac City | D4 Jeff Frank, Auburn | D4 Rolland Schnell, Newton | D5 Morey Hill, Madrid | D5 Robb Ewoldt, Blue Grass | D6 Jeff Jorgenson, Sidney | D7 Randy Miller, Lacona | D8 Warren Bachman, Osceola | D8 Pat Swanson, Ottumwa | D9 Tom Adam, Harper | D9 Brent Renner, Klemme | At Large American Soybean Association Board of Directors Morey Hill, Madrid Wayne Fredericks, Osage Brian Kemp, Sibley John Heisdorffer, Keota Dean Coleman, Humboldt United Soybean Board of Directors Delbert Christensen, Audubon Larry Marek, Riverside Tom Oswald, Cleghorn April Hemmes, Hampton Staff Credits Editor | Ann Clinton Communications Director | Aaron Putze, APR Senior Creative Manager | Ashton Boles Photographer | Joseph L. Murphy Staff Writer | Matthew Wilde Staff Writer | Allison Arp Staff Writer | Carol Brown Staff Writer | Lauren Houska Sales Director | David Larson Iowa Soybean Review is published eight times a year by: Iowa Soybean Association 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa 50023 (515) 251-8640 | iasoybeans.com E-mail: aclinton@iasoybeans.com For advertising information in the Iowa Soybean Review, please contact Larson Ent. LLC (515) 440-2810 or Dave@LarsonentLLC.com. Comments and statewide news articles should be sent to the above address. Advertising space reservations must be made by the first day of the month preceding publication. In consideration of the acceptance of the advertisement, the agency and the advertiser must, in respect of the contents of the advertisement, indemnify and save the publisher harmless against any expense arising from claims or actions against the publisher because of the publication of the content of the advertisement.
16 Soybean Detour Chinese
tariff reshapes soybean trade, more U.S. oilseeds head to other destinations.
20 One Heck of a Ride
25 Years of the National Biodiesel Board.
22 A Penny Saved is a
Penny Earned Production research has come a long way in the last decade when it comes to improving yields.
24 Scaling up the Iowa
Nutrient Reduction Strategy The Iowa Soybean Association has been working to improve farmer productivity as well as soil and water quality long before the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) was around.
On the Cover: August is Soybeans are Big in Iowa Month. The Iowa Soybean Association is celebrating all things soy. Be sure to note the special insert in this issue of the magazine which highlights events and activities happening around the state this month.
SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM | 3
Kirk Leeds Chief Executive Officer, Iowa Soybean Association kleeds@iasoybeans.com, Twitter@kirkleeds
Cautiously Optimistic?
“
Huge crop and low prices. How can anyone remain optimistic about the future of soybean production? As the executive director of the Iowa Soybean Association, you might imagine that I get this question on a rather regular basis.
”
— Summer 1999
T
he quote above is the lead paragraph for a column I wrote for the Iowa Soybean Review almost two decades ago. It’s a reminder of the saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” In the column, I shared why I was indeed optimistic about the future of soybean production in Iowa: 1. Long-term trends on the demand side looked very positive given the growth in global population and rising incomes. 2. Continued production efficiencies gained by “unlocking the genomic secrets of the soybean.” 3. Signs of Asian improvement,
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particularly in Thailand and the Philippines with some early indicators of the potential demand in China. 4. New uses for soybeans, including biodiesel, soy-based plastics and industrial lubricants.
As I reviewed this nearly 20-year-old column, I reflected on what has happened in the soybean world since it was written, and I think in every case the reasons for my optimism were wellplaced. We have seen long-term demand increase dramatically, new innovations in production have improved efficiencies, China and Asian economies have been the greatest contributors to more demand, and biodiesel and other new uses have become a reality. So, the obvious question is, am I optimistic about the future of soybean production today? The answer is yes, but I am extremely concerned. Although things have changed, all four reasons for my optimism in 1999 remains today. However, some of the new concerns include the current trade “war” with China and many of our most important trading partners, water quality and environmental concerns and
pressures, consumers resistance to science and new technologies in agriculture production, pushback from globalization and trade agreements, political divisions and less effective government institutions, reduced public funding of long-term agricultural research, and the increased competition from other soybean growing regions and other competing crops and products. I closed my column in 1999 with the following: “Is everything positive? No. Many challenges lie ahead. If you believe the pundits, we haven’t even seen the low in soybean prices. Even with a price recovery, this is not going to be easy. Even with the growing world-demand, Iowa producers must be able to meet this demand in a profitable way. How? Continued increases in productivity, adding value to Iowa soybeans, and with the use of meaningful risk management tools. We have no choice but to get better and better at what we do.” As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.
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Carol Balvanz Policy Director, Iowa Soybean Association cbalvanz@iasoybeans.com
Back to the Farm
M
y husband has often accused me of having a “shiny pants job.” I think he means that every day I drive to work, sit in a chair, kick back and talk on the phone. Then I type up talking points and emails. He is right. Over the last 42 years, I have welcomed the drive to my offfarm job as an opportunity to get away from the cold (or heat) and mud (or dust) and challenges of raising livestock and managing the farm. I also looked forward to putting on my boots and chore gloves every weekend, knowing that my farm workweek was only two days long. When Chuck and I discussed earlier this spring that I might retire from the “shiny pants job” this summer and start spending every day on the farm, I think I saw real fear in his eyes. I’m not sure if it’s that I’ll disrupt his nap routine or that maybe I’ll push harder than he likes to get barns and machine sheds cleaned out, fences fixed and weeds mowed. But I think the truth is that in 42 years of marriage, I’ve never been a full-time farm wife. Neither one of us has ever worked only with the other. It’s like beginning a whole new career. The good news is over the past 30 years of working in agriculture, through literally thousands of farmer meetings and conversations, I have absorbed some collective wisdom about the job, which I hope will help me in my new position: 1. Farmers don’t like to be pushed. They need to control their environment and choose their own involvement level. (Translation: he has a schedule – don't mess with it without permission or significant leverage.)
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2. Farmers like to gather data from other farmers even if they don't always believe each other. That's why we have coffee shops, cooperative offices and commodity groups. (Translation: you have to pay your dues to be considered a valuable information resource. Wearing a hat doesn’t make you a cowboy.) 3. Lawnmowing does not qualify as farm chores. (Translation: If you want it done, the mower is in the shed. Do it on your own time, and don’t forget to check the oil before you start it up. Ok, maybe I heard this one from Chuck … ) 4. Farmers have a weakness for small growing things, whether they’re newly sprouted soybeans, baby calves or young children. (Translation: If you really want
something, get the grandkids to ask for it.) 5. Wise farmers never confuse age and rust. Age happens. Rust doesn’t have to. (Translation: Maintain what you have. We aren’t getting new. Hopefully, this applies to spouses as well as machinery.)
I thank all of you for providing me with this education so I can go back to the farm and hopefully not get fired. Assuming we both survive the challenge of full-time togetherness, you can find us just north of Hubbard on Highway S33. As Chuck says, you're always welcome at our campfire. And we may need the company... It's been a good ride. Thank you.
STINE LIBERTYLINK SOYBEANS consistently outperform others ®
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in the industry. I know my fields will be clean because it’s a good product. STINE HAS WHAT I WANT AND WHAT MY FARM NEEDS.
I CHOOSE QUALITY. I CHOOSE RESULTS. I choose what I can count on. I choose Stine because…Stine has yield.
