Iowa Soybean Review | December 2023 by Iowa Soybean Association

December 2023

Doing More With Data

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Board of Directors Paul Kassel, Spencer | D1 April Hemmes, Hampton | D2 Sam Showalter, Hampton | D2 Rick Juchems, Plainfield | D3 Marty Danzer, Carroll | D4 Corey Goodhue, Carlise | D5 Dave Struthers, Collins | D5 Robb Ewoldt, Davenport | D6 Dave Walton, Wilton | D6 Scot Bailey, Anita | D7 Lee Brooke, Clarinda | D7 Warren Bachman, Osceola | D8 Pat Swanson, Ottumwa | D9 Tim Bardole, Rippey | At-Large Aimee Bissell, Bedford | At-Large Sharon Chism, Huxley | At-Large American Soybean Association Board of Directors Steph Essick, Dickens Wayne Fredericks, Osage Morey Hill, Madrid Jeff Jorgenson, Sidney Pat Swanson, Ottumwa Dave Walton, Wilton United Soybean Board of Directors Tim Bardole, Rippey Robb Ewoldt, Davenport Lindsay Greiner, Keota April Hemmes, Hampton Brent Renner, Klemme Staff Credits Editor | Bethany Baratta CO of Strategy & Brand Management | Aaron Putze, APR Creative Design Coordinator | Susan Langman Photographer | Joclyn Bushman Writer | Jeff Hutton Writer | Kriss Nelson Communications Specialist | Joseph Hopper 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 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 two months 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.

DECEMBER 2023 | Vol. 36, No. 3

A Harvest Rescue Farm Rescue assists Wright County farmers during health crises.

Data Dilemma

A look at how farmers sort through the data and make it usable on their farm.

Using Data to Increase Prof itability and Productivity How do soybean planting dates affect yield? A look at yield and trial data with ISA RCFI Analytics and Insights Lead Matt Carroll.

Pest Control Checkoff-funded research examines genetic mutations in soybean aphids and impacts on insecticide use.

On the Cover: Robb Ewoldt, a farmer and past ISA president, on his farm during harvest near Davenport. In this issue, you’ll hear f rom farmers about how they’re using data to fine-tune management on their farms. IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 3

Resolve to be Involved Aaron Putze, APR ISA Chief Off icer, Strategy & Brand Management aputze@iasoybeans.com

“ You may delay, but time will not.” Benjamin Franklin

new year is knocking on your door. Sure, you can ignore the dropping of the ball in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. You can bypass the confetti, parties and party favors. You can even skip watching "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest" (can’t say I blame you) and be sound asleep before the clock strikes midnight. But you can’t ignore (or even delay) the passage of time. All of us are presented with an indefinite number of “new years.” Unknown to us is the amount of time we have with family, getting after it on the farm, being part of a team, going to work for an association, making an impact. Years (and days) are fleeting, as are the number of crops you plant and harvest. We’ve all mourned the loss of loved ones; my dad, Edward, passed in 2017. What if they could pay us a visit and speak with us now? What would be their perspective on making the most of the moment? What wisdom would they share about the passage of time? What would they do if they could do it all over again? My hunch is they would advise us not to squander a year, day, hour, or even a minute. They would encourage us to

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make the most of the opportunity each day offers. The laws of physics tell us a body in motion stays in motion. Conversely, a body at rest remains at rest. The soybean industry needs you to be a body in motion, engaging on issues impacting you, your family and neighbor. The issues are too important and the stakes too high to leave the effort to someone else. There’s no better time than 2024 to engage and make a difference. The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) can lend a hand. Perhaps it’s time to plant that cover crop, install a bioreactor or seed pollinator habitat — you know, those things you’ve been putting off “until next year.” Make 2024 the year you submit that ISA Advocate membership that’s been laying on your desk or say “yes” when called to participate in the ISA Experience Class or Communications Squad or run as a candidate for an ISA director seat. How about 2024 be the year you finally attend ISA’s annual legislative reception, to be held Tuesday, Jan. 30 (mark it on your calendar now!). After mingling with legislators, continue the conversation the next day with a visit to the statehouse and Iowa Ag Expo (tickets to the latter compliments of ISA).

If you think your involvement and actions don’t make a difference, please reconsider. Every conservation practice adds to your legacy by leaving our land and water better for future generations. Every agronomic research trial adds to the collective data collected by ISA. This enables the association to make more informed recommendations to farmers to reduce pests and disease and increase yields. Finally, every conversation with an elected leader is time well spent. Some “napkin math” done by ISA’s Sr. Director of Public Affairs Michael Dolch finds that just 4% of those serving in the U.S. Congress (and 18% of Iowa’s legislature) are directly involved in production agriculture. Providing first-hand perspectives of how the issues they debate impact the everyday lives of their constituents is powerful. It makes elected leaders more effective public servants and reinforces the need for reasonable and thoughtful policy. A new year is knocking on your door. Open it. To help make the most of it, send me a note at aputze@iasoybeans.com or give me a call at 515-975-4168.

