Iowa Soybean Review | February 2022 by Iowa Soybean Association

Inside: Focus on Research

IOWA

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Executive Committee President Robb Ewoldt, Davenport | D6 President Elect Randy Miller, Lacona | D8 Treasurer Dave Walton, Wilton | D6

February 2022 | Vol. 34, No. 5

Secretary Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg | D3 At-Large Director Jeff Frank, Auburn | D4

Iowa Soybean Review is published monthly 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 Ann Clinton at (515) 334-1026 or aclinton@iasoybeans.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.

Innovation Def ines Future Soybean checkoff impacts research that increases prof itability.

14 A Reliable Resource

ISA research delivers knowledge and opportunities for farmers.

Truth Seekers

Learn how to be involved in a RCFI trial.

Working Toward Healthier Soil Look to better soils for improved productivity, water and air.

On the Cover: Anthony Martin, ISA senior field services manager, uses drone technology to help with soybean research in on-farm trials.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 3

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

Prepared to Innovate?

ebruary’s cold and snow will soon give way to spring and the start of the 2022 growing season. The transition from one season to another happens fast in Iowa. Since fortune favors the prepared, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) traditionally focuses its February editorial coverage and programming on production research to help farmers get a jump-start on the new crop year. This edition of the Iowa Soybean Review is a timely example. ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) takes center stage as it continues identifying new ways to boost soybean production and profit potential in tandem with improved soil and water quality. Within these pages, you’ll learn more about the efforts and how they can positively impact your bottom line. On the programming front, plan to attend ISA’s Innovation to Profit Conference to be held Wednesday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. Opening and closing sessions will pencil out the economics of growing soybeans this year and the ongoing impact of supply chain bottlenecks on input prices. Sandwiched in between are breakout sessions

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touching on a variety of topics, from boosting profits by improving soil health and water management to using a systems approach to achieving high yields. There’s no cost to attend. To register, go to www.iasoybeans.com. The Innovation to Profit conference will also preview the soybean industry’s new approach to research. The global value chain for soybeans and soybean products is rapidly evolving. To better anticipate these changes so we can make the most of them, ISA is leading a national effort to ensure research, communications and outreach work together effectively. To provide traction and direction for this mission, soybean leaders from multiple states are acting on a proposed U.S. Soybean Research Collaborative (USSRC). The program is an outcome of the Soybean Research Forum and Think Tank held recently in Indianapolis. USSRC will further enable Iowa and U.S. soybean farmers to be the most profitable, productive and sustainable suppliers for current and emerging markets. The mission will be accomplished by providing more effective networking within the U.S. soybean family and with public institutions, federal/state

agencies and departments, and private industry. While the soybean family has been working toward this outcome for quite some time, USSRC will bring much-needed focus to our efforts. Efficiencies can be gained throughout the soybean value chain by linking the traits and genetics of soybeans grown by farmers with the end user’s needs. A timely example of this synergy is better communication and linkages from renewable biofuels (second generation) and feedstock requirements with the breeders, biotechnologists, agri-technologists, agronomists and farmers who can create and produce the desired oil and other composition profiles. For the U.S. soybean industry to make the most of next 20 years, we must rethink our approach to research, forge new partnerships, disrupt from within and better define the value proposition of U.S. soy. USSRC impacts all four of these strategic imperatives. Our emphasis on production research in February is the ideal time to give prominence to these pursuits. I encourage your active engagement and participation.

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IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 5

Lock and Dam No. 25 Added to Priority Project List BY BETHANY BARATTA

lock and dam significant in transporting the majority of soybeans and corn from Iowa and other Midwestern states will soon receive $732 million to improve the efficiency and competitiveness on the Mississippi River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has included Lock and Dam No. 25 in their work plan, a detailed list of projects to receive funding this year due to the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. “This announcement was the result of years of determined and persistent advocacy by agriculture, the barge and towing industry, and a variety of other inland waterway stakeholders,” says Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Located in Winfield, Missouri, Lock and Dam No. 25 opened in 1939 and is the most southern lock and dam on the Mississippi River with a single, 600 ft. x 110 ft. lock chamber. Steenhoek says nearly every bushel of soybeans, corn, and other grain transported along the Mississippi River from Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin pass through Lock and Dam No. 25 en route to export facilities near the Gulf of Mexico. The $732 million allocated for the

