Iowa Soybean Review | Summer 2021 by Iowa Soybean Association

IOWA

SOYBEAN Summer 2021

The State of Membership

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President Jeff Jorgenson, Sidney | D7 President Elect Robb Ewoldt, Davenport | D6 Treasurer Dave Walton, Wilton | D6

Summer 2021 | Vol. 33, No. 8

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.

Creating a Legacy

After experiencing the worst of a pandemic, summer has a different feel.

The State of Membership ISA farmer members share why involvement is impacting their farms in a positive way.

Ryan and Kristin

Saying yes to an invitation to attend an ISA research conference opened the doors to membership for the Oberbroecklings.

Covering Iowa’s Acres Building cover crop inf rastructure – one business at a time.

On the Cover: Noah and Anna Fedders and their children spend the majority of their time on the farm. They believe farmer membership in the Iowa Soybean Association is important for the future success of their operation. The Fedders farm near Ireton in District 1.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 3

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

Creating a Legacy

fter experiencing the worst of a pandemic, this summer has a different feel. Vacations, parades and backyard barbecues are no longer routine. If there’s a silver lining from all we’ve experienced these past 18 months, it’s the renewal of gratitude. I suspect we’re all taking fewer things for granted, like getting away for time with family or reconnecting with friends and neighbors around picnic tables and fire pits. Much like carefree summers prepandemic, issues affecting soybean farmers can also become routine. The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) frequently touts the importance of exports, quality roads and bridges, and biofuels. Over time, the constant attention can become a kind of white noise. We can become lethargic or, worse, apathetic. Yet circumstances can change quickly and with great consequences for soybean farmers. Several issues – from local to international – prove the point.

Biodiesel: In January, Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed a biofuels standard for Iowa. Many assumed its passage given our status as the nation’s leading biodiesel and ethanol producer. Disagreements soon started about a standard a mandate and the marketplace signals each would send. Fuel retailers opposed the bill. Competing

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claims about the legislation’s impact on consumers and the economy raged. The bill eventually stalled and the legislature adjourned without taking action. Some say biofuels proponents were outworked and out-mobilized because they assumed passage of the bill was inevitable. The bill is now in limbo heading into the next legislative session.

Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, railroads and waterways are used so frequently that we tend to assume their functionality. Yet our infrastructure – once the competitive advantage of U.S. farmers – is quickly aging into a liability. We were reminded of this when structural fractures were detected this spring in a bridge spanning the Mississippi River near Memphis. A backlog of almost 800 barges occurred within days. Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, says elected leaders must return to making investments, not just spending money. It’s wise advice. ISA will press Congress to invest wisely in infrastructure to ensure U.S. farmers remain competitive. Exports: Exports drive soybean demand and prices and you can’t broach the subject without referencing China. Over three decades, the fortunes of U.S. soy

became increasingly reliant on China. Over time, the country’s soaring appetite for soy was all but assumed. Then, in April 2018, a trade war erupted between the U.S. and China, with soy at the tip of China’s retaliatory spear. U.S. exports to the country of 1.4 billion people fell dramatically (as did market prices). While Chinese purchases of U.S. soy have rebounded significantly the past nine months, the trade dispute was a stark reminder why ISA invests time and resources in developing relationships with buyers in Thailand, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia and North Africa. You can have confidence that this work will continue despite China’s return to buying large quantities of U.S. soybeans. As we enjoy an Iowa summer (and the return of class reunions, county fairs and community celebrations), the soybean industry is in far better shape than many could have predicted just one year ago. Yet, lessons have been learned, including the false sense of security that accompanies complacency and assuming the status quo will always be good enough. With your involvement and commitment, ISA remains Driven To Deliver, no matter the season or circumstance.

unitedsoybean.org

MAINTAINING OUR REPUTATION TO DELIVER

Whether shipping by river, road or rail, the soy checkoff is committed to ensuring America’s infrastructure is a significant advantage for U.S. soybean farmers. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And it’s helping make a valuable impact for soybean farmers like you. See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for soybean farmers at unitedsoybean.org

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

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

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose

ou have heard me say this before, but I will repeat it: Government isn’t a spectator sport. We will come back to that in a minute after a short detour. The inspiration behind this month’s column is Friday Night Lights. While the cult classic television drama wrapped in 2011, the message and spirit of the show remain embedded in the pop culture lexicon. Before going any further, though, I should probably come clean. While I consider myself a football fanatic – an armchair quarterback of sorts – I never actually played beyond the backyard two-hand touch or tackle football games with my friends and family. Instead, I devoted all my time developing a skill set on the basketball court. How could you blame a ’90s kid with Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and David Robinson gliding across the television and throwing down thunderous dunks? Snapping back to the present and this month’s theme, Friday Night Lights is set in Dillon, Texas, where one night and one night