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Rural Route 2 Editor’s Note by Bethany Baratta bbaratta@iasoybeans.com

The Greatest Gift

t’s not something you can buy online. You can’t wrap it up in shiny paper, attach a shiny bow and gift it for Christmas. This year, our family’s top gift comes in the form of our neighborhood. My family has been blessed with amazing neighbors our entire lives. I grew up knowing this, but it becomes especially evident when your family deals with what seems like months of recovery from a broken arm, hip surgery, and recently, a Guillain-Barré Syndrome diagnosis. As I write this in early November, my dad is still in inpatient rehabilitation at a hospital near my parents’ home. In a matter of about 20 hours, my dad went from showing me the cattle on the farm to weakness in his legs. Within a day, he couldn’t stand on his own two feet. After several tests, doctors confirmed GuillainBarré Syndrome, a rare disorder where the body’s immune system damages nerves. He spent several days in intensive care and is undergoing multiple weeks of intense physical and occupational therapy. He’s expected to make a complete recovery, though it could take up to a year for the nerves to be repaired. The days get long at the hospital, but he’s determined to get back to the farm. He continues to follow the livestock and crop markets (thank goodness for technology). As the saying goes, “You can take the farmer off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the farmer.”

A few close to our family know the details of the injuries and recovery. There have been offers to help with our livestock and crops. Neighbors and friends have dropped off meals, and cards of well wishes are stacked on a pile on the kitchen island and lining the windowsill of my dad’s hospital room. We’re grateful for the support of our friends and our community. While putting this issue together, I couldn’t help but think about the goodness of rural Iowa. It’s the way neighbors and friends are there to encourage each other following a diagnosis or crisis. It’s how farmers delay their own fieldwork to help neighbors in need. Would this happen anywhere else? It’s also the humbleness when deserving farm neighbors receive an award but don’t think they do anything differently than their farm neighbors. Yes, farmers argue that they don’t deserve accolades. It’s the genuine approach our neighbors — and so many across the state — take in caring for their farm neighbors. This Christmas, the greatest gift is our farm neighbors. That’s not something you can put in a box or a bag, or ship anywhere. It’s something you build, give, and receive yourself. Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope you all have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season.

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A Harvest

Farm Rescue assists Wright County farmers during health crises. Time was of the essence to bring in a drying soybean crop. Thanks to Farm Rescue, the soybeans were harvested in just the right time.

rant Woodley of Clarion began farming in 1997. As part of his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) for FFA, he rented 80 acres. It was then that he started his career in farming. Through college and marriage to his wife Nicole, the Woodleys’ farming operation grew with more acres and the addition of a hog barn. This year’s harvest was different. Woodley couldn’t be in the truck hauling his crop to market. Nor was he able to assist their longtime farming partners and neighbors, the Zwiefels, with their harvest. Instead, his days have been filled with therapy. Therapy to help him recover from brain abscesses and multiple neurosurgeries from a diagnosis he received in March. As if that wasn’t enough, Nicole was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer doctors suspect is a side effect of radiation treatments she received to combat breast cancer a decade ago.

Bringing in the harvest Realizing they couldn’t manage this year’s harvest on their own, the Woodleys turned to Farm Rescue, who brought in 10 | DECEMBER 2023 | IASOYBEANS.COM

the machinery and harvest crew to help harvest their 500 acres of soybeans. “Coordinating harvest is a lot even when you’re not sick, so for them to come do this is awesome,” says Grant, an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer-member. Farm Rescue’s mission is to help family farms and ranches bridge crises so they have an opportunity to continue viable operations. It’s available for various needs for farm and ranch families experiencing a major injury, illness or natural disaster. “It’s all about providing a hand up, not a handout,” says Dan Erdmann, Farm Rescue marketing program manager. “We do not give money away; we offer tangible field support to get farmers and ranchers through one season, to keep them going for the next season.” When it came time to harvest soybeans back in October, the Woodleys stood back, reflected on the past growing season and voiced their gratitude. “Their help has allowed us to rest,” says Nicole, adding the help has put them at ease. “It is one less thing keeping us up at night.”

BY KRISS NELSON

Farm partners Mark Zweifel’s combine ran sideby-side Farm Rescue’s combine in the Woodley’s soybean fields. The Woodley and Zweifel family partnership dates back four generations. “This is pretty humbling,” says Zweifel. “Grant and Nicole have been through a lot this summer. Farm Rescue has really come through; we would have gotten the harvest done, but time is of the essence, and we appreciate the help.” Everything has gone smoothly, and they are a great organization to work with.”

Asking for help Grant says he isn’t afraid to ask for help, but appreciates the encouragement he received from Bre Wagner, ISA producer services manager, Iowa Corn, and others who helped write and submit the application for assistance. “Our job on the producer services team at the Iowa Soybean Association is to assist farmers by connecting them to programming and resources that help them farm better and be more profitable,” says Wagner.

About Farm Rescue

Farm Rescue volunteers Derek Nord f rom Bondurant, Keith Barkema f rom Klemme, and Dan Erdmann, Farm Rescue marketing program manager, prepare for a day of harvesting soybeans in Wright County.

The Woodleys — parents, pastors and farmers — were sidelined with major health crises this year. Volunteers with Farm Rescue helped bring in the harvest.

