Sharing Our

from Iowa Soybean Review | January 2021

Finding Common

Serving as an ISA District 8 director and most recently elected secretary for the ISA board, Miller routinely accepts media inquiries and completes interviews with television, radio and newspaper reporters.

“We need to tell our story, to advocate,” he says. “Otherwise, people that don’t know anything about it will and it won’t be factual.”

Miller’s proximity to Des Moines makes his farm a prime location for TV interviews. He welcomes them to his farm, not because it’s his favorite thing to do, but because he feels it’s the right thing to do.

“I’ve always said that if you’re going to complain about something, you need to be willing to fix it. You have to be part of the solution,” Miller asserts. “By not being willing to talk to people about issues in agriculture, you’re not going to fix anything. I want to help fix things, not just complain about them.”

Member focused programming

Farmers like Bissell and Miller inspire the programming for the Communications Squad. In 2021, the group is diversifying into three primary areas of communication. Farmers participating choose between writing, social media or spokesperson task forces. They will be challenged to create, strengthen, or seek out communications platforms to share their farming stories and important messages for Iowa agriculture. Be it media interviews, personal or farm social media accounts, blogs, letters to the editor or speaking with reporters, the 2021 squad is tasked with closing the gap between farmer and consumer, all while bolstering the soybean industry.

“There’s such a disconnect between the farm and the majority of the population,” laments Bissell who enjoys content from other farmers on platforms such as YouTube. “But I know my family likes watching other people farm, too. The more of us sharing our farms, the better. It lets people see what we’re doing.”

For other farmers who don’t see themselves as communicators, Bissell’s message is simple. “Just say yes.”

And Miller agrees.

“It takes practice,” he says. “Fully engage and do it right. Commit to it and learn from it.”

Miller practices media interviews with ISA staff before completing them and pays close attention to other farmers who are on the frontlines sharing agriculture’s message. “If you don’t get out of your comfort zone, you’re never going to find out what it is that you enjoy and are good at.”

Moving forward

And the benefit of farmer communication goes beyond sharing accurate consumer messages. A wellplaced effort from a farmer can help further positive policy movements and foster relationships with lawmakers.

“The average farmer does have a voice, and if you ban together and go with other farmers to share your voice, they will listen,” says Miller, who sees his communications efforts compliment the policy work of ISA.

Participants in the 2021 Communications Squad will get to hear firsthand information related to policy issues, consumer trends and communications opportunities, all while getting to meet and network with other soybean farmers from across the state.

For more information about the Communications Squad and involvement opportunities, visit the membership programs page at www.iasoybeans.com.

Contact Katie James at kjames@iasoybeans.com

ISA Public Relations Manager Katie James leads a Communications Squad session at the REG office in Ames for a summer session in 2019.

Wayne Fredericks, an ISA member from Osage, checks the progress of his soybeans that he planted into a rye cover crop prior to terminating.

Speaking Out for Cover Crops

How (and why) four farmers are dedicated to the cover crops cause

Four Iowa farmers. Three unique defining moments. One commitment to using and advocating for cover crops.

It sounds like the dramatic opening to the newest winter blockbuster, but it’s the simple truth for Rob Stout, Wayne Fredericks, and Ray and Chris Gaesser. Across the Midwest, these early cover crop adopters are well-known on farm speaking circuits as they share their experiences with and support for planting cover crops to improve soil health and water quality, and strengthen economic outlooks.

Watersheds and neighborhood network

Washington County is a state leader in the number of planted cover crops and the area’s farmers are recognized

BY HEATHER LILIENTHAL

for their innovation and commitment to conservation. Rob Stout is one of those innovators.

His operation started using no-till four decades ago after he and his dad attended a local meeting.

“Back then, just like today, we looked to the science and the results with notill,” recalls Stout. A few years later, they moved forward. “The neighbors noticed. People notice when someone is doing something different. Soon, others were asking us about what we were learning.”

It didn’t take long before county farmers were gathering around Stout’s kitchen table, learning more about conservation and the cover crops he added in 2009. They also rallied around a new-at-that-time concept called watershed planning. Stout’s group became one of the first groups to establish a watershed plan with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS).

“Eleven years ago, we created the West Fork Crooked Creek Watershed plan and were one of the first plans to receive IDALS funding,” Stout says. “That was a pivotal moment for us and helped create a blueprint for us to follow. I’d say that was our defining moment in this area.”

Stout, who farms today with his stepson Alex Zimmerman, says that effort will continue through Zimmerman’s passion for conservation. “We keep beating the roads and bringing in new people and new neighbors each year. This results in more acres of conservation efforts,” says Stout. “I know I’m at 100% cover crops on my

“I work to bring my big picture information to the farm level, tell a compelling story, share the mistakes with the wins and keep learning.”

— Ray Gaesser, farmer from Corning

own acres, so if I really want to help increase acres, I need to find new people.”

Powerful pictures

It’s often said that pictures tell the real story. When it comes to telling his cover crop conversion story, Wayne Fredericks of Osage is quick to put that statement into action.