DENNIS GIENGER Gladbrook, Iowa
Farmers Grow their Soybean Knowledge as ISA Experience Participants
T
hirteen farmers from throughout Iowa are broadening their knowledge of the soybean industry and the Iowa Soybean Association as participants in the 2018 Iowa Soybean Association Experience. The program, launched in 2015, immerses farmers in all facets of the ISA including its services, structure and governance. It also offers them unique perspectives about issues impacting the productivity and profitability of soybean farmers including international trade, market development, production and environmental research and communications. Participants include: • Schyler Bardole, Churdan • Aimee & Klint Bissell, Bedford • Reed Burres, Humboldt • Katie Hall, Clive • David Hiler, Rockwell City
your
• Julie Kenney, Ankeny • Kevin Krumwiede, Ledyard • Blake Rabe, Ankeny • Jason Russell, Prairieburg • Sam Showalter, Hampton • Brent Swart, Spencer • Jared Wellik, Woden “The ISA Experience provides a great opportunity for farmer members to learn more about their association and pique their interest for future leadership and involvement,” says ISA President Bill Shipley. “They also serve as an important sounding board for the organization, providing ideas and direction that strengthens our service to members and the industry.” The farmer from Nodaway says Experience participants are often the first to voice concerns, surface ideas, pose questions and offer valuable insights that benefit ISA staff.
“We’ve had several Experience class members go on to serve as leaders on our board and advisory councils,” Shipley says. “The Experience helps them find their fit with ISA and to understand first-hand how the soybean checkoff is benefitting them and fellow soybean farmers.” Experience participants met for the first time in March and focused on foreign trade and policy and regulatory concerns. Future meetings will include a biodiesel plant tour, a visit to the Farm Progress Show and participation in next January’s ISA District Advisory Council meeting to be held in Des Moines. The Experience Class is powered in part by Beck’s Hybrids and REG. To learn more, go to iasoybeans.com.
cooperative
soybean processor
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ASK AN AGRONOMIST
“ DEKALB Asgrow Technical Agronomist Spencer, Iowa WHAT SHOULD FARMERS BE LOOKING FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR? As we head into late July and August, there are still many factors that can affect Iowa soybean yields. With so much still on the line, scouting can be an essential tool that enables you to identify problems, evaluate weed control, check growth stage and get an idea on yield potential. Now is a good time to evaluate how post-emergence applications and residuals controlled weeds during the season. With good canopy formation and layered residuals, we expect mid-to-late season weed emergence to be minimal. Escaped weeds are often limited at this point, so scouting is primarily useful for note taking and future seasons. If there are weed escapes, it’s important to try to diagnose if they are resistant to current herbicides or simply weeds that emerged late season. For insect management, it’s important to use the growth stage as the threshold for treatment adjustments as you progress later in the growing season. While you are out in the field, it’s a good practice to take the time to monitor your soybeans as you approach the fungicide application timeframe. Generally, fungicide
YIELD POTENTIAL IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE AT THIS POINT OF YEAR, BUT SCOUTING CAN DETERMINE THE STRESS LEVEL OF THE SOYBEAN CROP. EVALUATING HEIGHT, CANOPY THICKNESS, NUMBER OF PODDED NODES, AND COLOR PROVIDES CROP STRESS CLUES.
“
J I M M C D E R M OT T
Mid-to-late season management can be key to producing high-yielding soybeans. That’s why farmers in Northwestern Iowa rely on DEKALB ® Asgrow ® Technical Agronomist Jim McDermott for management advice. He’s been working in the region for 23 years and is a great source for local knowledge. Here he addresses some of this year’s pressing management questions.
applications from R3 (pod formation) to R4 (pod elongation) provide the best yield response. Yield potential is difficult to determine at this point of year, but scouting can determine the stress level of the soybean crop. Evaluating height, canopy thickness, number of podded nodes, and color provides crop stress clues. Soybeans that are under drought or fertility stress are not able to handle insect feeding, particularly from soybean aphids. By determining the stress level of the crop through scouting efforts, you are able to determine and apply the correct treatment for this insect. WHAT CAN FARMERS STILL DO TO MANAGE SOYBEANS FOR HIGH-YIELD POTENTIAL? Two of the most important high-yield soybean management factors remaining this season are insect and disease control. For many areas of Iowa, soybean aphids are a perennial threat and it’s important to be prepared to treat soybean aphids as they approach threshold levels. A generally accepted threshold for soybean aphids is 250 per plant with 80 percent of plants infested, with levels increasing during growth stage R5 or earlier. Other insect pests
to look for include japanese beetles, bean leaf beetles, grasshoppers, green cloverworms and spider mites. Contact your local dealer or Iowa State Extension office for specifics on thresholds and control methods. In regards to disease control, fungicide applications can be a very important tool for high-yield soybean management. Foliar diseases such as septoria brown spot, cercospora, downy mildew and frogeye leaf spot are all diseases than can be controlled with a timely fungicide application. White mold and sudden death syndrome are not as easily controlled, but fungicides labeled for partial control or suppression are available. Another aspect of high-yield soybean management is foliar nutrient applications. More farmers are continuing to look at these types of applications as our soybean yields continue to rise. Soybeans are a large user of potassium (K), removing about 1.2 pounds of K for every bushel produced. Research at our Monsanto Huxley Learning Center Farm has shown good yield responses to mid-to-late season foliar potassium product applications. The bottom line is that there are still important management practices to execute at this time of the growth stage for high-yielding soybean potential, whether it’s insect and disease control or additional nutrient applications.
FIND MORE AGRONOMIC UPDATES AND TIPS AT ASGROW.COM/AGRONOMY
Performance may vary, from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields. Always read and follow IRM, where applicable, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Asgrow and the A Design®, Asgrow®, DEKALB and Design® and DEKALB® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Monsanto Company All Rights Reserved.
ISA’s Communications Squad Amplifies Farmers’ Voices By Lauren Houska
F
ourteen Iowa soybean farmers have volunteered to tell agriculture’s story by serving on the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Communications Squad. These farmers share timely information about their industry by making themselves available to visit with reporters, speak to civic and community groups, represent the soybean industry at special events and offer perspectives about agricultural topics through a variety of other channels. “The goal is to help participants take control of the narrative surrounding issues in the agriculture industry to ensure their voices are heard and their stories are told accurately,” says Aaron Putze, APR, ISA communications director. Rob Stout, a Communications Squad member and farmer from Rockwell City, explains that when farmers aren’t talking to the media, it’s not so much about being afraid to talk to them. “It’s really an issue of knowing what to say,” he says. Stout has been involved with ISA for several years, volunteering with the Iowa Food & Family Project and previously sitting on the board of directors. While he has experience interacting with the media and consumers, he says the program is a great refresher for him. The Communications Squad participants take part in four training sessions. They provide tips on being interviewed, writing letters to the editor, public speaking, engaging with consumers and being active on social media. “We appreciate the time and effort these farmers are investing to improve their communication skills and apply those skills to be more vocal advocates for soybean farmers,” Putze says. Participants gathered at the Iowa Soybean Association in Ankeny for their first training session in June. It featured insights on being interviewed from a former reporter, tips and tricks to improve active listening skills and a tour of WHO-TV.
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The group met again in mid-July. Farmers shared information about their operations with the Ankeny Rotary Club and answered questions about their livelihoods. “I call sustainability the “S” word,” April Hemmes said. Hemmes, an ISA director and Communications Squad member. “It means something different for everyone, but I want consumers to know it is important in my operation.” She offered up examples of how she protects the land and water on her farm through cover crops and other practices. Communications Squad participants will engage with consumers at the Iowa Food & Family Project exhibit at the Iowa State Fair August 9-19. In September, participants will report back on the interactions they had and share their failures and successes, allowing them to learn not only from experts, but each other.