“Our farmers are always top of mind in ways we can help them, and Farm Rescue was the support they needed during this time.” Bre Wagner, Iowa Soybean Association producer services manager

Typically, that is through an ISA program. This time, it wasn’t. “It’s what they needed,” Wagner says. “Our farmers are always top of mind in ways we can help them, and Farm Rescue was the support they needed during this time.”

It takes a village Farm Rescue depends on 200 to 300 volunteers each year. Since 2005, Farm Rescue has served more than 1,000 farm families in eight states. “It is an incredible team effort,” says Erdmann. “It is the ultimate ‘takes a village’ scenario. Our volunteers are boots on the ground, true heroes.” Keith Barkema, a retired farmer from Klemme, doesn’t see himself as a hero. He has volunteered with Farm Rescue for nearly a decade. “It’s good to give. We don’t get paid; we get rewarded,” says Barkema, a retired farmer from Klemme. Barkema was driving the Farm Rescue semi and grain trailer, hauling the Woodley’s soybean crop to the elevator.

Farm Rescue president and founder Bill Gross, a Boeing 747 aircraft captain, grew up on his family’s farm in North Dakota. His father’s concern about what would happen to their farm if something tragic happened never escaped his mind. Those fears made Gross decide he would one day be that good Samaritan — buying a tractor to help farm families in need. “That is the initial seed that planted Farm Rescue,” says Erdmann. Starting with just 10 cases in North Dakota, Gross soon realized this type of assistance was not an isolated need. Currently, Farm Rescue assists farmers and ranchers in eight states: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota and most recently, Illinois. The organization has built up a solid line of farm equipment through donations, capital campaigns and grants.

“It’s the hugs, the tears and the feeling you have when you finish up.” “These guys need help,” says Derek Nord, who was operating the Farm Rescue combine during harvest on the Woodley farm. “This is a speed bump that could transcend their farm for years.” A corporate John Deere employee from Bondurant, this was Nord’s first opportunity to volunteer with Farm Rescue. “Without Farm Rescue, this could be something they wouldn’t recover from. We aren’t just helping them this season; our assistance will help them for many years,” Nord says. “It takes an army, and we have one.” The Farm Rescue assistance was a blessing, says Grant and Nicole, who are both part-time pastors in the Lutheran Church ELCA. They are also parents to Dietrich, Samuel, Alyna, Junia and Andres. “It means the world,” says Nicole. “It’s been a tough year. This is amazing.” Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com

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Qualit y Vs. Quantit y

Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) employees David Kurth, research program coordinator; Josh McDanel, spatial data analyst and Craig Woods, research technician gather soybean and soil samples throughout the state. Getting a wide variety of samples could help determine if locations, weather or other factors affect soybean quality.

Using data to learn what affects soybean protein and oil content. BY KRISS NELSON

rowing a record 4.44 billion bushels of soybeans in 2021 proves U.S. farmers know how to produce a large

quantity of soybeans. But what do we know about raising a quality soybean that could help improve a farmer’s Return

on Investment (ROI)? To help answer this question, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and Kansas State University (KSU) began collaborating on a soybean quality sampling project. Since 2019, researchers have been working to improve the spatial knowledge of soybean protein and oil across Iowa and Kansas. The United Soybean Board (USB) and the North

Jack Cornell, USB director of sustainable supply

Yield has been the key driver of soybean production, and research like the soybean quality sampling program is investigating what management practices may influence the soybean’s ability to provide higher protein, amino acid, or oil content.

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Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) have helped fund the project. We asked ISA Spatial Data Analyst Josh McDanel about what the project means, and how the results will help drive profitability for Iowa’s soybean growers. The ISA already has numerous trials and projects, what makes this one different? The survey component is important. We don’t have a good baseline of the soybean protein and oil values across the state. This research is an interesting look behind the curtain to help understand what affects the production of a higher quality soybean in terms of protein and oil. Why is the soybean quality sampling project important to Iowa farmers? If producers do not have a contract to grow a specialty high protein or high oil soybean, they may not be financially recognized for the quality of soybean they are raising.

“We want to capture the value of U.S. soybeans that are sold globally. That value is not only for market demands, but for the good of the farmer as well,” says Jack Cornell, director of sustainable supply at USB. “We are working to highlight

our higher quality soybean to increase our marketability as soybeans are sold internationally, and we view quality as a high potential area for farmers to see enhanced profitability.”

Craig Woods, ISA research technician, probes for soil samples while ISA Research Program Coordinator David Kurth pulls samples of soybeans marked by the GPS location f rom Josh McDanel, ISA spatial data analyst.

We know protein is important for a better-quality soybean meal, and oil is important for the renewable fuels industry. If we can better market soybeans for those uses, it will be better for everyone. The survey could also give growers a better understanding of what to expect if they want to contract acres for raising a specialty soybean. What factors are being considered in this research? We are working to see if location, soil and other factors such as rainfall and temperatures have on the soybean’s protein and oil value. We also want to determine how a farmer’s management or program could also affect protein and oil. What qualifies a farmer’s field to be included in the soybean quality sampling program? The soybean quality sampling program is available to any Iowa soybean farmer interested in learning more about the soybeans they produce. In the 2023 growing season, 14 fields included in ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation’s (RCFI) strip trials were also incorporated in the soybean quality sampling program. The soybeans evaluated in the program were not high protein or high oil varieties. Nine areas in each field were sampled before harvest; three soil samples were also pulled from the field. As of press time, results from these fields were unknown.