When he leads presentations, he displays photos of green cover crops in December, thriving monarch and wildlife habitats, and the farm lake.

Fredericks doesn’t have a lake in his yard, but his backyard looked like one after intense rains in 2008. The “lake” and resulting water movement became his defining moment.

“I’d never seen so much water accumulate so quickly. And, a few days later, Cedar Rapids experienced terrible flooding,” says Fredericks. “It made me realize how what happens here impacts things downstream. I wanted to do my part.”

The data-driven farmer went to work. It took years of careful management changes and research to bring the farm acres into 100% cover crop coverage. The data is showing the facts: improvement and increase in organic matter and strong yields. “My organic matter has increased 2% in 20 years of no-till and cover crops will continue to enhance that effort.”

When he presents, his careful mix of beautiful photos and powerful agronomic and economic stats has farmers paying attention.

“I work to bring my big picture information to the farm level, tell a compelling story, share the mistakes with the wins and keep learning,” says Fredericks.

Changes for the climate

Father-son team Ray and Chris Gaesser’s entry into cover crops was due to extreme weather conditions that made them step back and consider what else they could do. Intense rainfall in 2010 that brought four inches in one hour was a defining moment for them. The team had been notilling for years, but knew they needed to evolve. After learning more from organizations in which they were involved, adding cover crops to their system was the next step.

“Cover crop adoption is still in the minority, but every year more people seek info and try. Because we believe in and know the benefits, we want to serve as a resource,” Ray says.

In the 1980s, Ray says they were the only area farmers no-tilling. Today, he sees drastic change, guessing that more than 80% of area farmers are doing no-till. He hopes to see cover crop acres see that growth.

Innovation and involvement are two key characteristics of the Gaesser Farms team. As conversations about the conservation and climate continue, the Corning-area farmers are active in several ag groups and share their experience with other farmers.

“The world is changed by action, not just opinion,” says Ray. “We’re not only learning things from groups like the Iowa Soybean Association, they offer us the opportunity to share how we are implementing those resources on our farm and allow us to be resource to others.”

Contact Heather Lilienthal at hlilienthal@iasoybeans.com.

Rob Stout inspects the progress of his cover crop stand after applying animal manure to the field.

Connecting the Dots

Technology reaches farmers via virtual meetings, YouTube and more

Winter meeting season looks different this year as many traditional events that brought together large groups of people are being retooled. Instead of sitting in a meeting room, many farmers will be firing up Zoom.

The virtual landscape isn’t the same and usually not the preference. Still, today’s technology allows the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) to take efforts online and continue working to meet farmers where they are.

“We strive to work directly with farmers to apply data and evidencebased solutions to cropping and livestock system challenges,” says Roger Wolf, RCFI director. “As we look to bring

BY HEATHER LILIENTHAL

resources to them in more virtual ways, we know that farmers like the unbiased nature of research and the technical assistance offered.”

While the adjustment to virtual offerings is new for some farmers, Chris Gaesser is right at home learning from home.

The Corning-area farmer and member of the ISA Research Advisory Council is a self-described gamer and appreciates and capitalizes on online and virtual platforms.

“I’ve been playing against and communicating with other gamers from around the world for years and years,” Chris says. “For me, I do miss in-person meetings and research is my passion, but this is my element. I think (virtual options) will allow us to reach new and more diverse farmers and future leaders.”

Info exchange based on preferences

Scott Nelson, RCFI senior field services program manager, understands the need to adjust information delivery.

“Farmers have different personalities and learn in different ways,” Nelson says. “Some are very data driven, while others prefer simple recommendations. Other farmers prefer to digest information via written communication. However, a growing number of farmers tell me they prefer online webinars and YouTube videos.”

Teresa Middleton, ISA field services manager, utilizes YouTube and other digital content to spread the word about agronomic research.

Scott Nelson believes it is important to meet farmers where they are at – whether on YouTube or in person, there are many ways to access research information.

Nelson is taking that feedback and running with it, already taking information virtual. Last summer, his annual 4R event was offered via YouTube. And the offering connected with all 4Rs, which represent right source, right rate, right time and right place. The information is accessible to all farmer at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=GGweN3w8o_g.

Last month, he hosted an ISA webinar focused on recent water monitoring results and a deep dive into putting field-level information, such as yield, soil texture, seeding rates and fertility rate adjustments, to work to strengthen farm profitability. The webinar also reviewed some new ISA research on management practices for corn after cover crops. The study showed a 10- to 20- bushel advantage for cover crops with improved management compared to the no-cover crop control at three sites in 2020. This ISA study will be repeated in 2021, and the team is actively seeking participants.

From field to farmer screens

On a personal level, Teresa Middleton, ISA field services manager, looks to YouTube and online resources for information.

“I love to sew and crochet,” she says. “Often, I turn to YouTube as a goto resource when trying to understand a new stitch. Video captures our attention and is an easy way to learn. It’s another tool in the toolbox.”

Middleton is putting that tool to use for farmers, recently working with ISA Communications Director Joe Murphy on an in-the-field video with Story County farmer Pat Murken.