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only matters: Friday night. The movie comes into focus when Eric Taylor is hired as the head football coach for the Dillon Panthers, the town’s pride and joy. The storyline follows the lives of the high school football players and displays the stress the town shoves on the team to win and the hope that the team gives to the small town. Loyal fans of Friday Night Lights have embraced “clear eyes, full eyes, can’t lose,” taking the idiom from the small screen to the real world for use in daily life. The phrase, which references the power of drive and optimism, has made its way into clothing, music and even the political sphere. With this month’s magazine highlighting Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) membership and the engagement curve, I figure there is no better time to share ISA’s drive and optimism for a farmer-friendly policy and regulatory environment. Yes, we face a seemingly insurmountable task when you consider the negative and nonsensical rhetoric. Still, we must not lose sight of the representative democracy that our

founding fathers created, which was based on a nation “by the people, for the people.” Circling back to what I’ve repeated time and time again, please take time to consider getting out and taking part. At the very least, educate yourself on the policy issues impacting your operation and the soybean business. I strongly encourage you to add your name to the growing list of more than 1,500 ISA Advocate members. To elevate your game and our membership’s collective voice, we will soon launch a full-blown policy action center. The project aims to put powerful tools and issue resources at your fingertips, taking ISA’s grassroots education and advocacy to the next level. The one-stop-shop will grow ISA’s supporter base, educate advocates on issues, and drive quality actions and interactions to influence policymakers. So, in a way, you could say that we are setting out to morph Friday Night Lights memorable mantra into “Clear Priorities, Full Minds, Can’t Lose.”

Full-Circle Return

HERE’S HOW THE SOY CHECKOFF WORKS. The national soy checkoff was created as part of the 1990 Farm Bill. The Act & Order that created the soy checkoff requires that all soybean farmers pay into the soy checkoff at the first point of purchase. These funds are then used for promotion, research and education at both the state and national level.

TO ELEVATORS, PROCES S N A SOR L BE S& L E S DEA S R E LER RM S A F 1/2 of 1% of the total selling price collected per the national soybean act & order

0.5%

Half goes to the state checkoff for investment in areas that are a priority for that state.

PROMOTION

RESEARCH

EDUCATION

Half goes to the national checkoff for investment in USB’s* long-range strategic plan.

ROI TO THE FA RMER by 73 volunteer soybean farmers, the United Soybean Board * Led (USB) invests and leverages soy checkoff dollars to MAXIMIZE PROFIT OPPORTUNITIES for all U.S. soybean farmers.

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The State of Membership Iowa Soybean Association farmer members share why involvement is impacting their farms in a positive way.

Kris Langgaard and his son enjoy doing livestock chores together on the farm.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 11

DISTRICT 1

Noah and Anna Fedders BY JOSEPH HOPPER

oah and Anna Fedders raise soybeans and corn and custom farm near Ireton. For the family, farming has been a way of life stretching back generations. Noah is the fifth generation on his family’s farm. He’s been farming there full time for eight years. “My dad farmed corn and soybeans also and raised some pigs,” Anna says. “I remember while growing up, helping with little pigs. My grandpa farmed before him. It’s not new to us.” In their sixth year as farmer members of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), Noah credits the American Soybean Association

(ASA) Young Leader program for jump-starting their involvement with the ASA. He encourages other young farmers to get involved, explaining it prepared the couple to be able to discuss farming with others. “One of the things we appreciated the most was meeting other people with similar values who are all pretty young and getting into farming,” Noah says. “We share a lot of the same concerns and struggles.” The couple says it’s important for farmers to not only support organizations like ISA who work for farmer, but to be involved, too. Noah says he’s excited about the new uses being found for

soybeans. What’s most thrilling about the future for the two, though, is experiencing life together as a family. “We grew up on farms, and that’s what we know,” Anna says. “We want our kids to grow up on farms, too. It’s nice for our kids to experience what it’s like to get out there and be close to where Noah’s working, ride in the tractor, and ask questions about what’s going on. It’s a good opportunity to show what we do and see where they might be, if that’s something the kids would want to consider doing.” Contact Joseph Hopper at jhopper@iasoybeans.com.

Neither one of us particularly likes being the center of attention. We appreciate that the soybean association can go to bat for us. They know what our values are and they can represent us. — Anna Fedders, ISA farmer member

”

Noah and Anna Fedders, farmers from Ireton.

