VOTE IN ISA’S UPCOMING ELECTION
June 2022
Celebrating Conservation Champions
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 1
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Executive Committee President Robb Ewoldt, Davenport | D6 President Elect Randy Miller, Lacona | D8 Treasurer Dave Walton, Wilton | D6
June 2022 | Vol. 34, No. 8
Secretary Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg | D3 At-Large Director Jeff Frank, Auburn | D4
Board of Directors Brent Swart, Spencer | D1 Chuck White, Spencer | D1 April Hemmes, Hampton | D2 Casey Schlichting, Clear Lake | D2 Rick Juchems, Plainfield | D3 Marty Danzer, Carroll | D4 Tom Vincent, Perry | D5 Morey Hill, Madrid | D5 Scot Bailey, Anita | D7 Lee Brooke, Clarinda | D7 Warren Bachman, Osceola | D8 Pat Swanson, Ottumwa | D9 Tom Adam, Harper | D9 Brent Renner, Klemme | At Large Steph Essick, Dickens | At Large Lindsay Greiner, Keota | At Large Tim Bardole, Rippey | At Large American Soybean Association Board of Directors Morey Hill, Madrid Wayne Fredericks, Osage Brian Kemp, Sibley Jeff Jorgenson, Sidney Steph Essick, Dickens Dave Walton, Wilton United Soybean Board of Directors Lindsay Greiner, Keota Tim Bardole, Rippey Tom Oswald, Cleghorn April Hemmes, Hampton Staff Credits Editor | Bethany Baratta Sr. Dir., Information & Education | Aaron Putze, APR Creative Manager | Ashton Boles Photographer | Joclyn Bushman Writer | Joseph Hopper Writer | Jeff Hutton Writer | Kriss Nelson Public Relations Manager | Brock Johnston 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: bbaratta@iasoybeans.com For advertising information in the Iowa Soybean Review, please contact Bethany Baratta at (515) 334-1020 or bbaratta@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.
7 Voting Guide
Make your voice heard in the ISA election.
16 Conservation Champions
Iowa’s Front 40 highlights conservation champions.
20 Two in One Farmers f ind success in relay cropping.
28 Green
Marketplace
Five questions to consider before cashing in on carbon credits.
On the Cover: Lydia Whitman of Calamus was recently named a Front 40 champion. She says the program brings a variety of voices together to put conservation efforts at the forefront.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 3
Executive Insights Kirk Leeds, ISA Chief Executive Off icer kleeds@iasoybeans.com
The Next 30 Years Begins With Your Vote
“E
ffective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked. Leadership is defined by results, not attributes.” - Peter Drucker Advancing progress on important issues takes leadership. Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer leaders and staff embrace this philosophy. It’s only fitting, therefore, that this edition of the Iowa Soybean Review combines ISA’s commitment to advancing environmental performance and outcomes with the introduction of candidates seeking election this summer to the association’s board of directors. ISA’s commitment to tackling challenging (and sometimes thorny) issues directly results from the farmers who volunteer to serve as directors. That’s why a strong slate of candidates combined with your vote are so critical. While issues like carbon sequestration, sustainability and environment, and social and
4 | JUNE 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
corporate governance pledges seem relatively new in the grand scheme of public discourse, they’ve been top-of-mind for ISA’s farmer leaders for more than 30 years. Farmers know that producing a quality, high-yielding soybean crop during increasingly volatile and extreme weather takes more effective land and cropping management. Along the way, they’ve gained knowledge and understanding of the complexities of working in a living and breathing ecosystem impacted not just by weather but also by public policy and regulatory schemes. Meanwhile, consumers and the brands they support are newer to these topics. Yet, their awareness and calls for action are growing as administrations, media, talking heads, company executives and shareholders devote greater attention to reducing our collective environmental footprint. ISA is motivated by the challenge. Your board has
devoted considerable resources to advancing farmer-led activities benefiting water and soil health. A staff dedicated to spending time in the field has built the association’s knowledge and reputation as a go-to resource on many issues. They include reduced tillage, strip trials, pollinator habitat restoration, nutrient management, carbon sequestration outcomes and water quality, just to name a few. Given who we serve, farmers are at the forefront of every conversation and the beneficiaries from outcomes achieved. That adds to the value proposition of every field trial and data point. Farmers are motivated to serve as directors because they know we’re an association driven to deliver soybean production and environmental performance results. Get to know the candidates and cast your vote. Doing so will continue the momentum and progress for the next 30 years.
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Policy Update Michael Dolch, ISA Director of Public Affairs, MDolch@iasoybeans.com
Session Adjourned, Priorities Delivered
F
ulfilling our mission and promise to you, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) delivered several key accomplishments on behalf of the state’s 40,000 soybean farmers during the 2022 Iowa Legislative Session. Stretching five weeks beyond the 100th calendar day of session, year two of the 89th General Assembly adjourned May 25. This session was marked by legislation advancing Iowa’s growth through policies to cut taxes, invest in biofuels, modernize production tools and strengthen families and communities. The major policy wins highlighted below were led by ISA farmer directors and powered by Advocate members across the state. Iowa Biofuel Access Bill (HR 2128) – Signed into law by Gov. Reynolds on May 17, the comprehensive biofuels legislation expands the state’s existing suite of tax credits and incentives, encourages the sale of higher blends of biodiesel through an incentive-based approach, expands E15 (ethanol 15%) access across the state and makes significant investments in cost-share
6 | JUNE 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
opportunities for fuel retailers to upgrade biofuel infrastructure. ISA and the Iowa Biodiesel Board, alongside hundreds of farmers, Advocate members and industry partners, worked tirelessly to deliver this landmark legislation. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2022. However, advocacy efforts will continue as the rules implementing the legislation are discussed and developed. The rulemaking process will unfold over the next several months, culminating with a public comment period this fall. All-Systems Weight Permit (SF 2376) – Establishes a new 90,000-pound all-systems permit for vehicles of excessive weight on non-interstate highways yearround, not just during planting and harvest season as permitted by governor proclamation. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, the change (12.5% heavier than currently allowed) provides long-term certainty for the efficient, cost-effective transportation of agriculture products and bulk inputs. MRTN Calculator Appropriation (SF 5153) – Allocates $1 million for FY23 to update the maximum return to
nitrogen (MRTN) modeling for fertilizer management. Continued research will modernize nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for corn production in cropping systems across Iowa. This year’s appropriation is critically important as continued research will help modernize nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for corn-soy cropping systems across Iowa. These updates, coupled with publicly available and predictive modeling results, can inform nitrogen management based on weather, soil and management variables to reduce potential losses to water resources. While the 2022 legislative session shrinks in the rearview mirror, the progress and gains realized over the past four months will be enjoyed for decades to come. From all of us at ISA, thank you for your engagement during this legislative session. To learn more about ISA Advocate membership and how your investment will positively influence policies and regulations impacting your farm’s competitiveness, visit www.iasoybeans.com/ membership/advocate.