2018 Communications Squad Tom Adam, Harper Tim Bardole, Rippey Kellie Blair, Dayton Steph Essick, Dickens Jim Fitkin, Cedar Falls Lindsay Greiner, Keota April Hemmes, Hampton Randy Miller, Lacona Val Plagge, Latimer Bill Shipley, Nodaway Randy Souder, Rockwell City Rob Stout, Washington Dave Struthers, Collins Dave Walton, Wilton
Iowa Soybean Association Communications (ISA) Squad members had the opportunity to tour WHO-TV 13 and learn about how a television newsroom operates. Here Lindsay Greiner, President-elect of the ISA, and Aaron Putze, Communications Director for the ISA, sit with Dan Winters during a live broadcast of the afternoon news.
Corteva, Hertz Farm Management, Inc., Iowa Select Farms, Landus Cooperative
10 | SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM
SOYBEANS ARE
MONTH
IASOYBEANS.COM
SOYBEANS ARE SO BIG IN IOWA THAT WE NEED AN ENTIRE MONTH TO CELEBRATE! August is Soybeans are Big in Iowa Month! Join the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) in recognizing the value of soybean production locally and globally. Since its founding in 1964, ISA has been committed to expanding opportunities and delivering results for soybean farmers and it shows! Follow along at iasoybeans.com all month long to learn more!
AUGUST
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER
9-19
DISTRICT MEETINGS
IOWA STATE FAIR
AUGUST
AUGUST
24-26
12
EXPEDITION FARM COUNTRY
FARM TO FAIR EVENT
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
FARM PROGRESS SHOW
FOOTBALL SEASON OPENERS
28-30 SEPTEMBER
1
FARMERS CARE ABOUT WATER
Iowa Soybean Association is committed to helping farmers grow soybeans more efficiently, market soybeans more effectively and influence consumer perception benefiting soybean farmers.
1
AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER – ISA DISTRICT MEETINGS Join fellow soybean farmers as they gather at nine district meetings across Iowa to share experiences, converse with experts and get the latest information about key issues impacting their farms. From a shrimp boil in District 3 to joining in the world’s greatest county fair — the Clay County Fair — in District 1, each meeting will be unique. For more information, visit iasoybeans.com or contact Heather Lilienthal, at hlilienthal@iasoybeans.com. AUGUST 9 - 19 – IOWA STATE FAIR The Iowa Food & Family Project exhibit (located in south atrium of the Varied Industries Building) will offer fairgoers a unique perspective about agriculture, farm families, food and food retailers! More than 250,000 fairgoers are expected to “follow a farmer” through a one-of-a-kind combination barn-andhome, complete a short quiz and enter to win several fabulous prizes including a $500 meat and dairy bundle, $500 Hy-Vee Gift Card, $500 Earl May Dream Garden and Casey’s Pizza for a Year! Take your turn at the Food and Farm Trivia Wheel and meet celebrity artists as they paint a larger-than-life mural celebrating Iowa and the families and food that grow here! ISA will also sponsor activities at the Animal Learning Center and Ag Building (select times during the fair; check iasoybeans.com for details) and bring agriculture to life at Little Hands on the Farm. ISA and home-grown biodiesel will also power the Iowa State Fair trams, adding enjoyment (and bettering the environment!) for all fairgoers! For more details, visit iowafoodandfamily.com or contact Kelly Visser at kvisser@iasoybeans.com. SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 – FARM TO FAIR, THE IOWA STATE FAIR Nearly 100 farmers will welcome 400 guests to gather around the largest dinner table ever set at the Iowa State Fair! ISA is proud to help sponsor this unique event where farmers will share how dinner got from the farm to the fair. For more details, contact Cate Newberg at cnewberg@iasoybeans.com. AUGUST 24 – 25 – EXPEDITION FARM COUNTRY The Iowa Food & Family Project will welcome 40 guests to hop aboard a bus and take a two-day expedition into northeast Iowa to experience farm life, up close and personal! This premier learning
experience will include tours of Country View Dairy, the Suzanne and Joe Shirbroun grain farm, a Mississippi River lock and dam as well as a beef and pig farm. Be sure to follow along on Iowa Food & Family Project's social media channels and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same! Contact Visser at kvisser@iasoybeans.com for more information. AUGUST 28 - 30 – FARM PROGRESS SHOW, BOONE ISA returns to the nation’s largest outdoor farm event. You’ll find us at lot No. 740 (southwest quadrant of the show grounds). Sign up as an advocate member and receive a personalized hand-painted barn wood sign, enter to win $500 of biodiesel (8 giveaways) courtesy of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Iowa Biodiesel Board and ISA, and enjoy some delicious pork ribs! Learn more about ISA’s commitment to helping produce and create demand for soybeans; ask questions and mingle with your ISA staff and other farmers. For more info, contact Cate Newberg at cnewberg@iasoybeans.com. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 – COLLEGE FOOTBALL KICKOFF WITH IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION Join soybean farmers in celebrating the importance of soybean production at the season openers for Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. Unique, in-stadium promotions at Jack Trice and Kinnick will make you proud to be a member and help all Iowans recognize the contributions soybean farmers make to improve Iowa’s economy and quality of life. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 – FARMERS CARE ABOUT THE WATER WE SHARE CAMPAIGN AT JACK TRICE STADIUM, AMES ISA joins the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa Corn Growers Association to showcase the strides farmers are making in protecting soil and water quality. Farmers will distribute 10,000 logoed water bottles at the start of the South Dakota StateISU football game. Informational signage will be located at water bottle refill stations throughout the stadium all season-long. Be sure to tune in as the Cyclones take on the Jackrabbits for water-focused messaging and interviews throughout the pre-game and play-by-play. For more details, contact Aaron Putze at aputze@iasoybeans.com.
IASOYBEANS.COM
AUGUST
9-19
IOWA STATE FAIR
IOWA STATE FAIR: A SHOWCASE FOR ALL THINGS SOYBEANS, AGRICULTURE! How many events held in Iowa attract a crowd equivalent to one-third the state’s population? Just one: the Iowa State Fair! This year’s fair will be held Aug. 9-19. The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) will be present at the annual celebration of all things food, agriculture and entertainment to engage Iowans about the many ways soybean production and agriculture positively impact their lives, whether at work or play.
“FOLLOW A FARMER!” WITH THE IOWA FOOD & FAMILY PROJECT The Iowa Food & Family Project (iowafoodandfamily.com) exhibit (located in south atrium of the Varied Industries Building) will be open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily and offer fairgoers a unique perspective about agriculture, farm families, food and food retailers! More than 250,000 fairgoers are expected to “follow a farmer” through a one-of-a-kind, home-in-barn, complete a short quiz and enter to win a $500 meat and dairy bundle, $500 Hy-Vee Gift Card, $500 Earl May Dream Garden or Casey’s Pizza for a Year! Visitors of all ages can also take their turn at the Food and Farm Trivia Wheel and meet celebrity artists as they paint a larger-than-life mural celebrating Iowa and the families and food that grow here!
AG BUILDING AND ANIMAL LEARNING CENTER ISA will sponsor activities at two popular state fair destinations – the Ag Building and Animal Learning Center. Soybean farmers will interact with fairgoers in the Ag Building Aug. 9 and 16 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). They’ll share insights about the soybean industry and answer questions about production, environmental stewardship and trade. Test your knowledge of agriculture and win a special prize. Livestock provide a critical market for soybean farmers. The Animal Learning Center will reinforce this important
partnership. A display with lift tabs will offer unique insights about the many foods and household products made with soy.