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Grant Woodley stands proudly in his driveway leading up to his rustic barn that is filled with horses, chickens, goats, sheep and dogs that bring joy to his family.

DISTRICT 2

Grant Woodley BY KENNADY MOFFITT

rant Woodley is a fourthgeneration farmer who lives southeast of Clarion and raises corn and soybeans and specializes in hog finishing facilities. His wife Nicole and their five children (ages 10-14 years old) work together doing day-to-day chores, loading hogs and assisting with the crops. “The kids help me with odds and ends around the farm, and we are very thankful for that,” Grant says. The duo were pastors at the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines before moving back to the family farm in 2015. They are now co-pastors at First Lutheran Church in Clarion. The transition back to the farm was sudden, but Grant was able to put his boots in the soil and become reaccustomed to the farm life. “Going from managing my piece of the 80-acre farm to taking over

the entire operation was crazy,” he says. With the transition came many changes, and he developed his own way of doing things. When his father was running the farm, he only specialized in crops. Grant realized the way to make it today is diversification within his operation. Adding livestock helps manage and eliminate some of the risks involved with crop production. Grant is currently an active farmer member of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), serving on the District Advisory Council and participating in several ISA research trials. “Being active in ISA has been critical for me in taking over the farming operation,” Grant says. The Wright County farmer adds that ISA’s educational resources are expanding his knowledge.

“The science-driven, on-farm trials are very well done and helps producers make educated management decisions,” he says. Investments in soybean checkoff dollars through field trials, education and promotional activities help further the work he does on his farm. This past year, he participated in an ISA field trial involving cover crops and manure. Grant values the opportunity to experience the processes involved in the trials and see results firsthand on his row crop operation. In the future, he plans to be more active in the association. “I enjoy the research conferences as they are a great way to get a summary of the annual trials and network with other farmers.” Contact Kennady Moffitt at kennady@iasoybeans.com.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 13

DISTRICT 3

Ryan and Kristin Oberbroeckling BY BETHANY BARATTA

aying yes to an invitation to attend an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) research conference opened the doors to farmer membership and camaraderie for young farmers Ryan and Kristin Oberbroeckling of Garnavillo. From there, an invite from ISA District 3 Director Suzanne Shirbroun to join the District Advisory Council (DAC) developed the couple’s interest in delving deeper into the organization. The Oberbroecklings raise hogs, soybeans and corn in the northeast corner of the state, where Ryan was raised. It took a trip to the FFA Washington Leadership Conference for them to meet. Kristin was raised near West Union, not on a farm, but closely connected to agriculture. Her grandparents started Baumler Implement, and she worked on a friend’s dairy farm. “We had to travel 22 hours to come together,” Ryan says of their meeting in Washington, D.C. “We lived just 45 minutes apart.” After they both graduated from

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Iowa State University, the couple settled on a farm where Ryan was raised. It’s the farm where they now raise their 2-year-old-daughter Raelynn. They’ve rented farms since 2013 and bought their first one in 2019. “It was a dream come true,” Kristin says. Ryan adds, “It was the most money we’ve ever spent, but it felt the best.” Being involved with ISA, the Oberbroecklings have found a network of other farmers with similar stories and challenges. Ryan and Kristin were selected for the Young Leader Program. Sponsored by Corteva Agriscience and the American Soybean Association, it’s a two-phase educational program for actively farming individuals and couples who are passionate about the future possibilities of agriculture. “We have created lifelong friendships with others from Virginia to Tennessee and Kansas to Canada,” Kristin says. “It has benefited us to see

what other farmers are doing as far as tillage practices, chemicals, biologicals, and even how they handle their bad days. This program also taught us some different approaches to leadership.” The opportunities for connections are a highlight of ISA farmer membership, Kristin says.

Kristin is also involved in the ISA Communications Squad, a valueadded program for farmer members looking to accurately share the story of modern agriculture. Training through the Communications Squad has made her confident in her interactions with consumers, she says. “It’s taught me how to engage with people you don’t have connections with at all,” says Kristin, who also works full-time as a district sales manager for Wisconsin-based Renk Seed. Ryan is interested in the research trials and opportunities ISA offers. They’ve implemented cover crops on their acres to reduce erosion in the hills of northeast Iowa, but they’re always looking at ways to grow a more productive crop more efficiently.