GROWING ISA’S FUTURE:
Vote in the Upcoming ISA Election
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 7
Why vote?
Your participation in this election determines the future of checkoff investments and priorities. The board of directors determines how your checkoff gets invested. Whether its increasing market demand, agronomic and conservation research, or consumer outreach, your vote impacts the future of soybean farmer priorities.
How to vote:
If you live in District 1, 2, 7 or 9: You’re electing one At-Large director. If you live in District 3, 4, 5 or 6: You’re electing one ISA director in your crop district and one At-Large director. District 8: You’re electing 2 directors and one At-Large director. 1. Ballot(s): Complete and enclose in the official ballot envelope. Do not enclose anything else in this envelope. 2. Soybean Producers Affidavit: Complete the affidavit on the outside of the official ballot envelope. This is required and qualifies you as a voter. 4. Farmer Member Form: Complete to activate or confirm your membership. This allows us to better serve you throughout the year. 5. Place the official ballot envelope and farmer member form in the enclosed return envelope. To qualify, all ballots must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2022.
LYON
OSCEOLA
DICKINSON
EMMET
O’BRIEN
CLAY
PALO ALTO
KOSSUTH
WINNEBAGO
WORTH
HANCOCK
CERRO GORDO
MITCHELL
HOWARD
FLOYD
CHICKASAW
WINNESHIEK ALLAMAKEE
SIOUX
Questions?
Districts
PLYMOUTH
CHEROKEE
WOODBURY
BUENA VISTA
IDA
SAC
CALHOUN
4
MONONA
POCAHONTAS
CRAWFORD
CARROLL
SHELBY
AUDUBON
HARRISON
HUMBOLDT
WRIGHT
GUTHRIE
BUTLER
HAMILTON
BOONE
DALLAS
HARDIN
STORY
POLK
5
CLAYTON
BUCHANAN
DELAWARE
3
BREMER
BLACK HAWK
WEBSTER
GREENE
FRANKLIN
FAYETTE
DUBUQUE
GRUNDY
TAMA
BENTON
LINN
POWESHIEK
IOWA
JOHNSON
MARSHALL
JASPER
6
JONES
JACKSON
CLINTON CEDAR SCOTT MUSCATINE
POTTAWATTAMIE
7
CASS
ADAIR
MADISON
WARREN
8
MILLS
MONTGOMERY
ADAMS
UNION
CLARKE
FREMONT
PAGE
TAYLOR
RINGGOLD
DECATUR
MAHASKA
MARION
KEOKUK
WASHINGTON LOUISA
LUCAS
MONROE
WAPELLO
JEFFERSON
WAYNE
APPANOOSE
DAVIS
VAN BUREN
HENRY DES MOINES
LEE
If you market at least 250 bushels of soybeans yearly, and you don’t receive a ballot in the mail by July 15, call the Iowa Soybean Association at 515-250-8640 to request one. LYON
OSCEOLA
DICKINSON
KOSSUTH
EMMET
WINNEBAGO
WORTH
MITCHELL
HOWARD
WINNESHIEK ALLAMAKEE
Contact Kennady Moffitt, ISA Producer Services Coordinator, at SIOUX
O’BRIEN
CLAY
PALO ALTO
HANCOCK
CERRO GORDO
FLOYD
CHICKASAW
515-491-3539 or kmoffitt@iasoybeans.com. PLYMOUTH
WOODBURY
8 | JUNE 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
MONONA
CHEROKEE
BUENA VISTA
IDA
SAC
4
CRAWFORD
POCAHONTAS
CALHOUN
CARROLL
HUMBOLDT
WEBSTER
GREENE
WRIGHT
FRANKLIN
BUTLER
BOONE
STORY
HARDIN
5
CLAYTON
BUCHANAN
DELAWARE
BREMER
BLACK HAWK HAMILTON
FAYETTE
3
DUBUQUE
GRUNDY
TAMA MARSHALL
BENTON
LINN
6
JONES
JACKSON
CLINTON
DISTRICT 3
INCUMBENT
Rick Juchems Plainf ield Rick Juchems operates a grain and livestock farm in Butler and Bremer counties. He raises soybeans and corn and 100% of his acres are devoted to cover crops. He contract feeds hogs for his brother-in-law and uses the manure as a fertilizer source for their corn. Other conservation practices on Juchems’ farm includes terraces, waterways, prairie strips, shallow water area, no-till and buffer strips along streams. They have also installed solar panels to produce two-thirds of their energy needs with a net metering contract with MidAmerican Energy. Juchems graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. He is serving his second term as a District 3 director on the ISA Board; he serves as chair of the Butler County Soil and Water District and chair of his county’s Farm Service Agency committee. He served four years as vice chair for the Iowa State University Northeast Research Farm and is chair-elect for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waverly.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? Serving on the board allows me to share opportunities provided from trade missions to education on how to run a productive meeting. I hope to keep learning and sharing how the world uses U.S. soy and the many new uses that have been developed through research and development.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? There are many issues facing the American farmer, from input costs, trade challenges, volatile markets and weather extremes. The biggest problem is the loss of active farmer representation at the table to inform and educate policymakers.
Loran Steinlage West Union Lifelong Fayette County farmer Loran Steinlage serves the role of systems facilitator on his farm. He and his wife Brenda raise corn, soybeans, cereal rye, winter wheat, malt barley and buckwheat. He has also taken on a field engineer position for DAWN Equipment/Underground Ag. Steinlage is an environmental leadership award winner and received the 2020 no-till farmer innovator award.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? I now have the time to dedicate my service on the ISA board and the experience to help make a difference.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? Water quality and net neutrality. I believe venture capital has brought us the carbon program industry that leads us to net zero. Too many folks have succumbed to the sales pitch and allure of carbon, yet nobody can verify it. A simple water sample tells us all we need to know. Solve the water cycle, solve the carbon cycle. Both lead to the net neutrality of EvoServices, where we as farmers will be compensated for all the good we do for the environment.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 9
DISTRICT 4
INCUMBENT
Marty Danzer Carroll Marty Danzer farms in Carroll County, raising cattle, corn, soybeans, oats, alfalfa and rye for cover crops. Danzer, a current ISA District 4 director, graduated from Iowa Western Community College with an ag business degree, serves on his local church committees and is a member of the Carroll County Beef Producers and Iowa Corn Growers.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? I am interested in serving on the Iowa Soybean Association board to help educate local soybean producers about current soybean industry issues and find ways to promote the use of soybeans to enhance the producer’s bottom line.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? We have many political problems facing our industry that need to be addressed to keep those issues in perspective to be more farmer-friendly. We need to develop foreign markets to compete with South America. EPA regulations have created a lot of hurdles in the soybean industry and we may have problems developing markets for biofuels and renewable fuels, which needs attention.