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design and construction of the project will expand export capabilities. It will result in a new 1,200 ft. x 110 ft. lock chamber which will be built adjacent the existing 600 ft. x 110 ft. lock chamber. This will enable a typical 15 barge tow – transporting more than 800,000 bushels of soybeans or corn – to transit the lock in one single pass (a 30– to 45–minute process) compared to disassembling the barge tow into two sections, which will result in two passes (over two hours), according to Steenhoek. A second lock will also provide resiliency and redundancy, allowing a key link in the supply chain to remain operational if one of the lock chambers was closed. U.S. soybean and corn farmers have been essential in promoting the inland waterway system and specifically projects along the Upper Mississippi River, including Lock and Dam No. 25, Steenhoek says. The Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, United Soybean Board, Soy Transportation Coalition, Illinois Soybeans Association, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council announced on Nov. 29, 2021, the offer of $1 million to help underwrite the cost of pre-

engineering and design expenses of Lock and Dam No. 25. Steenhoek also recognizes the Waterways Council for its leadership, and numerous elected officials throughout the Midwest who were consequential in this project receiving the green light. Steenhoek says naming Lock and Dam No. 25 as a priority project reassures its significance not only to Midwest farmers but also to the U.S. economy. “In addition to the overall challenges confronting our global supply chain, a number of specific disruptions – Hurricane Ida, the Suez Canal, the I-40 bridge near Memphis and the Colonial Pipeline – have provided a vivid reminder over the past year that if one of our critical junctures goes awry for any number of reasons, the consequences to the broader economy can be significant,” Steenhoek says. “For agriculture, a catastrophic failure at a key lock and dam would suffocate the ability of farmers to meet the demand of their international customers. Given this vulnerability, we are extremely pleased Lock and Dam No. 25 will receive the necessary funding to increase in capacity and resilience.” For more information about the Soy Transportation Coalition, visit soytransportation.org.

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KEEPING THE FUTURE OF SOYBEANS BRIGHT

From researching new uses for soybeans to identifying new markets for U.S. soy, the soy checkoff is working behind the scenes to create new opportunities and increase profits for 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.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 7

Activate or Validate your Membership Your investment in the soybean checkoff powers the Iowa Soybean Association. Farmer membership is available to you at no additional cost. We customize your membership to meet your needs, sending you the information and providing the resources you need to make farming decisions that keep you competitive. Put our expertise and services to work for you — validate your membership today at iasoybeans.com/join

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WISHH is a program of the American Soybean Association and is funded in part by the United Soybean Board and state soybean board checkoff programs. IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 9

( YOU ) You’re where the rubber meets the road. And the engine. And the interior. All soybean farmers, including you, are busy replacing petroleum with your soy oil. How? By pooling your resources through your soy checkoff. Learn how your soy checkoff is bringing tangible returns back to you and your operation at unitedsoybean.org/hopper.

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WISHH works with key international stakeholders to demonstrate the value of U.S. soy protein products for businesses and communities.

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WISHH is a program of the American Soybean Association and is funded in part by the United Soybean Board and state soybean board checkoff programs. IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 11

Innovation Def ines Future

Ed Anderson, RCFI senior director of research, knows research is key to the success of farmers.

Soybean checkoff impacts research that increases profitability

BY ED ANDERSON, PHD, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH

he Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), like farmers, strives to improve profitable and sustainable production of the most reliable, highest-yielding and highest-quality soybeans. ISA’s research team works with and on behalf of farmers to understand, execute and communicate research. This benefits soybean farmers, the soybean industry and Iowans through the production of abundant, safe and environmentally friendly feed, fuel, fiber and food. The ISA board of directors invests soybean checkoff dollars in four primary ways:

1 // The board establishes contract agreements each year for basic (usually longer-term) and applied (usually shorter-term) research with Iowa Institutions and entities, mainly Iowa State University (ISU), for improving and protecting soybean yields and quality. 12 | FEBRUARY 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM

2 // The ISA board understands many challenges and opportunities for soybean production do not start or stop at our borders. Since 1992, ISA has cooperated with other Midwest state soybean boards through the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) to invest in multi-state and multi-disciplinary research, teaching and extension. This brings the best and brightest researchers together on important topics. Because 87% of all the soybeans grown in the U.S. are produced in the 13 NCSRPmember states, the influence and impact of NCSRP research investments and results have broad benefits.

3 // Since 2014, the ISA board has invested soybean checkoff dollars in the Iowa Soybean Research Center on ISU’s campus. The center focuses on attracting private sector

memberships and financial investments for interdisciplinary research, which will bring value to farmers and to the soybean companies that serve them. Currently, the center has 14 membercompanies funding soybean research at ISU, which extends the checkoff investment by hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

4 // For almost 25 years, the ISA board has invested soybean checkoff dollars in our own internal research technical assistance and implementation programs dedicated to working with farmers on their farms for in-field and edge-of-field on-farm production research and conservation infrastructure improvements. This provides farmers with real science and real data to improve their cropping systems with innovative agronomics, conservation, predictive models and decision tools.