He’s also excited about new technology, like the John Deere sprayer he recently got to demo using Deere’s Exact Apply nozzle control system. Combining this system with his field maps, Ryan has the power to shut off every single sprayer nozzle in the 90-foot boom. That feature would be huge for the Oberbroecklings, who have several waterways they have to maneuver around within their fields. “Hypothetically, it would save us three to four days in the fields,” Kristin says. It would also save money on inputs because applications don’t overlap, Ryan says.

Checkoff pays off As Ryan and Kristin have become more engaged with ISA, they’ve learned how their soybean checkoff investments fund a myriad of initiatives and endeavors. At the top of the list: market development efforts. “They’re not on vacation when they’re across the ocean,” Ryan says of ISA’s market development work and collaboration with the U.S. Soybean Export Council. “There are people who do that every day – the work they do

to create new markets and expand markets – that’s very important.” “If you don’t have the market, you’re not going to sell it, and it’s not worth anything,” Kristin adds. It’s because of the relationship building ISA has done that they are able to have markets for the soybeans they raise on their farm, which are typically destined for China or Japan. ISA’s investment in the Iowa Food & Family Project, CommonGround Iowa and ISA’s Communications Squad helps further ag awareness efforts, Kristin says. “There are so many people who are generations removed from the farm, so it’s important that we tell our story,” she says. Ryan and Kristin encourage other farmers to activate their ISA membership and take advantage of the opportunities ISA has to offer. “It’s nice to talk to other farmers who have been through the same things you have,” Ryan says. “So, if somebody asks you to come to DAC or a research conference you need to do it.” Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.

Ryan and Kristin Oberbroeckling, who farm near Garnavillo, walk their fields with their daughter Raelynn checking their crop and spending time together. IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 15

DISTRICT 4

Kris Langgaard BY JOSEPH HOPPER

ris Langgaard remembers the simple answer that convinced him to become a farmer. At age 6, asking his dad why he farmed, and Langgaard’s father said, “it’s because I get to be my own boss.” “I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” says Langgard, an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) District Advisory Council member. He worked for John Deere for 10 years after college before returning to the farm two years ago. His father was sick, and Langgaard transitioned to managing the family’s farm. Langgaard farms three miles south of his parents’ farm, in the same county his great-grandparents settled in after arriving in the U.S. from Denmark. He joined ISA four years ago and participated in the 2019 ISA Experience Class. “That was eye-opening,” says

Langgaard. “I really appreciated that opportunity. The two things that stuck out to me are how many different uses for soybeans there are and all the contributing factors that go into growing soybeans. There’s just as much nuance to planting beans and maintaining them as there is with the corn crop.” Another aspect of the Experience Class the Guthrie County farmer remembers vividly was learning how the ISA’s 22-farmer member board operates and directs funds while attending a budget meeting. “It was interesting watching staff present funding proposals for the year and the directors discussing which priorities should receive the investment,” Langgaard says. “Just looking at the checkoff number on the check, I never thought it was that important. But after seeing how

the process is handled and how the money is used, I think it’s very important. Langgaard encourages those interested in joining ISA as a farmer member to simply explore it’s programming, classes and events. “When you’re looking at the checkoff for every one of those checks coming from the elevator or whatever, that number actually means something,” Langgaard says. “Dig in further. It’s kind of a rabbit hole; the further you’re in the more interesting it gets. Keep going and there’s a program you’re interested in as well. There are so many different opportunities so keep looking and you’re going to find something that interests you more, then you’ll be in for sure.” Contact Joseph Hopper at jhopper@iasoybeans.com.

Guthrie County farmer Kris Langgard says the Iowa Soybean Association’s Experience Class opened his eyes to all the ways the soybean checkoff helps his farming operation.

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Jacob Van Manen is a proud soybean farmer, but he also is a proud tomato grower. Van Manen and his family raise and sell tomatoes and sweet corn locally in Jasper County.

DISTRICT 5

Jacob Van Manen BY JOSEPH HOPPER

or Jacob Van Manen of Kellogg, farming is both a family affair stretching back generations and a personal, singular focus born from a love of planting crops and watching them grow. Van Manen has been a farmer member of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) since graduating from Central College in 2014. “I farm with my parents,” says Van Manen. “We’ve got hogs, cattle, corn and soybeans. My sister and I have a little bit of sweet corn and my wife Kate gets involved, too.” Currently an ISA District 5 Advisory Council member, he originally joined the ISA after getting involved with the Iowa Food & Family Project (IFFP). He