Chris Gaesser, Lenox area farmer

Chris Gaesser, an ISA farmermember from Lenox, believes producing a higher quality soybean is the future. “We may come to a point where the quality of your soybeans turns into a premium or helps us out one way or another,” he says. Taking part in the soybean sampling quality program

In 2024, McDanel is looking forward to seeing if there is any relation between soybean planting rates and the protein and oil quality of the soybean. Participating farmers will receive their soil sample results and a report of the soybean oil and protein found in their nine samples. What tools are available to farmers to help predict potential profit? In addition to soybean sampling, another part of ISA’s participation in the program is the development of the Soybean Quality Economic Simulator. The simulator allows producers to see the potential economic return from protein premium payments based on soybean quality. Currently, the tool only has the protein component available, but the oil component is under development. What other tools could become available through the soybean quality sampling project? KSU is creating a spatial prediction model based on satellite imagery. Using soybean samples and various models during different growth stages, researchers are trying to predict soybean quality in fields before they are harvested. By being able to detect soybean quality before harvest, they think growers can make a better argument for premiums before taking their soybeans to market. Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com

revealed some interesting insights into his soybean crop. “We found that stressed soybeans or lower yielding soybeans tend to have a higher protein content,” he says. “We also found the greater the oil content, the lower the protein and vice versa.” The more farmers that participate in the soybean quality

sampling, the better, he says. “The more data sets we have, especially spread throughout different regions and weather conditions, help us learn,” he says. “The more you can see how that all affects oil and protein, if we ever get to where those numbers matter when we take it into town, we will be ahead of the curve.” IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 15

2023 in Review A snowy acreage nestled near Highlandville.

ISA Farmer-Member Mark Dobson often asks others, “Who are you farming for?” to help f rame the importance of conservation and management on the farm. He knows his answer: his family, including his son, Oliver.

A summer soybean f ield on the outskirts of Madrid.

ISA Director Aimee Bissell and dog Arrow on their farm near Bedford in early spring.

ISA Farmer-Member Marty Busch wrapping up his f inal soybean f ield for the season near Boone.

A John Deere 8120 during planting season in Webster County.

Iowa dairy influencer Dan Venteicher making the farmto-fork connection in his barn near Edgewood.

ISA farmer-member Randy Kroksh checks cattle with his dog Abbie near Akron.

Fourth generation farmer Steve McGrew stands for a portrait in his workshop near Emerson. McGrew was recognized as a member of Iowa's Front Forty for his utilization and promotion of innovative conservation methods.

DATA DILEMMA How much data is too much? BY BETHANY BARATTA

Completing soybean harvest on the Ewoldt farm near Davenport.

it in the driver’s seat during planting or harvest, and soon you’ll be inundated with data. You’ll not only see your speed across the field, but real-time planting or harvest conditions. “There’s a sensor for everything,” says Robb Ewoldt, a farmer near Davenport and a past Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) president. But what do farmers do with all that data? Probably not as much as they could, farmers say, because of the sheer amount of data to sift through. “We capture electronic data on our sprayer, our planters and our combine. We also capture it on our air seeder when we plant cover crops,” Ewoldt says.

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The International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that the average farmer generates 500,000 data points every day. Real-time data like seeding rates, planting depth, grain moisture and yield are the most used instantaneously, Ewoldt says, but there is some information stored for potential use later. On the sprayer, for example, Ewoldt uses the time and date stamp to prove he’s applying at the correct rate and in the correct conditions. The data is stored electronically and can be pulled should he ever be audited. With harvest data, he can determine how products such as fungicides, fertilizers and microbials performed during trials.

“It’s easy for me to capture data when we’re putting the product on, and then overlay the yield data at the end,” Ewoldt says.

Crop insurance reporting Precision data from the planter and combine can also be used to streamline crop insurance, says Pat Swanson, ISA board director and co-owner of Son Risk Management, a crop insurance agency in Ottumwa. “We encourage our farmers to use precision planting and harvest data,” Swanson says. “By using precision technology, the data can be used to report acres planted and production harvested.” As long as the combine has been calibrated and the correct

Quality in, quality out

Pat Swanson, ISA board director and co-owner of Son Risk Management

procedures have been followed, Risk Management Agency (RMA), which oversees the federal crop insurance program, recognizes the precision data for a claim situation without having to gather manual measurements or records, saving the farmer time, Swanson says. Crop insurance was the catalyst that encouraged Ewoldt to embrace precision data on his farm. He delighted in the fact that using precision data meant no longer having to keep three years’ worth of weigh slips or settlement sheets. “It’s an ease of mind for me,” Ewoldt says. “If I ever get audited for a claim, I can refer them to my agent, who has all of the data stored electronically.”

The data coming out of the many platforms available to farmers is only as good as the information inputted into the system, Ewoldt says. “The more time you spend in calibrating, I think, the truer reading you get of every acre,” he says. Swanson and her husband, Don, began working with Advanced Agrilytics Agronomy Sales Lead Brian Strasser this year to fine-tune the mapping of their acres. They drove around all the fields, documenting the perimeters, waterways and grass strips. “We don’t want to plant seeds or spray chemicals in our waterways or on our grass buffer strips. We are concerned about water quality and keeping our soil on our farm,” says Pat, who was recognized recently as a Front Forty Champion for her work in championing innovative conservation technologies. “The time spent mapping will save us money on seed and chemicals and helps us justify our precision equipment investment,” Swanson says. Having precision data is key to management, says Strasser, who works with farmers in southwest Iowa and northeast Missouri.