LITTLE HANDS ON THE FARM Located in Kids Zone on the fairground’s north side, Little Hands on the Farm teaches children the importance of agriculture and how it affects their daily lives in a fun and interactive way. Children ages 2 to 10 become farmers at this free, handson exhibit. Children obtain a gathering basket and proceed along a path that includes a garden, grain bin, soybeans, apple orchard, chicken coop, tractor shed, sheep barn and dairy barn. After gathering particular items along the way, they get the chance to sell these items at the Little Hands on the Farm Farmers’ Market for a Little Hands dollar to spend at the Grocery Store for such items as a piece of fruit, a granola bar or an ice cream sandwich.
BIODIESEL POWERING THE FAIR ISA and home-grown biodiesel will power the Iowa State Fair trams, adding enjoyment (and bettering the environment) for all fairgoers! Biodiesel is America’s first advanced biofuel, is renewable, clean-burning and reduces America’s dependence on imported diesel. Hop aboard and be sure to strike up a conversation with the person next to you about biodiesel’s benefits! “FARM TO FAIR!” (SUNDAY, AUG. 12) Nearly 100 farmers will welcome 400 guests as they gather around the largest dinner table ever set at the Iowa State Fair! The table will be set in the midst of the Grand Concourse and encourage farm and city fellowship. ISA is proud to help sponsor this unique event where farmers will share how food is grown and makes its way from the farm to the fair! For more details about ISA at the Iowa State Fair, go to iasoybeans.com or follow along on Facebook and Twitter!
IASOYBEANS.COM Funded in part by the soybean checkoff
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INVESTING CHECKOFF DOLLARS
Ron Heck, farmer from Perry
SOYBEAN DETOUR Chinese tariff reshapes soybean trade, more U.S. oilseeds head to other destinations
By Matthew Wilde
T
he best defense is a good offense. The sports and military adage pertains to soybeans, too. U.S. soybean industry leaders, trade officials and farmers are working to minimize economic and export losses from China’s additional 25 percent tariff on imported soybeans. The game plan is simple: Sell more soy elsewhere. “In agriculture, we need to play offense — find new markets and demand in other areas,” says Ambassador Gregg Doud, chief ag negotiator for the Office of the United States Trade Representative. “First and foremost, we need to get NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico) sorted out and then a trade deal with Japan. All are huge markets,” he continues. “We’re also looking to expand trade in Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Africa and eventually the United Kingdom.” That’s starting to happen, according to government export data. The European
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Union, Egypt, Pakistan and other nations are buying more U.S. soybeans — tens of millions of bushels as of April — as premiums for Brazilian beans surge due to Chinese demand. Soybeans to be loaded in September at the Brazilian port of Parangua were $1.95 per bushel higher than U.S. beans on the Chicago Board of Trade in late June. “We’ll continue to treat China as a valued partner, but we’re making a special effort in countries that normally source more soybeans from Brazil,” says Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). “Prices are attractive and we have beans available.” The June U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Stocks Report indicates 1.22 billion bushels of soybeans are stored in all positions, up 26 percent from a year ago.
Demand grows Rabobank International predicts the U.S. will supplant Brazil as Europe’s main soybean supplier if the U.S.-China
trade dispute isn’t resolved. The U.S. currently supplies about 25 percent of the continent’s needs at more than 180 million bushels annually, records show. Egypt tripled its U.S. soybean purchases this marketing year, which ends Aug. 31, to nearly 63 million bushels as of mid-June. Pakistan bought nearly 40 million bushels during the same time, more than double last year’s total. “Demand, as of now, is not being destroyed. Customers are still there,” says Ron Heck of Perry, a former Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) president and member of President Donald Trump’s Agriculture Advisory Committee. “The freight arrangements have changed.” China is slated to import more than 3.5 billion bushels of soybeans from all sources this marketing year and nearly 3.7 billion next year, according to the USDA. Based on projected demand and South American production, industry officials estimate China will have to buy anywhere from 550 to 730 million
INVESTING CHECKOFF DOLLARS
bushels of U.S. soybeans during the 201819 marketing year despite added costs due to tariffs. During the 2016-17 marketing year, records show the U.S. sold 1.35 billion bushels to China, nearly 40 percent of its needs. Based on past exports to the nation and future demand, the U.S. will need to sell more than 615 million to nearly 800 million bushels of soybeans to other countries next year to make up for lost Chinese sales. International oilseed consultant John Baize believes that’s possible. “Other nations that normally buy more from Brazil will come to us — we’ve shipped more to Europe than last year with a couple months left to go in the marketing year,” Baize says. “South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam are buying more from the U.S. It’s a realigning of the trade deck chairs.” Chad Hart, Iowa State University grain economist, says that will happen to an extent but not totally. China is the world’s largest soybean consumer and the U.S.’ best customer. The nation purchased one-third of the U.S. crop last year. When China temporarily stops buying, Hart says it will be difficult, if not impossible, for other countries to totally make up the difference. “The chairs will be re-arranged, but in doing so, one or two will fall off the deck,” Hart says. China is expected to cancel most, if not all, U.S. soybean shipments on
the books for the remainder of the marketing year.
Trade war China imposed retaliatory duties on U.S. products, including soy, after the U.S. slapped $34 billion of tariffs on high-tech goods from the country July 6. U.S. trade officials say the goal is to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China by $200 billion and stop the country’s unfair trade practices, mostly centered around U.S. intellectual property theft or forced transfer. It’s unclear if punitive tariffs will be successful, but the consequences for farmers are real. Soybean prices have plummeted about $2 per bushel since the U.S.-China trade battle started in late February. A Purdue University study says China’s 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans would slash exports to the county by 65 percent and overall by 37 percent. U.S. soybean prices will fall by 5 percent. Hart estimates a prolonged trade war with China could cost Iowa soybean farmers about $630 million. As the international marketing arm of the U.S. soy family, USSEC is working to minimize the negative consequences of the trade war. The top priority is continuing to build preference for U.S. soybeans, meal and oil worldwide, Sutter says. ISA President-elect Lindsay Greiner of Keota and ISA Chief Operations Officer Karey Claghorn touted the value
of U.S soy and soy products at the USSEC Regional Aquaculture Production Conference in Cairo in July. Aquaculture expansion is pegged for the Suez Canal, and industry officials think soy-based fish feed will be used. “There isn’t a more opportune time to be in Egypt promoting U.S. soybeans,” Greiner says. “The country of nearly 100 million people is advancing their standard of living and want to eat better. This could be the market that helps us through the tariff dispute.” USSEC, with the help of ISA and other states, will host more than 20 trade teams through the summer. Many of the teams will attend the 2018 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange and Midwest Specialty Grains Conference and Tradeshow in Kansas City from Aug. 28-30. Soybean buyers from more than 50 countries are expected to attend the event. It’s the perfect opportunity to showcase U.S. soybeans and products, tout feed benefits like U.S. soy’s excellent amino acid content and reliable delivery — all to jumpstart sales for the 2018-19 marketing year. “The global trade exchange is our opportunity to bring buyers to the U.S. to see the crop in the final stages,” Sutter says. “We’ll take groups to farms and export locations. It’s more important than ever to get buyers and sellers together to do business given the potential losses to China.” Matthew Wilde can be contacted at mwilde@iasoybeans.com.