says the work Iowa FFP does for ag education made him dig in a little more. Through his involvement, Van Manen has seen the results of his soybean checkoff investment pay off. “My checkoff investment does a lot of good to support ag education efforts,” Van Manen says. “I think of that investment as being important for what ISA does to find new markets, uses and exports.” The Jasper County farmer put it simply for those unsure whether they should join ISA, saying it is nice to have somebody who has the best interests of farmers in mind. “The farmer membership is a pretty small financial commitment to be a part of an organization

that is such a good advocate for agriculture – not even just soybeans – but agriculture as a whole,” Van Manen says. Van Manen says seeing export demand take off and new technologies develop makes him excited about the future of the soybean industry. It’s one of the reasons why he’s proud to be an Iowa farmer. “Being your own boss is a huge part of it,” he says. “Being able to plant and grow crops and working with livestock – I love doing that,” Van Manen says. “It’s the independence of it and the endless opportunity.” Contact Joseph Hopper at jhopper@iasoybeans.com.

My checkoff investment does a lot of good to support ag education efforts. — Jacob Van Manen, ISA farmer member

”

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 17

Amy Nelson, who farms near Donahue, says the Iowa Soybean Association shares information about modern agriculture to consumers, offering invaluable assistance to her family’s restaurant business.

DISTRICT 6

Amy Nelson BY KENNADY MOFFITT

my Nelson and her family farm southeast of Donahue. The farm consists of conventional row crops, including corn, soybeans and seed corn, and a cow/calf operation. Amy lives with her husband Randy and their two children Jakob, 17, and Courtney, 14, who are now the seventh generation to be involved in the family farm. Prior to coming back to the farm, the Nelson family lived in Minneapolis for almost 10 years and moved back to Donahue in 2012. When the Nelson’s moved back to the family farm, Amy jumped back into the tractor and quickly adjusted from the hustle and bustle of the city to the vibrant farm life. “I was learning it, and I was actively farming it,” says Amy. “Then I was teaching it to my family who had no background in agriculture.” Today, Amy is the primary farmer

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on the operation and is thankful for the opportunity to raise Jakob and Courtney on the exact farm where she was raised. In 2020, the family bought a local restaurant in Donahue. Amy says the reward of being on both ends of the agriculture industry is seeing all sides of production. The farm-to-fork experience has come full circle for the Nelson family as they produce agricultural goods and then turn around and sell the tangible food items to consumers. Amy first became involved with the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) through the District Advisory Council (DAC), and then she became involved in the ISA Experience. Amy enjoyed being a part of these programs and becoming more involved. She also writes for the Iowa Food & Family Project and is involved in CommonGround.

Through Amy’s involvement in ISA, she has connected with farmers across the state and developed an understanding of the work the association does as a whole. “ISA presents itself as a professional organization with outstanding communication tools and advocates for producers in a positive way to consumers,” says Amy. The Donahue farmer says the educational and promotional material ISA promotes is critical in informing consumers about the processes farmers endure daily. Amy believes checkoff dollars are beneficial through the presence ISA has on a statewide and national level. “It’s a way for everyone to have a small piece and to make sure somebody is looking out for farmers as a whole,” Amy adds. Contact Kennady Moffitt at kennady@iasoybeans.com.

DISTRICT 7

Preston Grobe BY BETHANY BARATTA

rowing up, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer member Preston Grobe thought he’d design farm machinery. But that education and career path would take him away from the farm near Avoca, where he really wanted to live. Instead, Preston joined the Iowa National Guard, serving for nine years. He attended the University of Nebraska Omaha for two years majoring in pre-mechanical engineering before earning his degree in diesel tech from Iowa Western Community College. Fortunately, his unit wasn’t activated or deployed during that time, allowing Preston to assist his dad on the farm. “I never really left the farm,” he says. Preston, a regional director with the Conklin Company, works with crop advisors on nutrient efficiency and inputs. He puts thousands of miles on his truck each year, traveling across the country to host meetings and consult with farmers.

He also performs on-farm research through test plots. “Ag is my ultimate passion,” he says. “This career allows me to involved on my family farm and improve the operation for generations to come. In combination with helping American farmers. I am blessed to involved in the ag industry this way He dipped his toes into ISA offerings through the ISA Experience Class. There, he learned how the money he invests into the industry through checkoff goes toward researching agronomic challenges, developing markets, expanding uses of soy-based products and growing affinity for the industry in the state. It’s nice to have an unbiased organization like ISA supporting us, Preston says of on-farm research trial efforts. “I’m glad soybean checkoff dollars help research new uses like seat cushions, biodiesel, and whatever else they can make out of soybeans. If we don’t fund the research it won’t

happen,” Preston says. His son Raydden will be a senior this fall. Remote learning due to COVID-19 provided Raydden an opportunity to work with his dad and grandfather to plant and harvest crops in 2020. The experience sparked a passion in Raydden to want to return to the family farm. Then, three generations will work together. “Farming has to be in your blood,” Preston says. “Not everybody wants to do it and not everybody can do it, but once it’s in your blood it’s hard to get it out.” Preston and his wife Lynette, a police officer in Omaha, are also parents to Danikah, 24, and Preslyn, 21. He sees the potential to become more involved in ISA. “I’ve always enjoyed being a part of ISA,” he says. “I’m looking forward to finding new ways to become involved in this next chapter of my life.” Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.