James Hepp Rockwell City James Hepp is a first-generation farmer on his row crop farm near Rockwell City. Raising corn and soybeans, Hepp also incorporates rye as a cover crop. After graduating from Northwest Missouri State, Hepp started his career as a crop insurance adjuster. After moving back home, he seasonally helped a friend who grew corn and soybeans in Calhoun County. During that time, he gained the knowledge needed to farm on his own. Three years ago he began sharecropping with a farmer who was looking to retire; this year he will be taking over the farm on his own. Hepp and his wife Paige are in the process of buying the equipment and the property, which includes a house, several machine sheds and grain bins. Hepp is also a crop insurance agent.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? I have been involved with Farm Bureau and held several leadership positions. My wife encouraged me to go to ISA meetings and events, and I fell in love with it. All the members are great to be around and learn from. I want to take my leadership to the next level and serve statewide, not just in my county. My farming and crop insurance experience, combined with being a young, first-generation farmer, will bring a lot to the table.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? The biggest problem is the markets. When it comes to dollars and cents, some years, it’s hard to grow beans, and it’s easier to do corn on corn to make more money per acre. It shouldn’t be that way. We have to help find new markets. The local basis around my area is - 75 cents. If you go near the river, it’s half of that. We need to find new or more demand for soybeans. 10 | JUNE 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
DISTRICT 5
Pat Murken Story City Pat Murken grows soybeans and corn while incorporating conservation and erosion control practices on his multi-generational farm in Story County. He graduated in 1979 with honors from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in industrial technology. Before starting a 40-year career with John Deere, Murken served in the Peace Corps. Pat is the 2016 Story County Conservationist of the Year and is involved in many community organizations. He’s also participated in ISA research trials, the ISA Experience Class, ISA Communications Squad and as a volunteer for the Iowa Food & Family Project at the Iowa State Fair.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? When I served in the Peace Corps in the Philippines in 1975, I taught sugar cane farmers how to grow soybeans in tired soil. Native people were literally starving in the area because they could not get enough food, especially protein. I believe the farmers in Iowa are capable of assisting to feed the world’s population, and I want to be a positive part and member of that process.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? There are two interrelated issues facing Iowa soybean farmers right now. The first is having a consistent market and profitability for our soybeans. There is significant uncertainty in the world today. Recently, I was watching a video filmed in Ukraine in 2021. There were some advanced agriculture processes shown and a large, different style combine being tested. Agriculture processes and farm machinery are not made to survive war. I wonder how extensive the damage is in the Ukraine, and what we as the Iowa Soybean Association can do to help our fellow farmers become productive again. I stand ready to support the farmers of the Ukraine, however and whatever needs to be done.
Dave Struthers Collins Dave Struthers and his wife Elaine operate Struthers Farms Inc. with Dave’s brother Dan and nephew Jacob. They farm in southeast Story County. The family grows corn, soybeans and hay and raises a 30-head commercial cow herd and finishes around 5,500 hogs per year. Dave is involved on the ISA District Advisory Council and research committees, serves as a Pork Forum delegate and on the Story County Pork Producers Board the is Collins Day Committee President and a Collins Christian Church Elder CAPOOT (Collins Area People On Old Tractors) organizer.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? I am passionate about agriculture and have been a leader in Farm Bureau and Iowa Pork. The experiences and relationships I gained through those organizations put me in contact with many in the Iowa Soybean Association. I have had many field trials with the On-Farm Network, now the Research Center for Farming Innovation. These interactions piqued my interest in ISA and the possibility of becoming a board member. I participated in both the ISA Experience Class and ISA Communications Squad and would like to contribute further.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? Currently the availability and cost of inputs is an issue facing all of us. The challenge of enough truckers, longshoremen, welders, fabricators is something that we face like never before. ISA cannot solve this problem, but we can work with American Soybean Association and lobby our government to get a better work visa program and relax unnecessary regulations that make it harder for the items we need to be made and distributed efficiently.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 11
DISTRICT 6
INCUMBENT
Dave Walton Wilton Dave Walton farms near Wilton, operating land that has been in the family since 1855. He grows soybeans, corn, commercial hay and manages cattle with his father, son and wife Paula. Dave studied animal science at Iowa State University. He serves on the American Soybean Association board and is a governing board member of Clean Fuels Alliance America (formerly National Biodiesel Board). He is a member of the Iowa Cattleman’s Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Sheep Industry Association. Dave is involved in his community, being a long-time fixture of his local school district and as a volunteer youth sports coach.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? Our family has always been involved
Joshua Henik Mount Vernon
in giving back to our community, and it’s something important to me as well. I’ve enjoyed the success we’ve had because of ISA, and I want to continue to serve as an advocate for Iowa soybean farmers. I’ve served Iowa soybean farmers for the past six years, and with their support, I’d work just as hard for the next three.
Joshua Henik operates a seventh-generation family farm with his wife, Katlyn, their four children, his parents and grandfather in east central Iowa. They raise corn and soybeans and operate a small cattle feeding operation.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? We need to continue to focus
Joshua holds a Bachelors of Science of Agronomy and M.S. in Crop Physiology from Iowa State University. He also serves as an assistant professor of agronomy at Kirkwood Community College.
on expanding trade opportunities and ensure routes are open to free and fair trade. Domestically, we want to make sure biodiesel is the favored fuel of the marketplace and continue to create demand for soybean oil. We’re also seeing challenges in the form of overregulation from the government; the advocacy work we do is so important. Those three things have nearly equal importance.
Henik is the acting vice president of the Linn County Farm Bureau, serving on several state and national committees. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association and the Linn County Sustainability and Resiliency Committee.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? Engagement by our farmers through their representative organizations helps shape their future of trade and farm policy, develop programs to advance commodity production and provide a voice to the minority of individuals who provide the foodstuffs for most of the population. If my fellow producers believe I possess the skills and experience required to represent them, I would humbly serve to advance the interests of Iowa’s soybean farmers.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? There has been an emphasis placed on issues related to climate and the environment. ISA’s history of work with conservation practices, water quality and on-farm research uniquely positions the organization to speak to these issues. Advocating for expanded markets is critical to the future of the soy industry. To deliver on these markets, ISA must continue to push for a focus on infrastructure.