He works directly with farmers in various stages of data collection. Some, like the Swansons, have been using precision data for several years and want to fine-tune their mapping. Others aren’t as advanced. “When we go to the grower and they don’t have the data, we have to start on the journey of capturing the data so we can be more successful for them in the future,” says Strasser, a farmer and ISA member. Strasser works with customers to make recommendations about how they can improve water movement and nutrient absorption in their fields. Then, he helps connect them to the experts. “We’re trying to arm farmers for all weather environments,” Strasser says. “We’re talking about using the resources we already have available — water and nutrients, for example — in a very targeted, smart and educated way.”

Improving business While the harvest map is essentially the report card of the growing season, the data surrounding the growing season helps farmers make decisions. Planter data provides insights on planting conditions and varieties. And, because Ewoldt also uses the Continued on Pg. 20.

Ewoldt says advances in technology and detailed data help him make management decisions on the farm.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 19

Brian Strasser, agronomy sales lead for southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri for Advanced Agrilytics

planter to apply fertilizer, the data also informs about various rates of fertilizer applications. Data from the strip-till bars also help make future field management decisions. But what does the future of data collection and usage look like? IDC estimates the amount of data collected daily will increase 800% by 2036, driven by the increase of sensors and other technologies. That’s where Ewoldt thinks Artificial intelligence, or AI, will play a role. “There’s probably something we’re capturing that we haven’t been able to

find a correlation to something else,” says Ewoldt, who hires someone to synthesize the data points his numerous systems capture. “When you look at the amount of data captured, there’s no way any human can look over it and utilize it all at this point. Maybe AI will go to the next level; knowing soil temperature, moisture levels and all the other data points, it will suggest how we can tweak our management and provide the recipe for a perfect crop.” Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com

Sons Alex and Isaac help f inish harvest on the farm.

YOUR TURN: How do you manage your data? What’s your most important data point? Email me at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com or call me at 515-334-1020.

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unitedsoybean.org

HELPING YOU DELIVER ON DEMAND

Whether it’s improving soybean meal to outperform the competition or promoting the sustainability of U.S. soy, the soy checkoff has been working behind the scenes to help farmers satisfy their customers’ needs. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And for U.S. soybean farmers like you, the impact is invaluable. See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for farmers at unitedsoybean.org

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 21

Using Data to Increase On-Farm Productivity and Profitability Matt Carroll ISA RCFI Analytics and Insights Lead mcarroll@iasoybeans.com

for Profitable Soybean Management Systems” in 2019. Researchers used an online survey to ask farmers across the Midwest about their management practices for soybean fields, and the corresponding yields for each field. The management data received from this survey work was inputted into a machine learning algorithm to make region-specific management recommendations. The researchers found that the two most important variables that predicted yield were planting date and latitude. As a grower, you can change your planting date, but unless you plan to move your farm, latitude is something we cannot control. Other important variables were soybean maturity groups and applying a foliar fungicide and insecticide. The

algorithm recommendations varied by state, but all scenarios recommended planting soybeans earlier. In Iowa, the additional recommendations were to plant a later maturity group, preferably 3.6 or greater, apply a foliar fungicide and insecticide and have a planting population of 130,000 seeds per acre.

On-farm trials In 2021, ISA put the algorithm to the test with farmer-cooperators in nine locations throughout the state. We tested fields with four treatments: early maturity and early planting, early maturity and late planting, late maturity and early planting, and late maturity and late planting. Across all sites, late maturity with an early planting date was a

Yield

ecember is a great time to reflect on what went well the past year, and what can be improved in the year ahead. As you think about making your game plan for 2024, I encourage you to consider soybean planting dates and relative maturities that are right for your farm. Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) invests checkoff dollars each year to help fund the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) to help increase collaborative research across the north central soybean growing states. ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) also collaborates with many of these researchers to help validate on-farm trials. University of Wisconsin researchers started working on the project “Using Data-Driven Knowledge

EarlyRM_EarlyPlant

LateRM_EarlyPlant

EarlyRM_LatePlant

LateRM_LatePlant

Trials with different letters were statistically different nine out of 10 times. The grouping letter “a” represents the top-performing yield treatment at each location. Using a later maturing variety and earlier planting dates showed no yield loss and yield gain in many locations compared to other treatment combinations. 22 | DECEMBER 2023 | IASOYBEANS.COM

top-performing treatment. When the analysis was combined across all locations, early planted beans with a later maturity were significantly different, with an average yield of 81 bushels per acre — beating the next closest treatment of early maturity with late planting by five bushels an acre.

