Right Time, Right Place

Right Time, Right Place

Michael Dolch

This winter was less than pleasant. It was cold, wet and windy. It sleeted, snowed, melted, iced over and snowed again. Quite frankly, it sucked. Through it all, I kept reminding myself that spring was coming.

Maybe that’s my optimism shining through, or just a play on Game of Thrones’ series premiere “Winter is Coming.” Either way, spring has sprung. As I wrote this month’s column, the state legislative session was heating up (to wind down) and members of Iowa’s congressional delegation were crisscrossing the state during a two-week Easter recess.

Like so many for a long holiday weekend, I gassed up the Chevy and headed home. Home for me is a family farm just north of Villisca — a small map dot two hours south and west of Des Moines. Admittedly, I don’t make the drive often enough. But when opportunity knocks, it’s a chance to loosen the tie, turn down a gravel road, and crank some 90s country. Even with a lengthy to-do list awaiting my arrival — those “character building” tasks as my folks say — it’s a chance to break away from the daily grind and press reset.

With anhydrous application in full swing, every tractor leading a cloud of dust across a field was refreshing. Knowing I would soon be writing part two of “Membership Matters,” my mind wandered into the Advocate arena. I started drawing comparisons between farm life and ISA’s membership.

Corn needs nitrogen (N) throughout the growing season in varying amounts. The goal is to keep enough nitrogen available during all growth stages, so development never slows down. Nitrogen works in corn like communication for membership, fueling crop growth from emergence through maturity. A lack of communication at any point can cause membership activity to sputter or stall. Similarly, the goal is to provide members the right information at the right time, stewarding an issue from infancy through adulthood. While there is no secret sauce to this information exchange, the timely application of communication throughout the year is mutually beneficial.

If I’ve learned anything over the last six months, it’s that soybean farmers are passionate people. People determined to leave the Earth a better place than when they arrived. People willing to reach across the political aisle for the betterment of an industry. People willing to help those in need, which has become more evident than ever in the wake of disaster across much of Nebraska and western Iowa. Busy people wearing many hats. Therefore, we strive for timely and effective communication with our Advocate Membership.

Read next month’s column for a recap of Iowa’s legislative session and part three of “Membership Matters.” Until then, and from all of us here at ISA, have a safe and productive #Plant19.

Director of Public Affairs, Iowa Soybean Association MDolch@iasoybeans.com