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Introducing: The ISA Research Agronomy Team
Helping Iowa soybean farmers advance toward their productivity, profitability and sustainability goals
BY KRISS NELSON
How can farmers enhance productivity, efficiency and profitability in the field while also ensuring sustainability for the future?
Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) research agronomists conduct coordinated, statewide on-farm trials that generate valuable insights that are shared with Iowa farmers. They are also available as trusted, unbiased advisors to farmers.
“We aim to be a valuable resource for farmers to experiment with new ideas and seek our advice. We want to be an additional tool in the farmer’s decision-making process, helping them determine if a particular practice is worth trying out or beneficial for their needs,” says Alex Litvin, Ph.D, ISA research agronomy lead.
Bring experience to the field
RCFI’s team of research agronomists has decades of combined experience, earned through various education and involvement in the agricultural industry.
Coming from various industries, such as manufacturing, farming, seed science, chemical application, controlled environment agriculture or breeding, these fields allow them to use their expertise and provide sound advice for farmers.
“Those who have worked in sales know the products currently on the market and know if they are worth trying,” says Litvin. “The academic focus in agronomy allows them to bring that master’s degree of what is going on out in the field and how to be good researchers and distill through the litany of information that exists and help farmers.”
The ISA research agronomy team comes together as a group to tackle issues, leveraging their diverse perspectives to develop effective solutions.
“Our team is here to make farmers' lives better,” says Litvin. “We focus on projects that are geared toward that idea on how to become more productive, profitable and sustainable.”
Meet the ISA Research Agronomists
SHANE BECK
What experience do you bring as a research agronomist?
My previous experience in seed and herbicide research, focusing on corn and soybeans, has provided me with a strong background in conducting research and a deep understanding of the role herbicides play in a farmer’s operation.
What can you offer Iowa soybean farmers?
I can offer an independent knowledge base. Farmers can rely on my opinions and not worry I am trying to sell them a product or practice.
I welcome questions or feedback from farmers. If I do not have the answer, I can help find it. I want to hear their thoughts on designing on-farm research trials, which I can assist with and help them analyze the data.
What are some goals you would like to achieve in your district?
I would like to engage more farmers with on-farm research and earn their trust to be the advisor they can call on with questions or needs. If they have any pains in their operation and they would like to do a trial, we can talk that over and get it set up.
DREW CLEMMENSEN
What experience do you bring as a research agronomist?
My years of experience have helped me learn the value of research and different viewpoints outside of a sales role. I can be unbiased with my thoughts, viewpoints and recommendations. That all becomes relevant when I put myself in the farmer’s shoes and try to make a decision like I have invested a portion into that crop. My advice does not attempt to sell something; it is an honest evaluation.
What can you offer Iowa soybean farmers?
I can provide agronomic advice not only at a local level within my district but also from a broader perspective that isn’t limited to a specific geographic area or a small number of trials. My insights are based on information and data from trials conducted across multiple locations.
What are some goals you would like to achieve in your district?
I would like to have a more visible presence and be more engaged with the farmers in my area. I want to reach out to more farmers across my territory and get them involved in the research we are conducting. They may not participate in the trials themselves, but they can use the information to make their own decisions.
MIKAELA CONNELLY
What experience do you bring as a research agronomist?
I recently graduated from Kansas State with a master’s in agronomy. Throughout that period, I gained experience in diverse cropping systems, with my thesis focusing on conservation tillage.
What can you offer Iowa soybean farmers?
If farmers are interested in learning more about switching from conventional tillage to no-till or strip-till, I can assist them with that. The same goes for cover crops. If there is a practice or research trial they would like to implement, or if they have a willingness to try new things, I am here to help.
What are some goals you would like to achieve in your district?
With livestock production being prominent in my region, I’m interested in working with farmers to integrate grazing cover crops. I aim to further boost engagement with farmers.
LUCAS DE BRUIN
What experience do you bring as a research agronomist?
Before joining ISA, I served as a crop specialist for a local cooperative. I have experience working with farmers on the retail ag side of the industry and am also a farmer. I strive to make logical decisions for my farmers and wouldn’t recommend anything I wouldn’t try on my farm.
What can you offer Iowa soybean farmers?
I am well experienced with raising cover crops and practicing no-till. If a farmer has questions on those conservation practices or is seeking other agronomic advice, I can help navigate through those questions. If I don’t have the answer, I will help find it. I use resources and expertise at ISA and other relationships I have built within the ag industry.
What are some goals you would like to achieve in your district?
I am working to get to know and engage with more farmers in my area to build trust as an advisor to them. My goal when I visit farmers is to help improve their farms and provide them with helpful answers.
Alex Schaffer
What experience do you bring as a research agronomist?
My experience in studying small plots and seeds enables me to conduct trials with our ISA farmermembers and achieve tangible outcomes. I enjoy collaborating with farmers and appreciate the connections I have with them.
What can you offer Iowa soybean farmers?
I can provide unbiased data on products and practices, inputs and relevant, timely information to the farmers. The trial opportunities are something that can contribute to their bottom line to help them be more profitable and efficient.
What are some goals you would like to achieve in your district?
I would like to increase farmer engagement in my area and provide professional, agronomic unbiased advice and results by following our mission of being productive, profitable and sustainable.
Engage with ISA through fall on-farm trials
The Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation is recruiting for fall trials.
Iowa Nitrogen Initiative
This trial is a partnership between ISA and Iowa State University. Participants gain a better understanding of nitrogen management, resulting in improved ROI for operations. This trial entails placing blocks of defined nitrogen rates between zero to 300 pounds per acre. Farmers opting to commit to a zerorate treatment receive monetary compensation.
Fertilizer ahead of soybeans
RCFI is starting a new trial studying the addition of fertilizer to soybeans.
“Normally, there is not much focus on adding fertilizer to soybeans. We have been so focused on bringing yields up in other areas, we are interested in seeing the effects of a fertilizer program on soybeans,” says Alex Litvin, Ph.D, ISA research agronomy lead.
Manure management
Manure is a byproduct of Iowa agriculture and a sustainable source for nitrogen if properly applied. This trial explores the precise application of manure to meet nutrient needs through sensorbased application.
Long-term cover crop trials
Implementing a cover crop program annually helps improve soil health and sustainability while providing farmers a way to familiarize themselves with and become successful in using cover crops.
This project provides either seeds and a payment of $500 or reimburses farmers in the form of a larger payment of $1,500 to assist in research into adoption and successful implementation.
Improved cropping systems
This trial takes a system approach to using blended cover crop species and management to improve soil health and crop productivity through increased water-holding capacity and nitrogen sequestration. Traditionally, Iowa farmers only use cereal rye as a cover crop. In this project, we explore using a blend of cover crops, with cereal rye making up about half of the total cover crop for soybean and being completely removed from the blend for corn years. Other cover crop species used in the blend include triticale, hairy vetch and camelina. Also evaluated is the use of nitrogen inhibitors. Two years of trial participation are required; farmers are compensated for their involvement.
Relay cropping
Relay cropping involves seeding soybeans early in the growing season, while the cereal rye is still in the vegetative growth stages. The soybeans grow with the rye, and when the rye reaches maturity, it is harvested above the canopy of soybeans. The soybeans then proceed to maturity, generating twograin crops.
The replicated strip trials aim to learn enough about relay crop planting to lay the groundwork for widespread adoption for Iowa farmers.