Late maturity varieties We see similar trends when we break this down by just relative maturity and planting date; seven of the nine sites saw benefits from using a later maturity variety. There did not appear to be any additional benefit based on latitude of the trial locations. Across all locations, the late maturity groups averaged 79 bushels per acre,

and the early maturing varieties averaged 70 bushels per acre. Planting date had a slightly different trend, with no counties in northern Iowa seeing a yield benefit from early planting. Four of the nine sites saw a benefit to earlier planting dates, with these sites being in central and southern Iowa. Across all locations, there was a significant effect of planting date with an average yield of 76 bushels per acre for early planted beans and 73 bushels for late planted. Interestingly, what was found to be the most significant factor to increase yield in this trial was planting longer maturity varieties regardless of location across the state. The key

takeaway that I would stress is that the improved system never lost yield for farmers and has a lot of potential upside, with an average yield gain of 5 bushels an acre.

Conclusions In addition to this study, we looked at 239 soybean on-farm research trials from 2013 to 2022. What we found agreed with the metaanalysis from Wisconsin. Planting earlier provides a yield advantage across the state. Interestingly, when we break this down by landform region, most of the areas of the state see this response, but in Northwest Iowa, growers may want to consider not pushing early planting dates.

Yield

Planting Date and Yield In Soybean 2013-2022

The x-axis shows the week a trial was planted, with the 16th week of the year being around April 15. The numbers above each bar represent the number of trials for each data point.

HAVE A TRIAL OR A PROJECT YOU’RE INTERESTED IN? We can potentially explore it as a topic in a future issue. Better yet, we’ll connect you with your local expert so you can implement a trial on your farm. 515-251-8640

JMCCLURE@IASOYBEANS.COM

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ASA/WISHH’s global aquaculture strategy is feeding fish and helping fill the growing demand for aquaculture professionals in sub-Saharan Africa. Scan the QR code to read the rest of the story.

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Trial offers opportunity to reduce input costs and improve nitrogen efficiency. BY KRISS NELSON

hat's the official recommendation and ideal rates for nitrogen application? That's the million- or billion-dollar question. To help farmers understand where nitrogen is best placed and at the best rate, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) partnered with Iowa State University (ISU) to conduct the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative trial, and farmers can be a part of the trial. There are no restrictions on management practices. The only requirements are yield maps from previous years, a calibrated yield monitor and access to equipment that can apply nitrogen at variable rates across the field. Two block trials are placed in a field, and, considering past yield maps, trials will be put in consistently higher and lower-yielding field areas. Five different nitrogen treatments will be within the block, all put on by a prescription. “It’s an easy trial to participate in provided you have the technology,” says ISA Research Agronomist Alex Schaffer. ISA will use its network of research and conservation agronomists to help recruit farmers. “Our goal is to increase recruitment with the Iowa Soybean Association being the single point of contact for the farmer,” says ISA Director of Research Joe McClure. “We will gather their information, partner with Iowa State University for the nitrogen prescription, and deliver the prescription and results back to the farmer.”

At this Fayette County farm, the lighter-colored portions of the f ield are where little or no nitrogen was applied. (Photo credit: Iowa Nitrogen Initiative)

About the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative The goal is to collect hundreds of locations of five-rate nitrogen trials implemented via variable rate technology to improve the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) tool and support various crop modeling and predictive models to improve farm profitability and nitrogen use efficiency. According to ISU, the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative is helping to develop three decision-making tools: 1. Updated and more dynamic benchmark recommendations for nitrogen rates will account for differences in genetics, soil, management and weather. Farmers can also see anonymized data from trials to see the realworld outcomes of various rates and practices. 2. Forecasting will estimate ideal rates based on current and near-term predictions for soil and weather conditions. 3. Hindcasting will help farmers look back at a prior growing year to explore how their crop’s nitrogen needs would have changed if they’d done things differently, from planting a different hybrid to applying it at a different time. “We are not necessarily cutting back nitrogen rates, just working on what is best,” says Schaffer. “We want to look at management practices and dial in that rate up or down to maximize the farmer’s return.” For more information, email Schaffer at aschaffer@iasoybeans.com or call 815-274-2998. Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 25

Numbers offer a baseline for farmers. BY JEFF HUTTON

he rock ’n roll group Talking Heads once sang “Facts all come with points of view; facts don’t do what I want them to.” The same could be said for data — those facts and statistics compiled for analysis. But data out in the farm fields are a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to profitability and production success.

An opportunity for farmers Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Conservation Agronomist Evan Brehm says data will always be a key component to those who make their living in the soybean fields of Iowa. “Data from an agronomist perspective is very valuable in understanding what’s going on in the field,” he says. “Whether it’s the variety of seed, yields, nitrogen levels, water quality testing to see how we manage nitrogen run-off, data has meaning.” For Brehm, data means an opportunity for farmers. “It’s the bulk of how we can make agronomic decisions for farmers,” he says. “It helps with the overall return on investment and helps us continue to

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grow high-yield crops and make good agronomic decisions.” Whether it’s soil testing, checking for moisture run-off, cover crop trials or input sources, gathering data is paramount in making decisions that will hopefully have a positive impact on a farmer’s bottom line. “The more data, the more years of information, the better,” Brehm says. “We base our findings on research whether it’s from an association like ISA, university studies or other reputable sources, so we can compare it to what’s going on in the field.” Soil testing, for example, is reliant on good data. “How much fertilizer, weather, the overall environment; what does that mean for that farmer and his fields?” he says. “Data helps us with recommendations so we can focus on the farmer’s goals.” But data is not equal. Every farmer and every field are different. “Data should not be a blanket approach,” Brehm says.