Preston Grobe sits on the back of his well-traveled truck that looks over his fields near Avoca, Iowa.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 19

DISTRICT 8

Curtis Berry BY JOSEPH HOPPER

any farmers might describe their lives and careers as following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents. For Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) District Advisory Council Member Curtis Berry of Winterset, it’s not just a figure of speech; his grandfather’s farmhouse is now his farmhouse. Berry graduated from Iowa State University in 2015 and entered the world of ag tech, but life on the farm kept calling to him. He came back home to farm with his father and to also achieve his personal dream: to grow the family farm. “I would probably be the fourth generation to farm,” Berry says. “I live right down the road from where my great-grandpa lived.” Berry is a 2020 participant of the ISA Experience Class. It taught him how ISA promotes soybeans,

finds new uses for soybeans and keeps the soybean industry moving forward. “Taking the class was an eyeopening experience,” the Madison County farmer says. “Learning how the markets work, what goes into raising a crop, and how we get it to the bin and then to the consumer helped me understand the whole flow of the agricultural industry.” As part of ISA Experience Class, Berry learned how the checkoff works. While the checkoff may be seen as more of an intangible to some, Berry understands how it impacts farmers. “It helps promote our industry, advocate for new soybean uses and expand the use of our soybean supplies,” he says. “Growing our markets while embracing current ones like soy-based biodiesel has

an impact on us as farmers. You don’t see it, but it is making a difference and helping find uses for the products we grow.” Berry says he’s amazed at the rate technology is advancing in farming. He’s humbled when talking to his grandfather about what it was like when his grandfather was living in the family farmhouse. More than anything, Berry says he loves farming because it’s what he was meant to do. “There are a lot of hard days, but the reason I keep doing it is because it’s what I was born to do,” Berry says. “I was born into it, and I want to keep the farm up, not only for me and my dad, but for the next generation.” Contact Joseph Hopper at jhopper@iasoybeans.com.

Curtis Berry, a farmer near Winterset, walks through his fields on his operation that he runs with his parents.

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Jeff and Paula Ellis, who farm near Donnellson, say they trust the research conducted from the Iowa Soybean Association to improve their farm.

DISTRICT 9

Jeff and Paula Ellis BY JOSEPH HOPPER

hether serving on the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) District Advisory Council, volunteering with CommonGround Iowa or working with the ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation, Paula and Jeff Ellis of Donnellson bring their work ethic to support worthy endeavors. They’re passionate about these ISA programs because the results support farmers. Paula started farming with her father. Her father farmed with his brother. “I started farming in 1993 as a FFA project and we still farm that farm today,” Paula says. Paula and Jeff met in college and married in 1999.

“I basically followed her back home to the farm,” he says. Jeff worked off the farm a few years before stepping in when Paula’s dad retired. The husband and wife duo are frequent participants in research trials. They say it’s all part of their farming journey. “You gotta try things if you want to improve and get better,” Jeff says. “ISA is finding out what works, what pays, then we use the information from the trials if we’re thinking about changing something. I’ll first look and see what ISA has come up with.” Jeff says the body of research that ISA makes available through its website and research conference is useful.

“There’s a ton of research there,” he says. “ISA is proven to have good information.” Some have asked the couple how they are able to tolerate working together. Paula says the couple makes a great team. “Once you’re instilled with this love for the land, you can’t see yourself doing anything else,” Paula says. “We don’t have a typical 9-to-5 job, but we’re still able to go out to support our community, our kids and their activities. Even if we have to quickly hop out of the tractor, we’re able to be there for our family.” Contact Joseph Hopper at jhopper@iasoybeans.com.

“Once you’re instilled with this love for the land, you can’t see yourself doing anything else. — Paula Ellis, ISA farmer member

”

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 21

Covering Iowa’s Acres Building cover crop infrastructure – one business at a time BY BETHANY BARATTA

Roger Wilcox, who farms near Correctionville, began working with cover crops more than a decade ago.