Tailored research Our internal research programs were formerly called the On-Farm Network for Agronomic On-Farm Research and Environmental Programs and Services for conservation work. Starting in 2020, our expertise was fully integrated as the Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI). RCFI works in close partnership with our farmer participants to investigate products, practices and data-driven decision tools. The goal is to improve crop production, optimize input expenditures and uses, and improve plant growth, development and productivity. We also strive to enhance soil conservation and health, nutrient management and water quality. RCFI staff works hard to attract competitive grants, foundation investments and industry partnerships to extend the impact and effectiveness of the soybean

We tailor research engagement and implementation

checkoff. The RCFI team is composed of more than 20 staff with expertise in agronomy, biotechnology, environmental sciences, statistics and analytics. Our sole focus is working with farmers on practical applied on-farm research, watershed planning and the sharing of technical assistance. This work enables the evaluation and implementation of novel cropping system products and practices that are complementary to and codependent with conservation practices and infrastructure to ensure this generation of farmers and future generations will be profitable, productive and sustainable. RCFI on-farm research programs and projects take into account Iowa’s regional differences in soils, weather, existing cropping practices and livestock production. We tailor research engagement and implementation opportunities to best align with the realities and priorities

of different farmers across our state. Some examples of on-farm research projects include fertility and optimized use of manure and synthetic fertilizers; fungicides, herbicides and insecticides; biologicals; tillage, row spacings, and early vs. late planting; and evaluating cover crop impacts on soil health, nutrient management, pesticide use, weed management, diseases and insects. More examples include edge-of-field infrastructure like oxbows, bioreactors, grassed waterways, saturated buffers and drainage water control and recycling; and the use of precision ag, digital ag, aerial imagery, predictive models and decision tools. All RCFI projects and programs are designed to enhance and optimize farm operations with a big picture view that spans agronomics, conservation and the use of data. To get started go to iasoybeans.com.

Created by farmers for farmers, the Iowa Soybean Association’s RCFI is DRIVEN TO DELIVER expertise, experience and expansive data sets to help farmers be more prof itable, resilient and sustainable on their farm. Challenges pertaining to growing soybeans are unique. RCFI is ready to help farmers make the most of every acre each growing season.

opportunities to best align with the realities and priorities of different farmers across our state. — Ed Anderson, PhD, senior director of research

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 13

A Reliable Resource

ISA President Robb Ewoldt of Davenport

ISA research delivers knowledge and opportunities for farmers

BY BROCK JOHNSTON

he Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) has focused on the needs of soybean farmers since it started more than 55 years ago. As farmer needs changed, so did the size of commitment required to provide innovative research, tools and technical support across the state. What began in December 2000 as the first Global Positioning System Research Group with $50,000 from the Iowa Soybean Promotion board has now transformed into millions of dollars in checkoff funds to help farmers be more productive and profitable. The ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) was established in 2020. It combines agronomics, conservation and analytics to better serve Iowa’s 40,000 soybean growers.

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“The Center was a logical evolution for our internal programs,” says Ed Anderson, RCFI senior director of research. “For over 20 years, ISA has been the national leader in not-for-profit agronomic and conservation research conducted for and with farmers.” ISA has allocated more than $91 million in checkoff investments for internal and external research. These dollars highlight the critical role research plays in addressing farmer priorities and how these needs continue to shape ISA’s approach. “Whether it’s production, new uses or environmental research, ISA prioritizes research because farmers recognize the importance of investing in our own business,” says ISA President Robb Ewoldt of Davenport.

Holistic approach Anderson recognizes that farmers have options when considering partners to improve the agronomic or conservation aspects of their farms. But ISA is unique in providing farmers opportunities to conduct on-farm research and sift through scientific data. This information helps them better evaluate products or practices to help meet operational goals spanning agronomics and conservation in their total cropping systems. “The testimonials of farmers throughout Iowa further demonstrate ISA’s commitment to trustworthy, nonbiased research,” says Ewoldt. This is where ISA’s research efforts, powered through the soybean checkoff, present the vision and willingness to take risks and show true leadership to benefit Iowa soybean growers.

“Who will invest in improving the profitability and stewardship of soybean growers if we’re not doing this ourselves?” Ewoldt asks. Advancements in tillage, cover crops, prescriptive planting and optimized inputs like fertilizers, seed and pesticides, are a few products of ISA’s research success. By combining on-farm opportunities and technical assistance, RCFI provides a systems approach for producers considering big picture operations for the greatest productivity, profitability and environmental sustainability. Continuing this commitment, RCFI seeks to complement and extend previous work, data and expertise with other public and private providers to bring genuine value to producers.

Funding yields results Ensuring the long-term competitiveness of homegrown soy through research will continue to warrant additional funding. That’s why ISA RCFI continues to broaden funding resources through partnerships and external funding opportunities from public and private entities.

While each farm has unique circumstances that affect success, ISA remains positioned to deliver the insights and recommendations required to meet the growing needs of farmers. “There’s never a one-size-fitsall approach,” says Anderson.

Positioned for growth Seeing the range of innovative products hitting the marketplace is a welcomed sign for producers. “Any time we can play a part in funding the research of new products, it ultimately benefits our bottom line,” says Ewoldt. Lee Brooke, an ISA board member near Clarinda, agrees that soybean research and supply go hand-in-hand. “Not only does research impact yields, but it also helps find new uses for our growing supply,” adds Brooke. Checkoff investment in research reflects a broader consensus among growers that supporting soy production, new uses and natural resources present a sound return-on-investment for the future, Ewoldt says. “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

CHECKOFF FUNDS DRIVE RESEARCH

Total checkoff investments by farmers categorized since 2000 . RCFI $48.7 MILLION

Iowa Soybean Research Center $42.3 MILLION

Contact Brock Johnston at bjohnston@iasoybeans.com.