12 | JUNE 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
DISTRICT 8
INCUMBENT
Warren Bachman Osceola Warren Bachman has farmed for more than 50 years. He grows corn and soybeans with his wife, Linda, on their farm in Clarke County. Bachman utilizes no-till, cover crops, contour farming, terraces and waterways to promote soil and water health on his land. Bachman has served as a past vice president of the Iowa Farm Bureau and is also a past president and long-time board member of Clarke County Old Iron, an organization promoting antique tractors.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? I have learned so much serving on this board and want to use what I have learned here and in my years farming, trucking and in the custom harvest business to help all soybean farmers with their problems and be more profitable. I feel if we don’t set an example, stand up for what we do right each day and tell our story, we will be regulated out of business as we know it today.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? We must keep selling our product globally. We face increased competition from South America. They forecast a 50% increase in acres by 2030. We must stay profitable with ever-increasing regulations. ISA is involved in a lot of research projects and supports many trade missions. We also have a well-respected presence in the Iowa Legislature, with our governor and in Washington, D.C.
Matthew Bradley Creston Matthew Bradley is a third-generation farmer who raises corn, soybeans and purebred Angus cattle alongside his wife, Kristen. Matthew attended Iowa State University, majoring in agriculture studies with a minor in agronomy. Matthew served as an ISA delegate in 2022 and has spent much of the past half-decade supporting farmers professionally as a consultant.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? I am interested in serving on the ISA board because the future of soybeans is great. For too long, this crop has taken a backseat to corn in many farmers’ minds but with the increased number of commercial and consumer uses for the plant, now is the time to start thinking “beans first.” I want to leverage my past experiences with farmers throughout the U.S. as well as my knowledge of what it takes to grow a successful crop in District 8, being a voice on the board to ensure the information and education on how to optimize productivity and revenues can be shared with all farmers in Iowa.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? Optimizing yields to keep up with our competition. Having had the opportunity to see hundreds of farming operations throughout the world, Iowa farmers have never had a better chance to use both genetics as well as sound agronomic practices to challenge the yield ceiling on their own farms, and in doing so not only reap the benefits of increased profits but by producing more soybeans enable the vision and outcome of how soybeans will be used into the future for food, fuel and fiber.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 13
DISTRICT 8
INCUMBENT
Randy Miller Lacona Randy Miller farms with his wife and two children outside of Lacona in Warren County. They raise soybeans, corn, custom-fed nursery pigs and run a cow-calf operation. Farming has been the family trade for nearly three decades. Miller is a graduate of Iowa State University, holding a degree in Agricultural Studies and Extension. In addition to his service on the ISA board, he is a member of the Warren County Fair Board, Indianola First Assembly, American Jr. Maine Anjou Association and a past member of the SouthCentral Co-Op Board and a former 4-H Youth Council Leader.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? I believe the most important reason and biggest interest I have in serving on the board is the relationships and connections I can make. Whether with political leaders, industry leaders, partners or soybean producers, it is important to take the time to create those connections in order to positively advocate and educate others about our product.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? I believe one of the biggest issues facing Iowa soybean farmers right now is the supply chain demands and the ability to get the products we need. Farmers are struggling to get what they need more than ever before. The ISA board can play a vital role in doing their part to help the supply chain especially when thinking postharvest. The soybean board does their best to stay up to date on current events and policy so they can react to issues like the farm bill in a timely fashion.
Doug Kent Corydon Doug Kent farms with his wife, Lisa, in south central Iowa and northern Missouri. They grow soybeans, corn and hay and raise cattle. In addition, they are enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Doug utilizes minimum-till, no-till and cover crop conservation practices on his farm. Doug currently serves as a member of the Iowa MFA Board and also works with his local co-op.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? Being a soybean producer, we must work harder in promoting our products, such as renewable biofuel. We must also work with legislators and other ISA board members on creating a cleaner environment.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? I feel very strongly about working with and promoting our renewable biofuel industry — especially trying to get away from our dependance on foreign oil and being more energy independent.
14 | JUNE 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
AT LARGE
INCUMBENT
Brent Renner Klemme Brent Renner farms in Hancock County and serves as an Iowa Soybean Association at-large director. He farms 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans and operates a custom strip-till and side dressing business along with a cow-calf herd. Renner is a 1999 graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in ag studies. He serves on boards for the North Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Iowa River Watershed Coalition, the Hancock County Farm Bureau and is superintendent for the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church’s Sunday school.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? I’ve always been impressed with the soybean association’s program and promotion of this essential commodity. After serving six years on the board, I’m looking forward to taking what I’ve learned and helping facilitate my fellow board members in ushering the soybean industry into the future. Serving my fellow farmers in this state and in this capacity has been an honor and privilege that I am excited to extend into my last three years of eligibility.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? An uncertain future with global markets. Adapting and adjusting to those changes can be both scary and exciting. Shifting focus on the real possibility that soybean oil demand could overtake soybean meal is something we need to help facilitate.
Jack Boyer Reinbeck Jack Boyer raises corn, seed corn, soybeans and cereal rye on his family’s Century Farm near Reinbeck. Boyer also offers custom services, including full-service farm management and cover crop seeding. Boyer received his Master of Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from Oklahoma State University. In addition to a career in farming, Boyer also worked at John Deere Product Engineering Center for 32 years. Boyer serves on the Practical Farmers of Iowa board and is chairman of the Tama Soil and Water Conservation Board. He is past vice president of the Conservation Districts of Iowa and has held several positions at his church.
Why are you interested in serving on the ISA board? I am interested in serving on the ISA board to learn more about the soybean market and how I can contribute to expanding the soybean markets for Iowa farmers.
What’s the biggest issue facing Iowa soybean farmers and how can the ISA board address it? The high cost of fertilizer and energy inputs is a primary concern. I believe the board can address this issue by promoting alternative energy products and assisting with onfarm research to learn how to farm with fewer inputs, for example, using cover crops to reduce herbicide usage and no-till to reduce trips across the field — thinking about dollars per acre, not bushels per acre.
IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 15
Conservation Champions
ISA District 3 Director Suzanne Shirbroun, a farmer near Farmersburg, was named a Front 40 champion.
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Lydia Whitman, a sixth-generation farmer from eastern Iowa, appreciates Front 40’s focus on elevating different voices in agriculture.
A better future grows from Iowa’s Front 40 BY JOSEPH HOPPER
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ho is working to ensure a better, brighter future? Iowa’s farmers. Iowa’s Front 40 launched in December 2021, highlighting 40 champions from across the state who are at the forefront of sustainable soil and water management practices. Created by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) and supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the movement began in 2021 with a series of eight Grassroots Leadership Forums, with ISA staff gathering around the table with Iowa farmers. “We believe in engaging Iowa farmers first and foremost,” ISA RCFI Director Roger Wolf says. “We’re all about improving the productivity, profitability and natural resource management for soil and water in Iowa.” Wolf says the Front 40 is a way
to elevate the voices of local farmers while learning about Iowa’s soil and water conservation success stories, which are already under way. The RCFI director says the program is focused on opening the dialogue among Iowans about conservation. When farmers make changes to their operations to improve the health of the soil, it comes with real work and a real cost. “We advocate for a shared investment, both public and private; that’s what it will take if we’re going to realize the big goals the state has for improved water quality and longterm soil health,” Wolf says. “RCFI will continue to invest in these kinds of programs, and we believe the voice of local people and the actions of local people is what makes the programs work. We’re learning about this as we talk to people across the state. We want to capture more of this
momentum and build a better future for Iowa.”