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owa farmers realize the benefits of adding cover crops to their crop rotation. They see reduced erosion, better moisture retention and overall healthier soil structures. Increased acres of cover crops generate demand for seed, seed cleaning, seed applications, and infrastructure. Twenty farmers are diving into building the cover crop infrastructure in Iowa through the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Cover Crops Business Accelerator Project. With financial support from the Walton Foundation and a partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa, farmers are beginning to realize the growth opportunities for their cover crop businesses. “The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy says we’ll need roughly 12 to 13 million acres of cover crops to meet the reduction strategy goals; we’re at 1 million acres,” says Heath Ellison, ISA senior field services program manager who oversees the project. “Not only do we need more farmers

adopting the practice, but we also need farmers growing seed, cleaning seed, custom applying seed and retailers. That infrastructure has to grow.” To meet the needs of the strategy will require two or three growers and applicators in Iowa’s 99 counties, Ellison estimates. Ten farmers participated in the Cover Crops Business Accelerator Project in 2020. Ten additional farmers are enrolled in 2021. The participants receive a stipend for participating and business coaching from Jennifer Simpson, a sales coaching consultant, to develop a business plan for their cover crop business. Each participant receives one-onone coaching with Simpson, breaking apart their current efforts into 29 categories and developing a plan to diversify their farms by growing their cover crop efforts. “I help them see their business clearly,” Simson says. “There’s a lot of ‘aha!’ moments in our conversations.”

Wade Dooley has been raising cover crops since 1997. When the river flooded and wiped out corn acres, he switched those acres from corn to rye. Since then, he has grown his cover crop acres, working with Practical Farmers of Iowa as an experimental cooperator to build a knowledge base of how cover crops can work on the farm. He started raising rye, winter wheat and oats in the fall of 2014 for seed. “In 2013, the prices went ballistic on cover crop seed. We decided we could raise it for the same price as we could buy it,” says Dooley, the sixth generation on Glenwood Century Farm near Albion. Since then, he’s been raising rye and oats for cover crop seed, dropping winter wheat acres due to the lack of interest from buyers. Dooley bought a drill to seed his cover crops, then realized he could turn it into a business opportunity by custom seeding for customers. The hours-long conversations with Simpson, evaluating his current

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 23

Dean Sponheim says the project is helping him think more strategically about expanding his cover crop business.

business and plans for growth, was an eye-opening experience, he says. “The first part was getting me to focus on specific areas that my business could flourish in quickly,” he says. “Those are the easy ones: drilling and seed sales. I’m already doing that. She said I need to scale up.” Simpson also advised Dooley to take steps to become an official S corporation, which was a step Dooley says he was afraid to take because of the steps involved. Turns out, seeking out a CPA to create the S Corp was easy; he had been doing the difficult part – growing and selling cover crop seed. “All the stuff seems scary and daunting compared to actually running the business,” Dooley says. “Making the business, as it turns out, is easy; running the business is hard.” Since working with Simpson, Dooley is prioritizing cover crops over the traditional corn and soybean crops. He’s given up some acres of corn and soybeans in favor of growing his cover crop business. “Reprioritizing my production

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system was the biggest shift,” Dooley says. “Cutting total corn and soybean acres was huge.” Dooley says he has benefitted the most through the coaching from Simpson. Each participant has their own specialty when it comes to cover crops, Simpson says. Therefore, each requires a different plan for growth. “Everybody has a different trigger as to why they started, so we’re approaching it differently,” she says. “I can’t give them all a rinseand-repeat strategy.” Roger Wilcox began working with cover crops more than a decade ago. He got involved through the encouragement of his local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office. Three other family members and acquaintances got their start in cover crops, and the four created a partnership. While working with Simpson, they formally named their

company Old 20 Ag Supply. They bought a no-till drill together to plant cover crops. With the stipend through this business infrastructure project, Old 20 is buying a seed cleaner so they can grow their own crops, clean the seeds and resell them. This could be a pivotal point in growing the business, Wilcox says. “Like planting corn or soybeans, you have to be ready to go when you’re drilling it or putting it on with an airplane. So, it helps to have someone local where you can get your seed when you need it,” Wilcox says. Old 20 wants to fill that need. “I think the biggest part of growing cover crop acres in the state is getting people aware and assisting them in getting started,” Wilcox says. James Holz and business partner Bill Frederick have boosted their company’s social media presence