Who will invest in improving the profitability and stewardship of soybean growers if we’re not doing this ourselves? — ISA President Robb Ewoldt of Davenport

Lee Brooke, Clarinda, is encouraged by the growing uses for soy.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 15

Future of Soy Soybean industry rallies around new, strategic approach to research BY AARON PUTZE, APR

uccess can’t be left to chance. For U.S. soybean farmers to thrive, new, innovative and broad-scoped research must be coordinated with multiple partners throughout the value chain. It must also align with farmer priorities and solutions based on the needs of end users. Easier said than done. Undeterred, soybean leaders gathered for a first-of-its-kind Soybean Research Forum and Think Tank in Indianapolis last fall. The goal: to improve the industry’s approach to collaborative research to accelerate short- and long-term profits, productivity and sustainability of U.S. soybean farmers. The topics of focus included yield, sustainable and regenerative ag, and new uses and markets. Attendees included representatives from 19 state soybean organizations (QSSBs), two regional checkoff organizations, the United Soybean Board (USB), 17 state land grant universities, 12 large and small companies, and one federal agency. “If soybean production and uses are going to keep pace with market needs and farmer expectations, then you have to be intentional about identifying and pursuing the basic and applied research opportunities that feed the pipeline,” says Ed Anderson, Ph.D., Iowa Soybean Association’s sr. director of research and executive director of the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP).

16 16 || FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2022 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM IASOYBEANS.COM

“That was the vision and the result of our time together in Indianapolis.” Participants evaluated the status of soybean farming and soybean uses today and tomorrow through the lens of research. Most importantly, they identified new ways of bringing the right people, expertise and technologies together for making opportunities a reality moving forward. “The future is bright when we’re focused and working together,” says Anderson, the forum’s visionary.

Farmer input A survey of soybean farmers from around the country was conducted prior to the forum to identify priority research topics. Making the list were yield improvement, soybean quality, regenerative ag, climate resiliency in genetics and production, and driving new uses and markets for soybeans. With priority topics in hand, Anderson and the multistate forum planning team identified speakers and an effective meeting format. Given the diverse audience of soybean industry stakeholders, panel discussions, and small and large group dialogues were essentials. “The most difficult part of any project is getting started,” says Greg Luce, director of research for the Missouri Soybean Association. “A forum was needed to propel us to action by identifying issues, who

will lead action on those issues and rally an industry-wide effort to do better on research that matters most to farmers.” Immediately following the forum, QSSB staff further reviewed input captured from the dialogues. Additional discussions with research stakeholders were held during a meeting of state and national soybean staff in October in Nashville. The extensive compilation of ideas, topics and strategies were organized into a white paper identifying goals, objectives and action items for moving the visionary and strategic work to meaningful execution for the future.

Void of bureaucracy From a research perspective, the primary outcome of the work, both in Indianapolis and Nashville, was a shared understanding that this important work will only be accomplished through dedicated and directed staff and programming focus, Anderson says. “And, doing the work with minimal overhead and administrative layers, with no added bureaucracy or politics,” he adds. Four goals emerged from the months-long effort to guide research collaborations powered by the soybean checkoff. Topping the list: enabling Iowa and U.S. soybean farmers to be the most profitable, productive and sustainable suppliers for current and emerging markets. To accomplish this goal, Anderson says the industry will embark on more effective networking within the U.S. soybean family and with public institutions, federal/state agencies and departments, and private industry. The creation and launch this year of the U.S. Soybean Research Collaborative (USSRC) will serve as the catalyst. Soybean leaders from multiple states are currently reviewing and acting on a proposed

program, a direct outcome of the Soybean Research Forum and Think Tank. “Greater coordination and transparency on soybean research are essential,” says Suzanne Shirbroun, an ISA director and sixth-generation farmer from Farmersburg. Breaking down the old barriers between production research and new uses research, states and the national programs are key opportunities raised by forum attendees, she adds.

Maximizing checkoff “Rallying around goals developed from the forum will enable the industry to complement and leverage work happening across all soybean checkoff organizations,” says Anderson. “This will enhance the pace and success of research and maximize every soybean checkoff dollar invested.” Anderson says the soybean industry is energized by the opportunities that greater collaboration will bring through the work of the USSRC. “It’s rewarding and exciting to see progress on a nationwide, coordinated approach to research,” Anderson says. “Every acre of soybean production and every soybean farmer will be the beneficiary.” ISA CEO Kirk Leeds says that while the soybean family has been working toward this outcome for quite some time, USSRC brings muchneeded focus to the effort. There are efficiencies to be gained throughout the soybean value chain, he adds. One example is linking the traits and genetics of soybeans grown by farmers with the end user’s needs. “For the U.S. soybean industry to make the most of next 20 years, we must rethink our approach to research,” Leeds says. “Farmers can drive the full potential of these efforts when they engage and participate.” Contact Aaron Putze at aputze@iasoybeans.com.