Champions The 2021 class of Front 40 champions each exemplify being a good steward of the land in their own way. They have as many similarities as differences. Todd Sutphin, the RCFI senior research program manager who dutifully took notes during the 2021 Front 40 forums, hinted at what defines a Front 40 champion. “I think a champion is more than a voice; a champion often takes action,” says Sutphin. Conservation is a tradition for many Front 40 champions, including Suzanne Shirbroun, a sixth-generation farmer whose family farm is home to the oldest terrace in Clayton County. To her, the Front 40 showcases positive efforts throughout the state.
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“The Front 40 is a great avenue for our consumers to learn more about what farmers are doing to protect our landand farms,” Shirbroun says. Lydia Whitman, a Front 40 champion and sixth-generation farmer from eastern Iowa, says the Front 40’s efforts to elevate different voices in agriculture is significant. It’s not just farmers on the same ground with the same training, but rather a diverse group of people with different backgrounds and experiences. “I like the Front 40 because we’re celebrating the good because of what is happening on the farm,” Whitman says. “Also, continuing a conversation in such a way that we can continue to synergize on the good that’s happening vs. create consequences for those who aren’t early adopters. It’s also identifying leaders. To acknowledge how the process of eclectic knowledge and engagement turns into these outcomes is cool.” She adds, “There are many ways to solve problems, and we shouldn’t discount what is possible. The way I farm on my ground isn’t the same as
my friends in central Iowa. We don’t have the same soil types or hydrology; we have different weather patterns. What we can do is different, and that’s okay.”
Conservation Conversation The Front 40’s grassroots approach is informing the future of RCFI too. Wolf identified three areas RCFI is considering investing in based on feedback received during the first series of Grassroots Leadership Forums in 2021. Water and watershed projects “Watershed projects hold a lot of promise for organizing efforts to improve soil health and water quality downstream,” Wolf says. “Some of the common features of good watershed projects include broad stakeholder support upstream among the ag community and active engagement with downstream and often urban stakeholder interests.” Having solid information and assessments of the current condition and building a plan for shovel-ready projects has been a key to securing
additional resources. While there are some good examples demonstrating practices and information on how this work occurs, local watersheds lack the necessary resources to take projects to full-scale implementation, Wolf says. “Having local boots on the ground is also key for success,” he says. “Without additional financial investment, however, many acres go untreated, and opportunities to move the needle for downstream outcomes are being missed.” Finding opportunities to engage young farmers Integrating crop and livestock systems holds promise for young farmers, the RCFI director says. During the forums, local leaders shared barriers to incorporating cover crops into cropping systems. Namely, increasing infrastructure for seed production, planting and termination services. “Increasing the bandwidth in these areas may mean more opportunities for people looking to get into agriculture,” he says.
RCFI staff facilitating the Front 40 initiative include (left to right) Todd Sutphin, Roger Wolf, Theo Gunther, David Kurth and Kristen Dearden. 18 | JUNE 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
Leveraging current project work Wolf said RCFI will take the information and experiences from farmers and others participating in the Grassroots Leadership Forums to explore and expand projects. “We hope to advance projects that take dedicated small-scale soil health research plots and extend them to whole field experimental evaluations to study real-world response,” Wolf says. “We then can create a support network providing extension and outreach to farmers and opportunities to change practices on their operations.” The RCFI director explained the end goal is providing opportunities for Iowa farmers.
“This is a research-based approach to refining cropping systems and takes a fair amount of coordination and commitment to adhering to an experimental design, coordinating data collection, and using data analytics to uncover information and insights into valuable opportunities for farmers.”
The next 40 The efforts of the 2021 Front 40 champions are continuing into 2022 as they help to shine a light and identify more of Iowa’s conservation leaders. Six Grassroots Leadership Forums are planned for this year, which will include great conversation and an opportunity to learn in person.
Whitman, one of the inaugural champions, says it’s an aspect of the Front 40 she hopes will grow as the movement gains momentum. “There’s a demand for witnessing demonstration projects,” Whitman says. “These folks are great communicators and able to put forward what they’re doing. Suppose we’ve got this opportunity to hop on that a little farther and highlight an existing practice, even take it a step farther in developing the demonstration of a new practice that has lower adoption typically due to awareness. Can we connect the dots and start to help expand knowledge of how to even do more? Do better?” Contact Joseph Hopper at jhopper@iasoybeans.com.
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Two In One ISA trials hope to showcase maximum output BY KRISS NELSON Editor’s note: This is the first in a series following this relay cropping trial.
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an Iowa farmers successfully raise two crops in the same field in the same year? Specifically, growers in the northern parts of the state? Relay cropping could achieve this goal. Farmers have been testing relay cropping with cereal and rye by experimenting through replicated strip trials, with the assistance of Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) and the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). Ross Evelsizer, Northeast Iowa RC&D natural resources projects director, says he started the MultiCropping Iowa Project to explore relay cropping as a way for producers
to expand their operations by growing vertically and diversifying while maintaining or improving environmental integrity. Relay cropping builds on the concepts of cover cropping in terms of soil health improvement and adds a revenue option for the farmers. “The goal is to learn enough about the practice to lay the groundwork for easy widespread adoption for Iowa farmers,” Evelsizer says. “Relay acres with cereal rye and soybeans averaged $51 an acre higher net profit than mono-cropped soybeans.” Theo Gunther, ISA senior research program development coordinator, says trials began in 2020
Hayden Olson, of Northwood, plants soybean into rye as part of a cropping trial. (Photo: Joseph Hopper/Iowa Soybean Association)
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and continue this year. Relay cropping involves seeding soybeans early in the growing season while the cereal rye is still in vegetative growth stages. The soybeans grow with rye. When the rye reaches maturity, it is harvested above the canopy of the soybeans growing below. The soybeans then proceed to maturity, generating twograin crops. Gunther says they saw a need for trials due to the lack of side-by-side comparison data available. “There were several farmers around the state that have done relay intercropping with small gains and soybeans on whole fields or parts of the fields. In previous years, we
Russ Olson, ISA member in Northwood, participates in relay cropping trials with ISA. (Photo: Joseph Hooper/Iowa Soybean Association)
could only compare soybean yields to the field history, county yields or other plots nearby,” he says. To help accomplish the trials, the RC&D pursued grants, with ISA in charge of facilitating the trials.