“I wanted to share the information he’s learning from the cover crop project. When I approached him with the video idea, he was on board,” says Middleton.

Murken has been planting cover crops for many years and will work with Middleton to conduct a time of termination trial this spring, to determine the difference in biomass and nitrates in the soil and soil compaction levels. Murken will terminate half of his cover crop strips a couple of weeks before planting his cash crop and the other half at or just after planting.

Middleton and Murken look forward to understanding if the extra two weeks of growth will allow the roots to hold back more nitrate in the spring without a detrimental effect on yield. “That data will help us work with others to study cover crop termination times and determine how much more cover crop biomass we can get away with to maximize soil health and other benefits,” says Middleton. “It’ll be exciting to see.”

They plan to shoot a follow-up video this spring.

“It’s a great experience to take these trials and be creative in how we present the process and progress,” she adds. “There is a lot of work to creating video, and it’s been a rewarding and collaborative process with Pat and the ISA team. I think it allows us all to keep learning and striving to be relevant and timely with our offerings to our members.”

Contact Heather Lilienthal at hlilienthal@iasoybeans.com.

The Last Word

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

Matter of Trust

And just like that, it’s 2021. In this issue of the Iowa Soybean Review, we analyzed how farmers get information. As resources have moved online, it’s created opportunities for agricultural spokespeople to have broader platforms. Content experts can communicate with farmers around the world.

That extent of connectivity can be considered a blessing and a curse. As a farmer, you can find YouTube tutorials on how to calibrate your tractor’s GPS. You can find your perfect combine three states away. But you can also be swallowed by too much information, making it difficult to discern what’s best for your operation.

Your farming resources are no longer confined to the county lines; they’re suddenly worldwide.

Who do you trust and why?

As it’s become easier to research and obtain agronomic information online, there’s still so much to be said for one-on-one relationships in farming communities.

I’ve been working in agriculture for several decades, and I’ve written countless stories on technological advances. As much as things have changed, I’ve learned one thing for sure from you farmers … personal relationships with people you trust still matter.

I’m originally from a small town in southwest Iowa, and a lot of people from there are involved in agriculture in one way or another. As we all know, it’s a small world, and it’s not unusual to run into someone who has a connection to my hometown.

More times than not, that connection is Mark Venteicher. Seemingly, EVERYONE knows Mark.

Mark owns the local sale barn, Massena Livestock Sales, with his father Allen. A gifted auctioneer, Mark personally conducts all the livestock sales. He’s also a long-time salesman for Pioneer Seeds.

When the editorial team started to discuss content for this issue of the Review, I immediately knew I wanted to talk to Mark. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s been a natural conversationalist – he doesn’t know a stranger. He’s likable and funny. He calls people by name. He’s a straight shooter. Be careful what you ask him because he’ll tell what he thinks. As a result, people seem to like him.

However, in full disclosure, Mark wasn’t super excited to talk to me. If I’d casually run into him at the local Cenex store, he would have been happy to chat. But, when I reached out with specific questions for this column, he would have liked to stay out of the spotlight. I totally pressured him into the conversation.

Mark and Allen Venteicher own Massena Livestock Sales. Mark is the auctioneer at all the livestock auctions.

Trust is just an inevitable side effect of kindness.

Nevertheless, when you run the local sale barn and sell seed, it’s important to have a good rapport with farmers. I was curious about how Mark maintains his clients’ confidence in an online world.

That would be a hard question to answer no matter who you are. But for someone like Mark, it’s not something he thinks about much. He treats people well because it’s important to him to do so. Trust is just an inevitable side effect of kindness.

Why do you think farmers trust you?

“I just tell people the truth,” says Mark. “People see me out in the community. It’s important to me to invest back, and I think people respect that.”

Based on his stories, when Mark attends “corporate” events for Pioneer, the good ol’ boy must make quite a splash, which would explain some of his widespread popularity. But, at the end of the day, it’s his overall approach to life that makes him successful.

“Mark cares so much about his customers and treats each one of them just like their farm is his farm,” says Alex Beatty, Mark’s supervisor and territory manager for Pioneer Seeds. “Mark is such a likable guy. He’s also friends with so many of his customers outside of his seed business.

“He doesn’t want to sell them something that’s not top-notch because he knows he will likely be auctioning their cattle off,” continues Beatty. “He doesn’t want anyone to have a bad taste in their mouth for something he’s done somewhere else. He’s very aware of that kind of thing and wants the best for everyone.”

Local agricultural spokespeople

No doubt, you also know a Mark Venteicher, someone instrumental in your community’s vitality and success, yet uninterested in the limelight. Someone who is influencing agriculture by merely doing what they do with integrity. I’d love to hear more about these people. Send me a note and tell me about their story.

Additionally, it’s important to us here at the Iowa Soybean Association for you to view us as a trusted source of agronomic information. Learn more what we do on your behalf at www. iasoybeans.com.

Thank you for what you do for agriculture. By just being a part of the industry, your voice is extremely important.

Stay well, my friends.

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