Four goals emerged f rom the monthslong effort to guide research collaborations powered by the soybean checkoff:

Provide researchbased solutions to soybean farmers for fully integrated and intelligent production systems that meet differentiated value opportunities.

Provide organized and focused leadership for cooperation, coordination and alignment of soybean farmer research priorities and investments among states, regions and the USB.

Establish leadership on partnerships for market research and similar work directed at attaining full connection across the soybean value chain and lead soybean research priorities that enhance farmer profitability. This will enable delivery of short and long-range processors, customer, end-user and consumer-driven products and solutions.

Establish the most cohesive, coordinated and meaningful research communications and research marketing program to help promote U.S. soy. This will be done in partnership with soybean checkoff communications and marketing teams with expertise and/or contract relationships in communicating and marketing soybean farmers, farming, and science and technology innovations.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 17

Truth Seekers Learn how to be involved in an RCFI trial. BY JOSEPH HOPPER

arming isn’t easy — every piece of ground is unique, and each farmer makes a living in their own way. At the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI), the team works to further understand and share answers to farmers’ newest, burning questions. What does RCFI’s research look like in the real world? RCFI’s on-farm research trials are known as replicated strip trials — field experiments conducted by farmers and research staff, often taking place over several years. This research is conducted with a farmer’s regular equipment and in differing soil types, yield environments, and even above and below terraces. The focus of research can be just as broad from year to year. Typical replicated strip trial types include seeding rate, seed treatment, row spacing and in-furrow, studying things like manure usage in row crops, biological products and conservation at large — especially cover crops.

ISA Farmer Member Brent Bierbaum, who farms near Griswold, is a f requent collaborator with ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation. 18 | FEBRUARY 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM

“A replicated strip trial is a product or practice placed side-by-side, replicating those four times across the field,” ISA field services program manager Drew Clemmensen says. “We typically look for two passes with the combine. These are typically 800 feet at a minimum but can also include complete quarter sections.” The philosophy behind replicated field trials is to be unobtrusive to growers. “It’s about what they want to know,” Clemmensen says. “Ultimately, our goal is to tell the truth of what the product does and whether these products or practices work in terms of a yield advantage.” When a farmer volunteers to conduct a replicated strip trial with RCFI, members of the research team like Clemmensen, an agronomist, serve as the boots on the ground for farmers. “Our role is to help walk through the process by implementing the trial, scouting, soil and tissue sampling, taking stand counts and whatever else is needed,” Clemmensen says. ISA RCFI team members assist in a variety of ways to see the trial through. This ranges from helping find products for comparisons to designing and laying out trials where planter passes and sprayer passes might not line up with combine passes.

Research in the real world Brent Bierbaum farms near Griswold and is a longtime RCFI participant. He has conducted trials examining cover crops, the reduction of nitrogen inputs, fungicides and tile

management, to name a few. “I like that it’s the real-world situation out here,” Bierbaum says. “I appreciate working with the soybean association, and I’ve been happy with cover crop research.” Bierbaum is looking forward to expanding his participation with RCFI, from trial strips to entire field comparisons. With a trial established, the initial as applied file is taken from planters, sprayers, co-op spreaders or other equipment. After a trial concludes with harvest, farmers provide the RCFI team with the harvest data, typically from the combine. Once the data is compiled and the RCFI team studies the information and a report is generated for each grower. After collecting the results of multiple trials, a larger, regional data set is created and hosted on ISA’s website (iasoybeans.com). Interested farmers can then do research of their own, examining the results of different practices, cropping systems, soil types and more. “We’re encompassing the entire state with our files,” Clemmensen says. “We want to generate eight, 10, 12 of the same trials across the state so we get a composite look.” The trial data doesn’t show bias toward practices or products, Clemmensen says. “We’re not doing one-off type trials,” he says. “It’s relevant to all corn and soybean growers. We’re a nonbiased source. If it’s negative or positive, either way, that’s what we’re trying to show.”

The regional data sets are then passed along to ISA’s analytics team to help farmers better understand the data. “It’s unbelievable what the analytics team can do to make it relevant, understandable and logical,” Clemmensen says. The data is used in the interactive decision tools, available through ISA. Farmers can also add their farm data to make the tools better fit their farming situation. With a greater level of participation, the information gained by RCFI’s replicated strip trials also grows. To learn more about participating in RCFI’s replicated strip trials, Clemmensen and Bierbaum encourage farmers to reach out to their field services program manager or the RCFI team. “They’re game to try anything,” says Bierbaum. Contact Joseph at jhopper@iasoybeans.com.