Relay cropping trials ISA farmer-member Russ Olson of Northwood is in his fourth year of relay cropping and participating in trials. He uses 10-inch, twin-row spacing to drill his cereal rye on 30inch centers and plants soybeans into the 20-inch gap in the spring. Last fall, Olson applied 30 pounds of 32% nitrogen to the cereal rye. This spring, he used an additional 50 to 60 pounds of nitrogen on the rye before planting soybeans. Olson says he has found that a later-maturing soybean works in the relay cropping system and is planting a 2.4 maturity bean this year. A latermaturity bean should help avoid the beans flowering when the cereal rye is harvested.
Improved genetics could also boost the future of relay cropping. This year, Olson says they are experimenting with hybrid rye. “With hybrid rye, there is a higher yield potential for increased quality, especially in a humid environment like Iowa,” says Gunther. But there is a catch. “We can’t save that seed and use it for cover crops; it has to go to market,” says Olson. “With our other varieties, we use our rye. We have it cleaned and use it for our cover crop seed.”
What outcomes are producers looking for with a relay crop? Relay cropping allows producers to achieve maximum grain output from their farm by harvesting two crops, but the system has other benefits. Olson says they use very few herbicides in their relay cropping systems.
“The rye does a good job suppressing weeds,” Olson says. “After rye is harvested, we might spray, if there is a need.” There are also some soil health and environmental benefits to consider with a relay cropping system. “The system doesn’t allow much nitrate nitrogen to be lost to surface water because there is something growing and available to take up nutrients year-round,” says Gunther.
Does relay cropping have a place in the future? Olson believes there is a possibility relay cropping could become a staple on many farms. “In southern Iowa, farmers see 50 to 60-bushel beans and 30-bushel rye. That is 100 bushels of grain off a soybean field,” says Olson. “I think we are a little too far north to expect those yields, but it shows enough promise I want to keep messing with it.” Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com.
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Perfecting Fertilizer Management Precision technology brings university-level research to real Iowa farms BY REBEKAH JONES
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farmer wears many hats on the farm from business owner to accountant to maintenance technician and everything in between. Many farmers are also adding one more title to this impressive list: scientist. No, farmers aren’t donning white lab coats in the field. But they are contributing valuable data to researchers at Iowa State University (ISU) that could transform the way farmers plan their nitrogen application for improved profitability and water quality. The study, called the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative or N Initiative, uses on-farm nitrogen fertilizer rate trials to create several tools to better pinpoint how much nitrogen is needed to grow crops in Iowa fields.
“Improved nitrogen recommendations and forecasting tools will improve farmers’ nitrogen use efficiency and reduce harmful nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching. These efforts will lead to better water quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved farmer profitability, particularly in extreme weather years,” notes Sean McMahon, executive director for Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA). IAWA is actively seeking additional funding for and promoting this research. During the 2022 legislative session, the Iowa Legislature approved SF 5153, a $1 million appropriation for fiscal year 2023 to update the maximum return to nitrogen (MRTN) modeling
for fertilizer management The amount of fertilizer to purchase and apply is a tough decision every year. This year was incredibly stressful as fertilizer rates skyrocketed. The billions of potential combinations that affect nitrogen uptake are adding to the challenge, including soil type, location, weather, plant genetics, type of fertilizer, application timing and soil nutrient levels. “There are challenging pressures on farmers to fertilize at the right rate in every field, every year for productivity and the environment,” says Dr. Mike Castellano, soil science professor at ISU who leads the research. “If they hit the sweet spot, it’s the best outcome for economics and environment.”
Mike Williams, crop production manager at Amana Farms, participates in the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative trial studies.
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Nitrate in the soil is constantly changing and affecting fertilizer management. In 2021, drought left more nitrogen in the soil and increased the possibility of nitrate loss after a signif icant rain.
In the study, one of the most exciting innovations is having farmers conduct scientifically robust, fully replicated and randomized trials on their farms, not university research plots, notes Castellano. Growers use variable rate application technology they, or their custom applicators, already have on their equipment. Premier Crop Systems, a partner in the project, works with farmers to create nitrogen prescriptions for 5 to 7 acres. Farmers don’t have to make any changes to timing, seed choices or type of fertilizer, so it doesn’t slow them down. “For growers to do this kind of research on their fields is just phenomenal,” says Sarah Windhorst, vice president of data services at Premier Crop Systems. “Farmers can use technology they’ve already invested in, and it’s really exciting
to see how we can truly localize agronomy.” The N Initiative will provide a public database of results across all 99 counties, including nitrogen application rates, corresponding yields, and factors like soil type and timing. Over the next 3-5 years ISU will use the data to make a forecasting tool to predict nitrogen efficiency across different scenarios, such as weather events. Finally, ISU will create a hindcasting tool, like a retrospective decision tree, for the growing season. It will allow growers to look back and see how every decision they made – or could have made – impacts yields and
profitability. This tool will be highly accurate since previous weather would no longer be an uncertainty. “I think both tools are critical for learning,” Castellano says. “That’s where we’ll benefit most from this project – not just for Iowa farmers but also for the public. Everyone can learn about the challenges of nitrogen application.” ISU piloted the research program with 20 trials in 2021. Researchers plan to expand research to at least 400 trials in all Iowa counties by 2023. Reach out to Premier Crop Systems at (515) 334-5560 to be part of the trials. Jones is the communications director for IAWA. Contact Rebekah at rjones@iaagwater.org.
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Natasha Hoover, research scientist at ISU’s College of Engineering, collects a sample of poultry manure as part of the LAIYERS study. (Photo: Joseph Hopper/Iowa Soybean Association)
Researching the Potential of Poultry Manure LAIYERS dives into nutrient and environmental aspects of poultry waste BY KRISS NELSON
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e may never answer such questions as “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” or “Why did the chicken cross the road?” but a new study will unlock some answers about how poultry manure affects soils and provides nutrients that crops can best utilize. Through a new multiyear study, Land Management for Improved Yield Environmental Resilience Sustainability (LAIYERS), researchers hope to learn more about nutrient availability to plants and poultry manure’s effect on overall soil health. LAIYERS is the second generation of a study started in the late 1990s.
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The Iowa Egg Council initiated both studies to understand poultry manure’s effects on water quality. “When our study was first started in the 90s, poultry manure was considered a waste product,” says Michelle Soupir, interim associate dean, graduate college and professor & associate chair for research/extension at Iowa State University. “We want to figure out how much manure can be applied before impacting water quality and how to dispose of manure without building up phosphorous in the soil.” There was enough interest in establishing new field plots 20 years later, expanding on previous studies.