Interpretation That also means data is not foolproof. It’s important to note that a farmer

and his or her agronomist can have many years’ worth of data and the forecast projects a bumper crop. Throw in unpredictable weather like extreme heat and a lack of moisture, and those yield numbers might plummet. “Year to year, it can definitely vary, but it’s still important to have that baseline,” Brehm says. “Every year it can fluctuate, but farmers understand that.” Brehm says he starts with the data, no matter if he’s working with a farmer, a cooperative, other ag retailers or processors. “It’s a starting point,” he says. “Seed selection, nitrate levels, herbicides and pesticides, best usage — I’m mindful, even empathetic in what I share. You have to know your audience.” But data can be interpreted differently by different people. “Things can be taken out of context pretty quickly,” says Brehm. Having qualified people advocating for agriculture and conservation, in-field management, markets and continuing to relay those critical numbers properly is important. “I’ve presented data to mixed audiences — non-farm and farmers — keeping those facts straight and explaining what the data means.”

Osceola area farmer Matt Diehl says data plays an important role in his farming operation. The data he’s gathered over the past 2-3 years and used to improve his farming operation on everything from seed to cover crops has resulted in “phenomenal yields.” ISA District 4 Director Marty Danzer says implementing data is critical to his Carroll County farm. “We use technology through our local co-op,” he says. “It helps us with our fertilizer needs and our corn and soybean hybrids to adapt to different soil types.”

When he was farming 40 years ago, Danzer says data was a foreign concept. “There was no data,” he laughs. “Everything we did was written out on a piece of paper; everything was done by hand.” But technology and the recognition today that data has an important role to play in everything from seed selection, herbicides, manure usage and more, means success in the future. “Every year is different, but the data we collect basically gives you a guideline to follow,” Danzer says.

Return on investment The bottom line when it comes to making decisions based on data is that it also has to make economic sense. “Regardless of what the data indicates, farming is a business,” Brehm says. “If they’re not making money, they’re not going to stay in business. “I would rather be more profitable on 300 acres than farm 3,000 acres and barely make it — that’s where data can come into play.” Contact Jeff Hutton at jhutton@iasoybeans.com

“ E very year is different, but the data we collect basically gives you a guideline to follow.” Marty Danzer, ISA district 4 director

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 27

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recognized Steve and Linda Dolch and their family with the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award. Photo by Joe Hopper.

Cattle, Crops and COMMUNITY Dolch family recognized as Good Farm Neighbors. BY BETHANY BARATTA

hen handed the microphone to provide an acceptance speech, Steve Dolch didn’t use it to lecture about how a simple handshake and honoring your commitment could make the world a better place. Instead, flanked by his wife Linda and their family, he went on to recognize those who have helped the family throughout the years. It was the family’s day to celebrate the recognition — they were named the most recent Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award recipients. Presented by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF), the award recognizes livestock farm families in

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the state who go above and beyond to care for their livestock, their farms and their communities. The 178th family to receive the award in nearly 20 years, the Dolch family humbly accepted the accolades. “I’m humbled and honored to be selected,” Steve, an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer-member said in a post-event interview. And again, when given a chance to brag about the ways they care for their Angus cattle or the numerous conservation practices in place on the farm, the conversation reflected on those who have helped the family along the way.

When asked about what it means to be a good neighbor, Steve told the story about when his father needed life-saving blood donations. Steve reflected on the goodness of others who rolled up their sleeves to donate blood not just for his father, but for others in need. It inspired Steve — who once grimaced at the idea of donating blood — to roll up his sleeves. His father has since passed away, but the goodness of others remains with Steve. He’s now donated more than five gallons.

No joke Steve and his brother, Vince, created the farm partnership on April

Fools’ Day in 1972, but the care the family takes of their cattle, their land, and their community is anything but a joke. They were named Farm Family of the Year for Montgomery County in 2019, they’ve volunteered for 28 years at the Cattleman’s Beef Quarters at the Iowa State Fair, and the family is the only family in Iowa with four siblings (Matthew, Michael, Marshall and Mikayla) who have all held state FFA offices. Now, they’re the second family in Montgomery County to have been recognized as Good Farm Neighbor recipients. “It’s an honor for us to recognize livestock families like the Dolch family who go above and beyond every day with their land and livestock in their communities,” says CSIF Executive Director Brian Waddingham. In addition to honoring farm families through this award, CSIF, with support from industry partners — including ISA — also helps farmers navigate various opportunities and obstacles in today’s farming climate. From enhancing neighbor relations to guiding farmers through the 250 pages of rules and regulations that

apply to livestock farming today, the coalition is the go-to when it comes to growing a livestock farm and helping farmers welcome the next generation into the operation.

‘It takes the farmers’ There’s no doubt Steve and Linda were honored to be nominated for their award by Bryon Weesner, who was a member of the Iowa FFA Alumni Board with Steve. “They’re people that give back with their time, talent and energy,” says Weesner. “That’s something I’ve appreciated about Steve and the Dolch family. If you’re going to be a farm neighbor, you want those kinds of people around you.” Steve and Linda are also proud that their sons and daughter remain closely connected to the farm and agriculture through their various occupations. “They’ve always been very involved in the farming operation — from helping their dad with chores to picking up apples in the backyard to fence repair,” says Linda, a retired teacher of 37 years. “We also have to give a lot of credit to the FFA organization, which has provided a tremendous increase in their potential.”