Drew Clemmensen

Ultimately, our goal is to tell the truth of what the product does and whether these products or practices work in terms of a yield advantage. — Drew Clemmensen, ISA f ield services program manager

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 19

Working Toward Healthier Soil

Wayne Fredericks has discovered a way to better soil health through conservation practices.

Look to better soils for improved productivity, water and air quality

BY KRISS NELSON

ayne Fredericks is on a mission to improve the soil health on his farms near Osage. “Soil health is the basis for good production,” the past ISA president says. “It’s also the basis of good water quality and air quality.” Fredericks has been a key collaborator with the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI), working to not only improve soils on his farm but to also add research that collectively helps all soybean farmers. ISA’s RCFI conducts ongoing collaborative research with Iowa farmers to find practices that improve soil health profitably. Through various work with RCFI and other partners, Fredericks has seen economic and agronomic returns on investment from his conservation practices. After what Fredericks refers to as an “accidental conservation adjustment”

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following the early freeze in 1991, he began no-tilling his soybean acres and converted from conventional tillage to strip-tilling corn 10 years later. The Mitchell County farmer says the economics of a system, which was also the building block to a healthier soil profile, happened almost instantly. “We had the yields. We saw a tremendous savings of equipment costs and labor,” he says. “But we also changed the soil structure, soil health and soil quality.”

Cover crops When Fredericks served as ISA president in 2016, and during that time, he did everything he could to learn about raising cover crops. He led by example, diving 100% into the practices. “I call cover crops the most dramatic step in conservation since the 1970s when we started to get rid of the plow,” he says. Prior to raising cover crops, he

took water samples on his farm. Since incorporating cover crops on his farm, Fredericks has seen a 35% reduction in nitrates found in his tile line samples.

Organic matter Organic matter is the foundation of soil health. It increases soil water holding capacity, minerals and is a source of food for various plant growthpromoting fungi and bacteria. “Most cultivated soils in Iowa have lost around 50% of their original organic matter,” says Scott Nelson, ISA senior field services program manager. “We can only imagine what Iowa crops would yield if we had our original base levels of organic matter. Some experts estimate our yields would be 50% greater.” From soil samples pulled on Frederick’s farms in 1984, the organic matter ranged from 2.3% to 3.3%. In 2015, soil samples showed the organic matter had improved to a range of 4.3% to 6.1%.

These tests were conducted before Frederick’s inception of a cover crop system. “That is just from the reduction of tillage,” he says. “Studies have shown there could be an increase of one-tenth of 1% per year of organic matter by simply discontinuing tillage.” One RCFI project characterizes the long-term benefit of continuous cover cropping at 16 locations of on-farm research. In its five years of existence, the program has shown a tenth of a percent increase in organic matter in the top six inches of soil after five years. At soil depths of 6 to 12 inches, the increase in organic matter after continuous cover cropping is 0.3%. Preliminary results show the increase in organic matter at deeper soil profiles, which can dramatically improve the cropping system. Final research results will be released later.

Rainfall More frequent significant rainfall events, which often caused flooding, was an ‘aha!’ moment for Fredericks. He realized his soils need to be able to handle the extreme variability of those rain events. “It affects what happens downstream, not only with water quality but water quantity,” he says. “I realized if I make my soils more absorbent, it benefits those downstream as well. This is where we are proving the resiliency of these farming systems once we

improve the soil health.” Fredericks saw the proof through a study which compiled 16 years of data from his farms in conjunction with Dr. Jerry Hatfield and his team at USDA Agriculture Research Service. The results showed improved soil health, which increased plant growth and the production per unit of water supplied to the field through increased infiltration of the soil and storage. In Fredericks’ fields, water use efficiency in soybeans and corn provided more bushels per inch of rainfall. Part of the credit could be given to genetics, but Fredericks feels this far exceeds the seed. Improved water use efficiency showed a farm average of 9.55 bushels per inch of rain in corn in 2020, more than double the efficiency (3.9 bushels per inch) in 2004. Results have shown 2.92 bushels per inch of rain for soybeans in 2020 versus 1.9 bushels per inch in 2005. “It’s the soil health that is improving water use efficiency,” he says. “You have good cover and a good open porous space to absorb and hold rainfall.” Better soil health is also a tool to help manage moisture and overall productivity in the spring. “It helps to plant in better soil conditions. Our air exchange is good – we don’t see yellow corn anymore,” says Fredericks.

I call cover crops the most dramatic step in conservation since the 1970s when we started to get rid of the plow. — Wayne Fredericks, farmer f rom Osage

Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com.

The National Resource Conservation Service def ines soil health as “the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals and humans.”

Scott Nelson, ISA, says results f rom ongoing research through RCFI have shown farmland is reaping the benef its of cover crops through an increase in the health of the soil.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 21

High Yield Potential Try an all-systems approach to a higher-yielding soybean BY KRISS NELSON

he evolution of soybean genetics has paved the way for farmers to achieve greater yields. But is relying on those genetics enough? Trials conducted by the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) seek to discover what it takes to achieve higher soybean yields. “We are looking to see what management practices are best to unlock further yield potential to increase farmer profitability,” says Teresa Middleton, ISA field services program manager. “If we can achieve higher yields with the same inputs and just different management, then we can increase the return of investment and soybean profitability.” Soybean planting date and maturity trials are conducted at Iowa State University (ISU) research farms in small-plot research scenarios and on-farm experiments. This past growing season, the ISA RCFI team recruited several farmer cooperators to participate in commercial setting trials, according to Middleton.