“The previous research only considered two manure application rates, and the plots were different sizes,” Soupir says. “We designed the new site to be a comprehensive study of the sustainability of poultry manure integrated into a system using best management practices.”
The study LAIYERS includes 27 plots with a range of different applications using strip-till (including cover crops), splitting urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer and leveraging varied manure application timings. There is an emphasis on not increasing
phosphorus levels but rather improving soil health. Researchers also want to determine if improved soil health management can mitigate the adverse effects of too little or too much water through extreme weather events and conditions. “We are hoping to show there are benefits to the environment from a carbon perspective by using these management practices,” Soupir says. “We also want to demonstrate how we can manage these integrated systems to benefit both the plants and the ag economy.”
Additional UAN applications
Cover crops
Manure applications in the late fall to early winter are most common due to convenience. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of spring manure applications by applying the nutrients when the plants can most benefit. A large part of the study is also understanding how manure mineralizes and becomes available to the plant. During this process, there is also an increased risk of manure leaching into drainage water, making risk assessment and management key priorities, Soupir says.
Soupir hopes the research will guide producers on best practices for integrating cover crops with manure. “The cover crops can pick up the nutrients when we normally have bare soils, and we are trying to figure out when we can get the best cover crops to enrich the soil and protect the tile water,” she adds. “And when the cover crops are terminated, how can we make sure there are sufficient nutrients when the crops need them and minimize the losses when there isn’t any uptake by the crop?”
The study also includes splitting the UAN application using a sidedress application in the spring. “We are trying to look at some conservative systems that should be good for plant growth and development, and water quality. We will be working to give some confidence on how manure applications can work in this system and provide sufficient nutrients,” says Soupir.
Nutrient availability
“If we can better understand when manure nutrients are available, it can also help us understand when to apply manure,” she adds.
Investing in research Iowa Soybean Association farmer-members are interested in research, especially practical on-farm research such as LAIYERS, which focuses on the profitable production of high-quality soybeans under optimized manure management systems. That’s why it made sense to invest in the study, says Ed Anderson, ISA’s senior director of research. “Soybean checkoff-funded research focuses on basic and applied science,” says Anderson. “This also includes breeding and agritechnologies to develop soybean genetics and cropping systems for optimizing integrated livestock and row cropping under changing climate and weather conditions. Michelle’s work complements these studies as an interesting on-farm field plot agronomic study.” Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com.
“ I f we can better understand when manure nutrients are available, it can also help us understand when to apply manure.” — Michelle Soupir
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Ripples of Progress ACWA highlights growth in report BY JEFF HUTTON
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he power of water, its relationship to Iowa’s ag landscape, locations downstream and the conservation efforts to protect this natural resource, continues to be the focus of Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA). ACWA recently released its 2021 Annual Report citing “considerable growth over the past year. In addition to expanding statewide, ACWA increased water monitoring and strategically placed conservation agronomists as they work to evolve Iowa farmland for improved water quality while also “restructuring internally to enhance the return-on-investment to its members and to attract new members.” ACWA Executive Director Roger Wolf says he is pleased with the efforts and progress demonstrated in the report. “It’s a direct result of the members
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investing time and energy figuring out how we address those barriers in agriculture,” Wolf says.
temperatures are 50 degrees and trending lower). •
82% utilized the Iowa State University NPK Knowledge website, tracking soil temperatures.
•
40 edge-of-field practices enrolled in cost-share programs.
•
245,000+ pounds of nitrogen loss reduced.
Innovate & Sustain In 2021, ACWA completed its strategic plan. As part of the planning process, three Core Pillars were established: Leader & Advocate, Innovate & Sustain and Science to Solutions. Within the pillar framework, ACWA cites advancements in increased conservation practices, including farmer outreach, improved nutrient management and more. Among the results: •
100% of members reported implementing the ACWA’s Code of Practice requirements (e.g., delaying fall anhydrous application without a nitrification inhibitor until soil
•
8,616 pounds of phosphorus loss reduced. “It’s exciting to look back,” says ACWA Board Treasurer Thomas Fawcett from Heartland Cooperative in West Des Moines. One of ACWA’s strengths this past year was 100% of members implementing ACWA’s Code of Practices methods, including “self-reporting and
ACWA Executive Director Roger Wolf says what makes the organization unique is the “horsepower” it has and the investment in connecting with farmers in the field. (Photo: Joseph Hopper/Iowa Soybean Association)
holding each other accountable to the best management practices” in assisting farmers, Fawcett says. The report highlights the efforts of its seven conservation agronomists in the state, as they aid farmers with planting, weed and pest management, and harvesting while stressing the importance of nutrient management, erosion control and building up soil health. Increasing the need for conservation agronomists to work parallel with sales agronomists has proven to be a successful component of ACWA’s mission. “The collaborative effort between the sales agronomist and conservation agronomist to develop best practices is key to protecting Iowa’s water resources while balancing the needs of farmers,” Fawcett says. ACWA leaders want to expand the Conservation Agronomist Network in the next fiscal year, citing it as one of the most valuable returns on investment for members. “Access to expertise and cost-sharing funding are keys to success for our farmers,” Fawcett says. “ACWA is good at bringing a network of ag retailers
together to support each other so we can support our growers in adopting conservation practices.” All these efforts will continue in the new work plan, Wolf agrees. “We intend to secure new ACWA members and expand our program’s offerings by growing support for conservation agronomists,” he says. “Our internal work groups provide a strong leadership voice as we implement the work plan and continue to evolve.”
Coming together The ACWA was established in 1999 by a group of fertilizer dealers brought together to discuss the high nitrate levels in the Raccoon River in western Iowa. Twenty-three years later, ACWA has grown in its efforts to not only find solutions to concerns related to the Raccoon and Des Moines River watersheds but also expand its focus on other areas of the state (Boone River, Cedar River, Skunk River and the South Fork of Crooked Creek, for example), while still working with farmers on their needs. “There are a lot of groups who are doing good things,” Wolf says. “What makes ACWA unique is the horsepower
it has and the investment in really connecting with its role with farmers in the field. ACWA is uniquely positioned to be that trusted resource for the farmer.” Whether it is the past year, the past two decades or looking into the future, Wolf says the annual report reflects positively on what ACWA has been doing and will continue to do: “It’s amplifying (ACWA’s) impact in terms of its footprint, helping retailers find a very specific role it plays in helping farmers improve water quality and soil health,” he says. “ACWA’s efforts could be very key to scaling up these practices across Iowa.” The progress made thus far is commensurate with the investments made, ACWA leaders agree. “We’ve proven so far that it’s vitally important for ag retail to be engaged with farmers regarding conservation,” says Fawcett. “What’s most exciting for me is that the engagement results in more value for farmers.” For more information about ACWA and to read the complete annual report, visit www.acwaiowa.com. Contact Jeff Hutton at jhutton@ iasoybeans.com.