Outside of the farm, being a part of committees, organizations and associations like the Iowa Soybean Association are also important, Steve says. “People don’t realize that food comes from other sources than the grocery store,” he says, mentioning the importance of getting back to the basics when it comes to talking about agriculture. “They get the milk from the cooler, the ice cream from the freezer and the bread from the bakery rack, but it takes the farmers throughout this great country to do that.”

Deeply rooted In recognition of this award, Alex Frazier, co-owner of Frazier Nursery in Vinton, presented the Dolch family with a bur oak tree (the official tree of the State of Iowa) to plant on their farm. “We hope this tree is not only a deserving trophy, but a reminder of being good farm neighbors,” Frazier says. “We feel like this tree has the characteristics of an Iowa farmer: It isn’t a showy tree, but it’s one that’s going to be around for a while.” Contact Bethany Baratta at bbaratta@iasoybeans.com

Know of a livestock farmer who exemplifies the characteristics of a Good Farm Neighbor Award winner? Scan the code to nominate.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 29

Genetic tools could identify pyrethroid-resistant aphids and restore susceptibility. BY LAURA TEMPLE, SOYBEAN RESEARCH & INFORMATION NETWORK

oybean aphids, like many pests, are developing resistance to primary control options. Researchers have confirmed that populations in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa have become less susceptible to pyrethroid insecticides. To better understand this threat, Matt O’Neal, professor of entomology at Iowa State University, collaborated with colleagues and students to apply genetic tools to this challenge. His efforts build on earlier research funded by the soy checkoff, and the Iowa Soybean Association is funding this research.

30 | DECEMBER 2023 | IASOYBEANS.COM

“Aphid populations were low in the northern third of Iowa where we collected samples in 2021 and 2022, but our observations suggest that they increased following a foliar insecticide,” says O’Neal. “Populations were below treatment thresholds, so there was little risk of yield loss from the aphids. But this insecticide application increased the risk of resistant aphids spreading, making a bad situation worse.” Economic research funded by the North Central Soybean Research Program explored the

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r t o n o C l t s e P

cost of pyrethroid-resistant aphids. In the long run, applying a preventative insecticide could be more costly than not spraying. “Because pyrethroids cost less than other insecticides, switching to another chemical too soon will cost farmers,” he explains. “But, if farmers don’t switch modes of action when pyrethroid resistance appears, they could lose 25-45% in soybean yield to an outbreak of resistant aphids.” The goal of his research is to help farmers figure out when aphids in their fields carry insecticide resistance. As the work has progressed, his team is also exploring ways to maintain the effectiveness of pyrethroids, the most cost-efficient chemical control option.

Finding resistant aphids How do farmers know if pyrethroid-resistant aphids infest their soybeans? Answers lie in their genetics. “Building on work funded by the soy checkoff to sequence the soybean aphid genome, we’ve identified four genetic mutations in soybean aphids that explain pyrethroid resistance in aphids,” O’Neal reports. His team worked with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research geneticist Brad Coates, Ph.D., to develop a probe to test if aphids carry those mutations. While they have successfully identified mutant aphids from samples in the lab and field, they hope to come up with a more rapid option. The ultimate goal is to provide a simple in-field test farmers or crop scouts can conduct easily. Detecting the prevalence of resistance would support their decision-making process for applying — or not applying — insecticides.

“We’ve found that refining this test is complicated because aphids may have multiple mutations,” he says. “Once we refine the test for in-field use, we will look for an industry partner interested in making such a test available to farmers.”

Restoring pyrethroid susceptibility Coates also shared interference RNA tools, or RNAi, with O’Neal’s team. RNAi essentially silences specific genes, and the technology has been used against other damaging insects, like corn rootworm. “With RNAi, we are exploring if we can make pyrethroid-resistant aphids susceptible to those insecticides again,” O’Neal explains. “If we add RNAi that silences the genes carrying mutations to a pyrethroid insecticide, the hope is to control both susceptible and resistant aphids.” He says preliminary data shows that this approach has potential. Using RNAi could also prevent further insecticide resistance from developing. “We are trying to tackle a difficult problem, since pyrethroids are the cheapest option we have not just for aphid control, but for broad-spectrum insect control,” he says. “RNAi may help preserve the tools we have.” He believes this approach could apply to pests beyond the soybean aphid. Results from this collaborative research could inform future research for managing the long list of insects that have become resistant to insecticides. Learn more about this project and others at soybeanresearchinfo.com.

IOWA SOYBEAN REVIEW® | 31

WE INVENTED SHORT-STATURE CORN. THEN, WE PERFECTED IT.

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Iowa Soybean Review | December 2023

Articles inside

Pest Control

Cattle, Crops and Community

The Details are in the Data

Precise Nitrogen Management

Using Data to Increase On-Farm Productivity and Profitability

Data Dilemma

Quality Vs. Quantity

A Harvest Rescue

Rural Route 2

Resolve to be Involved