22 | FEBRUARY 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM

Anthony Martin, ISA senior f ield services program manager uses a drone during research trials for general imagery or scouting.

Dan De Vries has participated in trials through ISA.

“The goal is to make sure what we’re seeing in the ISU small plots is consistent with real-world applications,” Middleton says.

A systems approach The RCFI team takes a systems approach to determine if particular management practices, fungicides, fertilizers or biologicals improve soybean productivity. One example: the planting date trials. “We look at how different maturity beans react to various planting dates and fungicide applications rather than looking at each of those factors on their own,” says Middleton. Combining these factors into one trial helps the RCFI team better understand the systems approach to soybean production. “Differences in the emergence and other critical growth points may impact pest pressure between the systems, which can ultimately impact yield,” says Anthony Martin, ISA senior field services program manager. “It is hard to predict with a single treatment study.” However, combining data from multiple trials may help unlock yield impacts. “Instead of simply looking at when to plant, combining the planting date with a longer relative maturity variety may result in utilization of more of a growing season,” says Martin. A longer growing season means more sunlight, leading to more pods on the plant and higher yields. Middleton says planting earlier also

allows the crop canopy to close sooner, conserving soil moisture and reducing weed competition. There could be some drawbacks to an earlier soybean planting date, however. “There is no benefit to mudding in your beans just to get them in early,” says Martin. Dan De Vries, ISA farmer from Prairie City, participated in a planting date trial in 2021. In an 80-acre field, he planted two different varieties – an early variety of a 2.3 maturity soybean and a latermaturing 2.9 soybean on separate planting dates, approximately April 15 and May 1. Although dry conditions last spring deterred the earlier planted varieties from emerging in a timely manner, De Vries believes an earlier planted soybean could be advantageous to achieving higher yields. “Research shows the highest yield potential is planting in the April 16 to April 30 window for both corn and soybeans,” he says. “I think the majority of farmers are exploring ways to plant everything in this optimum window.” Ultimately, there are several factors in producing a high-yield soybean. Decisions and practices used together in a systems approach could show how those practices interact and potentially compound for more significant yield potential. “Sometimes, there can be a multiplying effect of management practices, so it is important to look at the whole picture rather than just one individual practice at a time,” Martin says.

Role of biologicals Do biologicals have a position in the systems approach to raising a higheryielding soybean? “Biologicals are a bit of a roller coaster right now,” says Martin. “They aren’t all created equal; each one is going to have specific conditions it works well in.” To find out if a biological will be a fit for your farm, Martin advises doing your own on-farm trials for a few growing

seasons to learn what works. “There are many on the market now to help crops acquire plant-available P and K or to help fix nitrogen,” says Middleton. For more information on conducting an on-farm trial to test biologicals or a systems approach to a higher-yielding soybean, contact Teresa Middleton at tmiddleton@iasoybeans.com or Anthony Martin at amartin@iasoybeans.com Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com.

Teresa Middleton, ISA f ield services program manager.

We are looking to see what management practices are best to unlock further yield potential to increase farmer profitability. — Teresa Middleton, ISA f ield services program manager

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 23

2022 Priorities Industry experts share projections for the year BY BETHANY BARATTA

From seed selection to marketing and grain storage to transportation, there are a myriad of factors farmers consider each year. We’ve asked experts in these areas to provide a snapshot of what’s in store for 2022 to help increase productivity and profitability for Iowa’s soybean farmers.

24 | FEBRUARY 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM

What can farmers expect for prices in 2022? What can farmers do to bulletproof their budgets this year?

What can farmers expect from the Iowa Soybean Research Center in 2022?

“Soybean prices trended higher through the last quarter of 2021. This has been a ‘money flow’ dominated move, as speculators have targeted the soybean complex since mid-October. There are two primary fundamental drivers of the market, and they are at odds with one another. South American production estimates have started to come down from their record forecasts the past few months. The U.S. export program has underperformed and will be slowing drastically in the weeks ahead. Net effect, U.S. carryout levels are rising, lessening the need for any acreage increases in 2022. Growers should use this market strength to price remaining old and new crop soybeans.”

“Every year, we have a rotating set of farmers advising the center. For the new year, we’ll welcome additional industry partners. The highlight of the center’s calendar year is its advisory committee meeting in late summer. At the meeting, farmer advisors learn about new soybean research opportunities from ISU researchers and discuss funding priorities with industry partners. The meeting culminates in recommending specific research projects to support. Sometimes, the meeting gets really exciting because the farmers and industry representatives offer direction and suggestions for changes in the research so that the funded projects best fit the needs of the Iowa soybean farmers. I can’t wait to see what new research we will support in 2022.”