because of the coaching from Simpson. Holz’s interest in cover crops was a way to harvest more sunlight while sequestering carbon. “The growing season for corn and soybeans is roughly 100 days. That means there are 250 days of available carbon and available growth to harvest the sun’s energy. We’re wasting all of this sunlight; how can I capture the sunlight and put more nutrients in the soil?” he wondered. Together with their wives and two full-time employees, Iowa Cover Crops is a seed sales and custom application business based in Jefferson. They have dealers across the state who sell and apply the seeds they raise. Their goal is to add more dealers to their network. This project extends the soybean checkoff-funded research that ISA has been involved in for years, Holz says. “Cover crops and sustainable agriculture are the easiest and most effective ways to sequester carbon. That’s where ISA and Practical Farmers of Iowa are leading by helping farmers

understand and adopt cover crop practices on their farm.” Dean Sponheim is co-owner of Sponheim Seeds and Services, which has been offering cover crop seed and seeding services since 2014. The program has helped to identify potential opportunities to grow their business. He says this project is an added benefit of his ISA farmer membership. “Jennifer is another set of eyes outside of our small circle of operators and owners,” Sponheim says. “She pointed out strengths and weaknesses and gave us suggestions on how to improve.” Sponheim Seeds and Services wants to expand its network of dealers and sales representatives, hoping to expand the opportunities and benefits of cover crops in the state. “Cover crops put a third crop in the rotation, which is good for soil erosion and soil health,” Sponheim says. “It’s just like when my grandfather and father farmed, they had legumes in their rotation for feed. It breaks up the cycle for corn and soybean rotations.”

Dooley sees the project as an opportunity to build cover crop business infrastructure in the state. “The biggest issue we have right now in Iowa is that we don’t have localized production and distribution that’s worth much,” says Dooley. “What I’m growing here is going to be about 6,000 bushels of rye. That’s 6,000 acres. The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy says more than half of the acres in the state should be covered with cover crops to help meet nutrient reduction goals. However, Dooley says this is a good first step. “I want to be the guy in central Iowa who provides the seed farmers are going to raise and resell again,” he says. “That means we’re spreading cover crops wider and wider. The more who are growing rye to sell the seed, the more acres we can cover. It means we can get to the point where we have minimal erosion and minimal nutrient loss.” Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.

T he extra money is nice to put toward payments, but the information is what I need to build an actual business and get serious with this. — Wade Dooley, farmer f rom Albion

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Wade Dooley on his farm near Albion.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 25

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

Thoughts of Summer

orn is planted in the field south of the house this year, and watching it tassel has delighted me. At first, I had to really look for the center spike, and then by the time I blinked, the entire field was swaying with golden crowns of glory. I often say every season is my favorite, but my senses hold this time of year in high regard. To me, one of the greatest joys in life is standing on a dirt road, in the depth of the summer heat, eyes closed, inhaling the sweet pollen that’s thick in the air. It makes me feel like there’s something sacred embedded deep in my veins that I couldn’t deny my roots even if I wanted to. As I’m writing this, I’m on vacation for a few days from work at the Iowa Soybean Association. I’m spending the time just soaking up the magic happening on the farm right now. I just came in from being in my garden. I was standing barefoot in the dirt,

snapping peas off the vine so I could eat them raw. Considering its humble beginnings, it makes me smile to see how well my garden is doing this year. I haphazardly threw seeds into the ground one Sunday morning in late spring. Truth be told, I skipped church in order to beat the rain that was on the radar. I was late planting the garden in the first place, and if I didn’t get the seeds in before the storm, I knew I’d be delayed even further. I felt like I had made a deal with the devil, especially when my mom, who was in the same situation as me, chose church over planting her garden. I’ll be sharing my tomatoes with her because mine are surely going to be ready at least a week before hers are ripe. In this issue of the Iowa Soybean Review magazine, we took a figurative snapshot of Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) membership across the state.

Of course, membership numbers are critical to a commodity organization such as ours, but the people who make up our association are even more important to us. Each member has a unique story about how ISA impacts their farming operations, and we strive to tell those stories. I hope you are inspired to learn more about ISA’s programs and offerings. If you’re already an ISA member, thank you. If not, please consider activating your farmer membership at no additional cost. If you’re not sure if you’re a member or not, just give me a call at 515-251-8640 and we’ll figure it out. You receive this magazine because you pay into the soybean checkoff. If you’re an ISA member, you’ll have access to so much more. Let’s chat about it. I hope you’re soaking up the last of summer’s goodness. I look forward to talking to you soon. Stay well, my friends.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 27

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Iowa Soybean Review | Summer 2021

Articles inside

Ryan and Kristin

The State of Membership ISA farmer