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INSIDE CHINA
CHINA’S EXPANDING BEEF CATTLE INDUSTRY Unprecedented Opportunities for Iowa Soybean Growers By Jane Li
C
hina’s beef cattle industry will move toward increased industrialization and greater production efficiencies to support the forecast expanding beef production growth. Iowa's soybean industry can support this by working closely with China’s beef cattle industry to improve protein inclusions in feed.
Expanding beef demand Growing per capita consumption across an estimated 2017 population of 1.39 billion people is pushing China’s total beef consumption ahead of the European Union and 18 | SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM
second only to the popularity of U.S. Beef in China is being fueled by a number of factors. Principally, Chinese middle-class consumers aspire to trade up to more “prestigious meats” and beef fits the bill nicely. Beef is regarded as higher quality than pork and is also considered healthier and lower in fat. While pork continues to be the center of the plate in the Chinese diet, per capita beef consumption in China has increased by about 20 percent in the last six years to a projected 12.7 pounds in 2017. Per capita, beef consumption in the U.S. stood at 79 pounds per year in 2017.
Beef production constraints China is one of the largest cattle producing nations in the world, with an inventory of 100.8 million head in 2017the third largest globally behind Brazil and India. China’s beef production went from almost no growth in 2000 to over 15 percent growth during the last decade. Between 2015 and 2017, beef production was up by 7 percent from 6.7MMT to 7.26 MMT. Beef production in 2017 reached a 20-year record high. With strong economic growth, China’s beef and beef cattle industry is growing exceedingly fast. But the low levels of modernization are a major constraint on the development of the beef market in China.
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U.S. agriculture delegation members, including Kirk Leeds, CEO of the Iowa Soybean Association, were on hand last year during the premiere of U.S. beef at a Wumart retail store in Beijing, China. The premiere celebrated the return of American beef by providing samples to patrons and hosting a celebration complete with dancers dressed as cowboys and cowgirls. Wumart is a major shopping chain in China that is similar to Walmart.
Industry challenges include: • While production is transitioning to larger facilities, the availability of production inputs, management and technology is lacking. Some larger beef processing facilities operate without complete cold chain systems and are unable to meet international health standards. • Availability and knowledge of advanced genetics would significantly improve productivity. China imports live cattle and bovine semen to improve its domestic genetics. Blending the best traits of the introduced breeds with indigenous breeds of China improves productivity without a loss in adaptability. According to China Customs, China’s bovine semen import reached $25.79 million in 2017, up over 4 percent from the previous year. The U.S. is the leading supplier of bovine semen to China. • Knowledge and availability of feed ingredients and formulas would enhance productivity. Feed shortages have long been a constraint on China’s livestock production. With extremely low feedto-muscle tissue conversion ratios, feed technology and feed management are crucial for the beef cattle industry.
• Lack of a beef grading system, standards and monitoring. China lacks beef quality grading standards. In addition, full implementation and monitoring of food safety and environmental standards have been delayed.
U.S. feed ingredients In general, the volume of on-farm feed mix is falling and complete feed use is on the rise. The factors driving this move include a rise in meat consumption, increased awareness of meat quality and safety, increased industrialization of meat production and the need to manage animal disease. Areas of improvement include science-based formulation and feed for formulation optimization. For the Chinese beef cattle industry, the adoption of U.S. feed
ingredients, including soymeal, provides opportunities to expand the quantity and variety of U.S. feed exports. The integrated use of feed ingredients and feed additives, along with the adoption of U.S. genetics provides the opportunity to not only increase output per dollar, but to also increase the whole value of each pound of meat produced. In addition to China’s expanding beef production, China’s overall meat production continues to grow. According to data released earlier this year by China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. China’s meat production reached 76.4 MMT in 2017 and total production will climb to 100 MMT by 2030, with pork making up over 70 percent. Even more than beef, China’s pork production will continue to drive demand for quality feed ingredients, including soymeal.
Xueqing (Jane) Li |
Li is a Principal at Ag Food Consulting (AFC), located in Washington , D.C., and has nearly 16 years experience in agriculture, including extensive knowledge of the industry, association and government network in China.
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ONE HECK OF A RIDE 25 Years of the National Biodiesel Board
By Tom Verry, director of development, National Biodiesel Board
I
t’s hard to believe that in 2018 the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) celebrates 25 years as a trade association, which also marks the 25th anniversary of the true beginning of the commercial biodiesel industry. Just think… in 1993, some of us watched the original “Jurassic Park” in theaters! Only a few of us had cell phones at the time, and I wasn’t one of them. In the last 25 years, I’ve raised three children, all adults who are (almost) on their own. Looking back, I feel like the fourth child in my life that has come into its own is biodiesel. In those early years, I worked for the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, traveling around the Midwest with Old
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Brownie. This diesel Ford pickup truck became the face of what we then called SoyDiesel – a new fuel we filled up with at the University of Missouri Ag Engineering Department. Oh, and I was also selling another new idea – the soybean checkoff. With bean prices about $4 per bushel, farmers were desperate for new markets. Showcasing biodiesel as a promising use of soybean oil, a real drag on soybean prices, was one of the few things that appealed to farmers about establishing a checkoff and was crucial to its passage. In those days and before children, Old Brownie and I, and sometimes my wife, Jane, appeared in parades, went to field days, county fairs, fall festivals, soybean conferences and most of all, tractor pulls.
We would hang out all weekend on hot, dusty fields with the pullers, slowly gaining their confidence. Before long we began to watch biodiesel-powered tractors competing (and usually winning) against other fuels. They would let me get up on the announcer’s stand to talk about SoyDiesel and the checkoff. Even though Old Brownie was just a regular pickup truck, I always had to open the hood, so farmers could take a look at the engine. This practical, show-me mentality is something I’ve always admired in farmers. And 25 years later, I am proud so many farmers recognize and appreciate what biodiesel has accomplished for them personally and for our nation.
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Without their vision and investment, that it’s crazy! NBB is the reason farmers there wouldn’t be a biodiesel industry can sell so much oil – and farmers today. It’s not easy commercializing a are the reason biodiesel is successful. new fuel, from ASTM standards and Partnerships like this are pretty rare and fuel quality, to OEM approvals, to pretty sweet. environmental and health effects tests, Even though I’ve worked on biodiesel and to consumer education. Top that off since the very beginning, it didn’t become with the fact biodiesel began coming into my sole focus until 2002. MSMC and NBB its own at a time when diesel fuel and were co-located in the same building at technology began undergoing dramatic the time, and I was drawn to join the changes. We had to keep up, and checkoff great NBB team. It has been one heck of dollars made that possible. a ride. The soybean checkoff has Helping farmers drives me. always had our back on Seeing producers thriving in technical, education and small towns, allowing people sustainability issues. That to have good jobs and being has freed up the dollars a part of the community they the biodiesel producers grew up in are also powerful invest to fight wars on motivators. Visiting Minnesota other fronts, such as where B20 (20 percent policy, trade disputes and biodiesel) is now the norm defending our market. and New York City where they Today, 23 states and want to go to even higher Tom Verry the United Soybean blends, like B40 and B50, is Board fund our programs. inspiring. Knowing that How have farmers benefited from their 25 years later, the vision of the early investment? The estimated Return on leaders has come full-circle is gratifying! Investment (ROI) is 63 cents per bushel. It’s amazing to think we produced In 2017, that equated to $30 an acre, or an 2.6 billion gallons last year. I feel very proud aggregate $2.7 billion of additional value about that, and I hope farmers do, too. back to U.S. soybean farmers. Since 1992, Farmers aren’t just funders – they are over $100 million of soybean checkoff part of our team, our history, and our money has been invested in developing journey into the next 25 years. Thank you the biodiesel market – the ROI is so good for a great quarter-century!