— Matt Campbell,

— Greg Tylka,

risk management consultant

of the Iowa Soybean Research

for StoneX Financial Inc –

Center at Iowa State

FCM Division

University

director

What do record crop yields in 2021 mean for demand for storage in 2022?

How can the checkoff and Iowa Soybean Association help farmers navigate 2022 and beyond? “We must learn what our customers want and demand, and determine how we can best serve them. Whether it’s a soybean with higher soybean meal or oil content, or a soy-based product that fulfills a need, we need to be ready to pivot to seize those opportunities. This strategy doesn’t mean focusing solely on research or demand but looking at the chain holistically. ISA’s strategic focus areas of information and education, public affairs, supply and demand are interconnected, so we rely on these areas to help us as farmers be more profitable and productive.”

— Suzanne Shirbroun,

“We are anticipating and prepared for this to be a year of high product demand. Farmers need storage. We’re upping production, adding more bin lines and equipment, and investing in the most advanced manufacturing equipment. Last year, we expanded with two new sites in Hampton and Manly. Any time there’s a big bump in yields, there’s an expected increase for a place to put that grain, whether it’s on farm sites or commercially. We see grain storage as a big part of many customers’ profitability strategies. We don’t have any plans to slow down what we’re doing to get products out to those who need and want it, especially in the producer’s pursuit to preserve and protect a higher quality grain. In addition, the uncertainty we’ve seen in the supply chains during the pandemic has really only increased a desire for consumers and businesses to control their destiny. It creates an increased demand for farm storage.”

ISA board member from

— Steve Sukup,

Farmersburg

of Sukup Manufacturing Co.

CEO

What needs to be addressed in the soy transportation sector to aid farmers’ success in 2022? “A follow-through in support and funding for infrastructure allocations. While it’s great when a piece of legislation passes and funding is allocated, we need to make sure it gets implemented in a way that’s going to be helpful. It’s important to include allocations for our inland waterway system, ports, railroads, roads and bridges, while making sure that the interests of urban America don’t exclude the interests of rural America. There needs to be a good balance between the two. While we actively support greater amounts of investment, we cannot simply consider the revenue side of the equation. We also need to focus on the cost side of the equation – ensuring good stewardship of taxpayer funding. Our efforts on rural bridges are an example of this approach. After 2021, Americans are increasingly aware that supply chains matter. If something goes awry at one critical juncture, the negative consequences can be profound. We must promote greater resiliency in our infrastructure.”

— Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition

Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 25

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

Chasing Sunsets

n Saturday evenings, about an hour before sunset, my husband Scott and I climb into the cab of his truck. Then, almost always dressed in jeans and cowboy boots, we take off driving west. We never have a destination in mind. We go where the mood takes us. County highways, gravel travel, dirt roads … there’s not a path we haven’t explored. We always find something interesting along the way. It’s like a bit of a treasure hunt. “Keep your eyes open for miracles,” I say to Scott. Without fail, he drives me to one. We hardly ever see another vehicle on our drives. We talk about that a lot. During the week, traffic is so much a part of our lives. But when we are in the country, enveloped by solitude, headlights in the distance are a rarity. We talk about how lucky we are … how lucky our kids are … to know this type of peace exists. And that we have access to it. I often say I’d go crazy if I didn’t have an escape route from the city. The pickup is my getaway

vehicle, and Scott is my driver. The other night Scott backed into a field drive on top of a ridge, and we watched as the sun dipped down over the horizon. The sky was on fire. Shades of orange, yellows and reds swirled and danced as the main attraction took its final bow. Garth Brooks on the radio, Scott holding my hand; I

was overwhelmed with gratitude that I got front-row seats to the performance. I spend my life chasing highs like that one. As we say in our family, “That’s livin.” Scott says it’s hard to imagine the magic happens even when we aren’t there to see it. That’s a complex concept to wrap my head

around. Life happens. Sunsets happen. Even when we aren’t there to enjoy it. Therefore, we are trying to soak up all we can when we can. In this issue of the Iowa Soybean Review, we covered indepth concepts related to soybean research. Admittedly, making time and space to consume, understand and ultimately apply the takeaways can be tricky, at best. However, the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) is forward-focused and motivated to answer questions you don’t even know you have yet. In the next few months, you’ll be hearing more about ISA’s research efforts. From webinars, online tools and even a statewide conference, now is a good time to plug into RCFI’s agronomic research and expertise. In the meantime, I encourage you to jump in the pickup and chase the sunset. There are so many exciting discoveries ahead of us. Be well, my friends.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 27

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Iowa Soybean Review | February 2022

Articles inside

The Last Word

2022 Priorities

High Yield Potential

Working Toward Healthier Soil

Truth Seekers

Future of Soy

A Reliable Resource

Innovation Defines Future

Lock and Dam No. 25 Added to Priority Project List

Executive Insights