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Green Marketplace Five questions to consider before cashing in on carbon credits BY BROCK JOHNSTON
Joe Winchell, a senior conservation agronomist for AgOutcomes, helps connect farmers to opportunities in carbon credits.
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armers are often called the original land stewards. As modern agriculture continues to evolve, Iowa farmers are at the forefront once again – improving efficiency in a sustainable, productive and profitable way. Exchanging carbon credits, or financial incentives for conservation practices yielding positive environmental outcomes like carbon sequestration, could be an added benefit to natural resource management. The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF), a partnership between ReHarvest Partners and AgOutcomes (an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) subsidiary), is one carbon program positioned to provide direct payments to farmers who implement new practices that enhance soil health and improve water quality. As one of Iowa’s 40,000 soybean farmers, could selling carbon credits help you reach your stewardship goals? To learn more about the emerging market of incentivized carbon reduction, Joe Winchell, senior conservation agronomist with AgOutcomes, answers five questions to consider before cashing in on carbon.
What is a carbon credit? Winchell: One carbon credit is equal to one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). The implementation of conservation
practices have the ability to sequester CO2e in the soil. The ultimate goal of these credits is to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, or to lower the carbon intensity score of products in the agricultural supply chain.
How does the enrollment process work? Winchell: First, the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund establishes outcome purchase agreements with customers. SWOF sells environmental credits purchased from farmers to beneficiaries, including public entities and corporations, seeking to offset emissions in their supply chain or improve water quality. To participate in a carbon program, farmers and landowners must enter some initial information to determine enrollment eligibility. The amount of land information needed upfront varies across carbon programs. With SWOF, farmers can access an online portal to enter baseline and future cropping system information, including field boundaries and past and proposed practice information. Next, SWOF participants must propose and be willing to adopt at least one new conservation practice to enroll acres. SWOF is not prescriptive about the conservation practice(s) a farmer chooses to implement. Typically, farmers are utilizing cover crops, no-till, reduced tillage or extended crop rotations. After signing a contract, SWOF
will provide payments to farmers based on the resulting environmental outcomes produced. Outcomes from implemented conservation practices are then measured, monitored and verified using USDA-approved models, remote sensing and sampling. Once verified, environmental outcomes are sold to outcome customers.
What do I need to qualify? Winchell: Aside from entering land and practice information, a few factors influence a farmers’ ability to enroll acres with SWOF. These include geographic region and compliance status of prospective acres. Farmers and landowners with acres located in 23 Iowa counties are currently eligible to participate in the program. These counties include Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Buchanan, Cedar, Dubuque, Grundy, Hamilton, Iowa, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Keokuk, Linn, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Muscatine, Poweshiek, Story, Tama, Wapello and Webster. As SWOF continues to scale the number of enrolled farmers and beneficiaries, the program is eyeing new areas in Iowa and throughout the country for expansion. In addition, proposed acres must be highly erodible land and wetlands compliant to qualify for enrollment. Acres currently enrolled in government cost share programs are not eligible for enrollment with SWOF.
The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund enrolled 120,000 acres of cropland in Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania in 2021. (Photo: Corey McKinney, Ag Outcomes) IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 29
What does a contract look like? Winchell: Contract length and payment vary across carbon programs. SWOF contracts currently run from the time of signing until June 1 of the following year. Farmers have the opportunity to re-enroll acres if they are willing to continue or add more practices. Participants will receive 50% of the payment based on estimated outcomes upon contract signing. The remaining half is paid once contract compliance has been verified. In 2021, participating farmers received an average payment of $31 per acre.
What sets SWOF apart from other carbon programs? Winchell: Unlike other programs, payments distributed to farmers by SWOF are based on the environmental outcomes produced, rather than the specific practices implemented. Because SWOF provides compensation to farmers for water quality improvements in addition to carbon (CO2e) outcomes, we are often paying farmers more when compared to other carbon programs. Using multiple conservation practices on your operation, such as planting cover crops alongside reduced tillage, will generate a larger number of environmental outcomes. Increasing the number of produced outcomes results in higher payment return.
From a technical assistance perspective, SWOF conservation agronomists are available to guide and provide resources for farmers during the practice implementation process.
Looking ahead Like many industries, agriculture is a carbon contributor. However, farmers continue to use methods to reduce their environmental footprint and enhance natural resources for future generations. While carbon programs may be a good fit for some, farmers should ask questions about how participation impacts their operations. To learn more, visit SWOF at theoutcomesfund.com. Contact Brock Johnston at bjohnston@iasoybeans.com.
In 2021, t h e So i l a n d Wa t e r Ou t c o m e s F u n d e n r o l e d 120, 0 00 a c r e s o f c r o p l a n d i n Il l i n o i s , Io w a , Ma r y l a n d , No r t h Ca r o l i n a , Oh i o a n d P e n s y l v a n i a . 2021 environmental outcomes on 120,000 acres: 111,500 metric tons of CO2e sequestered. 1.9 million pounds of nitrogen prevented from leaving enrolled fields. 112,400 pounds of phosphorous prevented from leaving enrolled fields.
SWOF participants must be willing to adopt at least one new conservation practice to enroll acres. (Photo: Corey McKinney, Ag Outcomes) 30 | JUNE 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
Rural Route 2 Editor’s Note by Bethany Baratta bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Growing Leaders
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hile visiting farmers during planting season, I was reminded again of your faith and optimism in those tiny seeds. You have an arsenal of information on which to base your planting decisions. You’ve participated in trials to see how the specific traits perform in your fields. In a sense, you train all year-round, prepared for this moment. Your moment. To plant your field. You express your faith and optimism by planting the seed – and with a wish and a prayer, maybe a nod to God, you’re on your way to the next field. Or to the next ‘season’ on your farm. Mother Nature can knock
it down in a swift derecho, but you do the things you can control to yield an exceptional crop. Participating in director elections is kind of like planting the seeds for the future. In this issue, you’ll learn more about the candidates vying for seats on the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) board of directors. Each of these candidates has stepped up to take the next step within the association. They understand challenges on the farm because they live and breathe it – just like you do. They have the traits to be successful on your board. Look at the candidates and get a sense of who
resonates with you. Which seeds would you like to plant within the board of directors? Who will yield the best results for you as a farmer and take the ISA ‘field’ to the next level? If you market at least 250 bushels of soybeans annually but haven’t received your ballot in the mail by July 15, call ISA at 515-2508640 to request one. I can’t wait to see who you select to represent you. I’ll be in the front row, cheering them on and watching them grow in the association. I, too, am interested in how they plant their seeds within ISA and how they’ll grow.
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