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THE ESTIMATED
RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS 63 CENTS PER BUSHEL. IN 2017 THAT EQUATED TO $30 AN ACRE, OR AN AGGREGATE $2.7 BILLION OF ADDITIONAL VALUE BACK TO U.S. SOYBEAN FARMERS.
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— Tom Verry, National Biodiesel Board
THE U.S. BIODIESEL INDUSTRY
supports about 60,000 jobs across the U.S., more than $2.5 billion in wages paid and an overall economic impact of nearly $11.5 billion. Biodiesel is produced across the country in all regions – but Iowa is the leader! ISA founded and supports the Iowa Biodiesel Board.
Tom Verry, right, with Kenlon Johannes, then-director of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, with Old Brownie outside Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM | 21
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A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED Reduce input costs and increase yields By Allison Arp
P
roduction research has come a long way in the last decade when it comes to improving yields, but researchers with the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) On-Farm Network® know that yield improvement comes at a cost. Farmers need high-profitability yields rather than high-cost yields — especially with current markets. According to Iowa State University, the average cost to produce a bushel of soybeans is between $9.39 and $9.55. This is quite a bit higher than the average cost to produce a bushel of corn, which is $3.50 to $4.00. For On-Farm Network Director Scott Nelson, these numbers drive his team’s work. “The On-Farm Network is dedicated to reducing these costs in a sustainable fashion to make farmers in Iowa more
profitable,” Nelson says. “There are two ways to drive down costs per bushel: reduce input costs and increase yields.” He says both strategies are investigated by the On-Farm Network. The research demonstrates to farmers where they can reduce input costs or identify practices that truly raise yields.
Lowering input costs There are several ways the On-Farm Network works with farmers to reduce inputs. One of the most common is to conduct a replicated strip trial testing a lower input practice against the farmer’s current (higher input) practice. An example of this would be comparing conventional tillage and reduced tillage. Farmers who adopt a reduced tillage management practice save on the input
ON-FARM NETWORK 2018 NUMBERS
218
TOTAL TRIALS
150
PARTICIPANTS
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66
COUNTIES
costs of fuel, equipment and labor it would take to till. Saving on input costs doesn’t mean anything if yield takes a dramatic drop. This is why the On-Farm Network’s trials are replicated across a field. They also collect and analyze data from soybean trials for the entire growing season. All trials will have harvest data, but many also include combination of stand counts, disease ratings and others related to the research being conducted.
Determining what works “In addition to the replications in our trials, collecting data other than yield is critical to determining the true outcome and profitability of a product or practice,” says Nelson. “A fungicide may have had a yield increase but if there wasn’t
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disease pressure, it may not have been truly tested. Even if it did help control disease, it may not have been profitable.” According to Nelson, knowing the ‘why’ behind the research results is important. Weather, profitability, scouting, imagery and yield data are collected throughout the growing season and presented to the farmer after harvest as part of a year-end report. This publication of personalized data is just part of why ISA member Chad Krull works with the On-Farm Network to conduct trials. Krull, a Northwood farmer, is conducting a five-rate nitrogen trial, a soybean population trial and a sponsored trial comparing a company’s recommended nitrogen rates to his standard rates. While he tested his rate, time and type of nitrogen application on his own, he
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is now working with the On-Farm Network to fine-tune his practices. “I want to refine the nitrogen rates more accurately so I’m not wasting money using extra nitrogen,” Krull says. “Many people I’ve talked to are applying 50 to 60 pounds more than I am at a cost of $15 to $20 an acre. I’m saving money and haven’t seen a yield hit.” Working with farmers to save them money is one of the goals of the On-Farm Network. Even farmers who don’t work directly with ISA can access trial results online and look up protocols to conduct their own research. “The motto of the On-Farm Network is ‘research for farmers, by farmers’,” says Nelson. “We are always interested in ideas and input from farmers on what we should be working on. Please, don’t be shy — contact us with any project ideas.”
T H E R E A R E T WO WAYS TO D R I V E
D OW N C O S T S P E R B U S H E L : R E D U C E I N P U T COSTS AND INCREASE YIELDS. — Scott Nelson, On-Farm Network
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Photo credit: Allison Arp
On-Farm Network staff and agronomist have conducted 218 trials with 150 participants in 66 counties this year. The trials help participants find ways to lower input costs while working to increase yields.
Photo credit: Allison Arp SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM | 23
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SCALING UP THE IOWA NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY
By Carol Brown
T
he Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) was working to improve farmer productivity as well as soil and water quality long before the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS). “ISA’s entrepreneurial approach and long-term commitment to stewardship, along with being fact based and data driven, has always been at the forefront of our programming,” says Roger Wolf, director of ISA’s Environmental Programs and Services (EPS). “This programming is helping to shape the Nutrient Reduction Strategy. ISA fosters collaborative partnerships and provides data and technical information to farmers. This work collectively leverages investments
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by soybean farmers to increase practices on the ground.” The Iowa NRS is a state-based framework to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus leaving the state’s waterways by 45 percent. It was developed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa State University (ISU). Wolf sees the larger picture of how soybean checkoff funding can be leveraged to gain public and private grants and contracts to advance projects aligned with the strategy. Funding enables ISA to help farmers make informed decisions and put conservation practices in place.
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Over the past 20 years, ISA invested nearly $30 million in funding, with one-third coming from the soybean checkoff. This funding enabled the expansion of research and demonstration and implementation projects that work directly with farmers. The EPS staff works on several levels for water quality improvement: 1. Writing watershed plans for priority watersheds. 2. Engaging with farmers to create conservation assessments for their farms. 3. Assisting farmers with implementing practices like bioreactors, saturated buffers and conservation drainage systems and evaluating their performance. 4. Monitoring water in streams and tile drains. These efforts contribute to the NRS goals and perpetuate on-farm conservation. For example, as watershed plans are implemented, additional financial assistance often becomes available to help farmers adopt conservation practices. As more farmers and landowners get involved with watershed projects, more interest and concern for natural resources is generated. “I estimate an additional $50 million has become available over the last decade to implement watershed plans to assist farmers. This is how we scale up the strategy,” Wolf says. “It takes time to do this work, but having plans helps farmers know what to expect. It enables targeted practice implementation to ensure everyone involved reaps the most value.”
Farmers are responding As farmers realize they need to do more to reduce nitrogen leaving their fields, implementation numbers are rising. According to the 2016-17 Executive Summary of the Iowa NRS Annual Progress Report, “government cost-share programs enrolled 300,000 cover crop acres in 2016. …statewide estimates (beyond just cost-share) indicate 600,000 acres were planted in 2016.” The report also states, “in 2017, 77 percent of farmers surveyed in selected watersheds reported that they are knowledgeable about the NRS. This is a 9 percent increase from 2015.” Matt Helmers, professor of agriculture
Corey McKinney, a natural resources specialist with the Iowa Soybean Association, takes a water sample from a bioreactor near Alleman. Iowa soybean farmers have made investments to increase practices on the ground and to monitor the progress that is being made.
and biosystems engineering at ISU, was part of the science team behind the strategy. “We’re at the point where a lot of people understand these practices, so we need to get a lot more on the ground,” he says. “We now need people resources. If we are going to scale up edge-offield practices, we need more land improvement contractors to put these structures in the ground. The same goes for other practices; we need human infrastructure to help farmers and landowners.”
Scaling up via watersheds One example of scaling up conservation practices on the ground is the Elk Run Watershed project led by Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA). The group received funding through the Iowa Water Quality Initiative for the North Raccoon Farm to River Partnership, which builds upon the Elk Run Watershed Project that ended earlier this year. The new project expands its geographic scope and goals for practice application. Managed by ACWA, the threeyear project (2018-2020) seeks to implement conservation farming practices including:
• 11,500 acres of cover crops • 15 bioreactors • 15 saturated buffers • 1 targeted wetland ACWA members and their agronomists will work with farmer clients to achieve the project goals. Through education, training and financial incentives they will help farmers get the practices implemented. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Program also recently awarded a $1 million grant to Iowa for edge-of-field research and demonstration projects in the Des Moines River watershed. ISA will collaborate with IDALS and ISU on the three-year Iowa Transforming Drainage Project. Chris Hay, ISA senior environmental scientist, will co-lead the drainage water recycling portion of the project with ISU, installing and monitoring new systems on three farms. ISA will also oversee the placement and monitoring of 10 new bioreactors in the watershed. The successful Transforming Drainage grant and North Raccoon Farm to River Partnership are two examples of how leveraged funding can be used to improve the landscape and water in Iowa and downstream. Carol Brown can be contacted at cbrown@iasoybeans.com.
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IN THE WEEDS WITH MIKE OWEN
By Matthew Wilde
M
ike Owen always called it like he saw it. Whether the weed scientist shared the pros and cons about herbicide chemistries or called balls and strikes during a high school softball game, Owen’s opinions were often praised or criticized. But in the end, right or wrong, he stood by them. It’s a trait Owen is proud of. And, one that colleagues at Iowa State University (ISU) and others in agriculture say served farmers well. Owen, 66, retired earlier this year after more than three decades as an ISU agronomy professor and Extension and Outreach weed specialist. He directed research on many topics, including weed 26 | SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM
seedbank population dynamics, the genetic and physiological control of weed seed dormancy and herbicide resistance, among others. Even if Owen’s opinions about herbicide resistance and some chemistries weren’t popular with industry — most recently he, among other academics, recommended not using low-volatility formulations of dicamba herbicide postemergence — he felt compelled to speak out to help farmers. “You have to do what you feel is appropriate and supported by science,” Owen says. “I’m pretty well known as a hard head, and that’s accurate. “But you must be willing to say you’re wrong, which I have done publicly on
occasion,” he continues. “Thankfully, and perhaps unfortunately, I have been more right than wrong over my 35 years in weed science at ISU.” Owen, who’s lived in Ames most of his life, graduated from ISU in 1974 and ‘75 with degrees in botany. He received a doctorate in agronomy/weed science in 1982 from the University of Illinois. Owen accepted a position at ISU as a weed scientist later that year. Considered an expert on weed issues, Owen often spoke with farmers directly or in large groups on numerous management topics. ISU President Wendy Wintersteen describes Owen as a “change agent” in crop production in Iowa and the Midwest.
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“As a researcher and extension specialist, he provided national leadership on critical issues in weed management, particularly in weed resistance,” Wintersteen says. “That resulted in more costeffective, environmentally sustainable management systems and strategies across Iowa, the nation and the world. As a teacher, mentor and advocate, Mike influenced countless students both inside and outside the classroom, inspiring them to become leaders and innovators.” The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), utilizing checkoff dollars, supported weed and herbicide resistance research led by Owen and other colleagues at ISU. Ed Anderson, Ph.D., ISA senior director of research, calls Owen a credible extension weed scientist and a champion of Iowa agriculture. “His candid approach has brought clarity, accountability and a sense of urgency to everyone involved in weed management through integrated approaches and increased awareness about herbicide resistant weeds,” Anderson says. “Mike has been a friend to the Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa soybean farmers.” Besides battling waterhemp, giant ragweed and other weeds, he also served as associate chair of the Agronomy Department and Faculty Senate past president. In his spare time, Owen enjoyed being a softball and hockey official and spending time with family. Owen sat down with ISA to discuss the past, present and future:
before them. Initially companies were in denial. In the mid-2000s, I helped organize national glyphosate stewardship forums.”
What is the greatest challenge now? “Getting growers not to just talk about the need for diversity in weed management but also to implement it. We’re at a step-off point in Iowa. Weed resistance now, in general, is not that bad but that can change quickly. “We can do something about it if farmers take steps. It will take time and more money. The benefits won’t be immediately recognized. “My fear is they will listen to the sirens of convenience, simplicity and cost and continue to take the easy road managing weeds. Diversity of weed management is key to ensuring longevity of weed management in soybeans. We’ve sprayed our way into the problem, but we won’t spray our way out of it.”
What’s in store for farmers and weed specialists in the future? “It will be combating weeds we have — waterhemp, giant ragweed, marestail, Palmer Amaranth and others
— without implementing tactics that may outweigh benefits. Widespread tillage can help, but it causes other problems. “Diversity by having field borders, cover crops, rotating chemistries, using multiple effective modes of action and precision cultivation are good strategies. It can be as simple as isolating fields with a problem and harvesting it last.”
Dicamba use is a hot-button issue. Will it change this year? “I think there will be major problems with movement of dicamba in 2018. I have yet to hear any company discuss volatilization in training sessions that applicators are now required to take. It’s a problem without a resolution.”
What is something Iowa farmers don’t know about Mike Owen? “I played fast-pitch softball until I was 55 and officiated hockey until 63.” Retirement plans? “Read the complete works of Victor Hugo. Fish and hunt more. Spend more time at our house in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Lake Superior.”
What weed issue was the biggest challenge at the beginning of your career? “Woolly cupgrass was a major issue. It went away essentially because of Roundup Ready technology. At the same time another weed, waterhemp, started to show up in the mid-1980s. “ALS inhibitors were introduced … it was like the perfect storm. Farmers could control broadleaf weeds postemergence. “Resistance to ALS inhibitors and glyphosate grew just like atrazine
Recently retired Iowa State University weed specialist Mike Owen says Iowa farmers still have time to control herbicide-resistant weeds if they take necessary agronomic and financial steps to rectify the growing problem. SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM | 27
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NUFFIELD INTERNATIONAL FARMING SCHOLAR Around the world of agriculture in more than 80 days By Lauren Houska
U
nlike the characters in the movie “Around the World in 80 Days,” it will take the 2018 Nuffield International Farming Scholar a little longer to learn about agriculture worldwide. Through the scholarship, Brian Dougherty has embarked on a two-year, worldwide agricultural research journey to study how the intersection of soil health, water quality and agricultural management practices impacts agricultural sustainability. “This program is an amazing opportunity,” says Dougherty, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University in Ames. Nearly 1,700 individuals worldwide have had the opportunity to research agricultural topics of interest since the program’s inception 70 years ago. One of only three individuals to ever be selected nationwide, the agricultural engineer hopes his research will prove beneficial to Iowa, U.S. and global agriculture. It takes $60,000 to support a scholar through months of travel and research. While the scholarship provides the
awardee with financial, developmental and logistical support, a significant portion of the program relies on sponsorships.
ISA supports scholar The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) board of directors approved a sponsorship of $15,000 in January. Ed Kee, former Delaware Secretary of Agriculture and current Nuffield International USA Associate Board President, presented the sponsorship opportunity. “It seemed like the board was truly interested in providing Iowa farmers with this global learning opportunity,” Kee says. Pat Swanson, an ISA board member from Ottumwa, supports the investment. “We’re always looking out for our members,” Swanson says. “What an opportunity for us to learn through Brian and see what challenges other countries are having and how it relates to our challenges and economy.” Along with the benefits of Brian’s research, she hopes international relationships developed through this program help uncover more markets and
Agricola La Selva, a family-owned farming operation in Collipulli, Chile, gave Dougherty’s global focus group a tour in April and explained the importance of technology, diversification and transfer of knowledge to their operation. 28 | SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM
create demand for Iowa soybean farmers. Dougherty and Kee hosted a global focus group of international scholars in Iowa this summer. In 2019, the Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference, which is held in a different country each year, will be in Ames. Over 120 agricultural scholars, presenters and sponsors from 10 different countries will attend the conference.
The journey so far Dougherty, along with nearly 80 scholars from around the world, began arranging travel and making study plans in November. In March, his first leg of international travel began. Dougherty’s global focus group traveled to England, the Netherlands, Italy, the U.S., Canada, Argentina and Chile. During their travels, they toured farms and agricultural businesses, conversed with public and private sector researchers, and visited with leaders in government. His global focus group concluded at the end of April. Though he was not surprised, Dougherty noted that he saw drastically different levels of government
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involvement in agriculture worldwide. Dougherty explained that Europe is highly regulated and subsidized, and the government is very involved in research. Conversely, farmers in Argentina and Chile receive essentially no government help. Farmers rely on each other through transparent operations and research partnerships. “We met a lot of very innovative farmers and a lot of people doing amazing things,” says Dougherty, noting that he is interested in understanding some of the issues average farmers face. The goal of the global focus group is to develop leadership and communications skills, and gain insight and understanding of strategic issues in global agriculture before they start the second part of the scholarship program — individual study. Scholars plan their own travel and research and can go anywhere in the world beneficial to their research. Dougherty traveled New Zealand and Australia in May and June for the first half of his solo research. He says New Zealand is challenged with nitrate leaching issues similar to those in Iowa. Farmers there face strict environmental regulations. Australia’s challenges are different, he says. Farmers struggle to build organic matter and improve soil health due to low quality soil and lack of moisture. “Dry conditions in the areas I visited make soil moisture conservation a priority and nutrient leaching is less of an issue,” says Dougherty.
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What’s next? This fall, Dougherty will spend a month traveling to the U.K., France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and a few other countries. Along with soil health and water quality, he will study manure management and odor control technologies for livestock farms. These countries also have strict regulations. He is looking forward to comparing them and analyzing what is — and isn't working for farmers. “The ultimate goal is to make and maintain connections internationally,” says Dougherty. “I’m hoping to gather new ideas, technologies and relationships and bring it all back to Iowa.” At the completion of his research, Dougherty will author a comprehensive report detailing his experiences and research results. The information will be published through Nuffield and made available to sponsors. Dougherty, whose scholarship is also supported by the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, National Pork Board and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, will visit sponsors and other agriculture-related groups to present his research. “I’m already telling people about my trip,” Dougherty says. “I want to share it with as many people as I can so that more farmers, researchers and agribusinesses know about it and can benefit from it.”
Brian Dougherty has embarked on a two-year, worldwide agricultural research journey with support from the Iowa Soybean Association to study how the intersection of soil health, water quality and agricultural management practices impacts agricultural sustainability.
Lauren Houska can be contacted at lhouska@iasoybeans.com.
I ’ M H O P I N G TO G AT H E R N E W I D E A S ,
T E C H N O LO G I E S A N D R E L AT I O N S H I P S A N D B R I N G I T A L L B AC K TO I OWA . — Brian Dougherty
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Follow the Nuffield Scholar’s journey on Twitter: @1briandougherty
John Keely, an Australian 2016 Nuffield scholar and dairy farmer, shared insights on flood irrigation in northern Victoria agriculture during Dougherty’s solo studies in May. SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM | 29
W E A R E U. S. S O Y B E A N F A R M E R S
SUSTAINABILITY NEVER GOES OUT OF SEASON C U S T O M E R S P R E F E R U . S . S O Y B E C A U S E I T ’ S S U S TA I N A B L E . But as demands for sustainability continue rising, meeting those demands remains a journey of continuous improvement. Which sustainable practices do you do now? Which ones could you adopt to improve your sustainable footprint? Show your commitment to sustainability with a free truck magnet available at unitedsoybean.org/sustainability
C OV E R CROPS
WAT E R M A N AG E M E N T
NUTRIENT M A N AG E M E N T
DECISION FA R M I N G
30 | SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM
REDUCED T I L L AG E
PEST M A N AG E M E N T
The Last Word Editor’s Notes by Ann Clinton aclinton@iasoybeans.com
Soybeans are Big in Iowa
A
ugust is Soybean Month in Iowa.Proclaimed by Governor Kim Reynolds, in a formal signing ceremony alongside Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer-leaders, the declaration celebrates all things soy. Frankly, considering recent events, it’s a welcome opportunity to highlight the plethora of good things soybeans bring to the state. This month, the people of Iowa recognize you. You are one of nearly 42,000 Iowa farmers who grow soybeans. Your hard work contributes to your community’s vitality and economic prosperity. Your legacy is synonymous with excellence and innovation. During the 2017 growing season, you and your fellow Iowa farmers harvested more than 562 million bushels of soybeans, earning the nation’s No. 2 ranking in soybean production. However, you’re often No.1. It’s a title that is handed back and forth between Iowa and Illinois. As an Iowa farmer, you know productivity and environmental
leadership go hand-in-hand. In 2017, the soybean checkoff invested $1.25 million in dedicated funds, along with $1.7 million in noncheckoff resources, toward soil conservation, water quality and nutrient management. This investment supports 40 active ISA-led soil and water quality projects, helps collect and analyze 3,120 water samples and develops six current watershed plans. That’s a big deal … a serious investment in the future of agriculture and the health of your soils. But it’s all in a day’s work for you. Perhaps that’s why the news of a trade war with China stings so badly. There are enough unknowns to be dealt with and at the end of the day, you simply want some decent prices for your crop. The energy around ISA has definitely experienced a shift this year as the news regarding tariffs first surfaced. There’s been so much uncertainty, speculation and at times, frustration. Our efforts at the office have been focused on getting you the
information you need to know to make the best business decisions for your farming operation. This issue of the Iowa Soybean Review is an example of thoughtful content created to keep you in the know. I even dubbed this issue the “kitchen sink magazine” because it represents a little bit of everything. The fact of the matter is there’s been a lot going on in the soybean industry. It’s been a challenge to prioritize, summarize and report on everything that needs to be communicated and considered. Mixed into the fold of this issue, though, are a lot of reasons to celebrate the many successes you have achieved out in the soybean fields. As we celebrate Soybean Month in Iowa, I hope you can find time to visit with ISA at events such as the Iowa State Fair and Farm Progress Show. If you see me around, please introduce yourself. Soybeans are big in Iowa. You and I have a lot to cuss and discuss.
Representing Iowa’s soybean farmers, I jumped on a bike in July and joined thousands of complete strangers on a ride through the state’s countryside. Considering I’d never ridden RAGBRAI before, I only rode for a day. Next year, though, I’m dedicated to adding many more miles. Cate Newberg, my co-worker pictured on the left, completed the whole week. People representing countries from all over the world asked us why soybeans are big in Iowa, and we embraced the opportunity to tell them. SUMMER 2018 | IASOYBEANS.COM | 31
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