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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
November 2024 | Vol. 38, No. 2
4
Mindset of Gratitude
No matter how small, celebrating achievements is crucial, says Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) CEO Kirk Leeds.
10 Evolution of Cooperatives
Learn more about a few Iowa cooperatives that connect sellers and buyers.
20 Water Monitoring Results
How practices and partnerships have proven to positively impact water quality.
30 Executive Committee Announced
Meet the ISA leaders named to the ISA Executive Committee.
On the Cover: Iowa Soybean Association Farmer Member Jason Nelson finishes harvesting a soybean field near Otho. In this issue, learn about an important link in Iowa’s supply chain: cooperatives. We explore how cooperatives have evolved in the state, and how their models seek to benefit farmers.
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.
Executive Insights
Kirk Leeds, ISA Chief Executive Officer kleeds@iasoybeans.com
Mindset of Gratitude
As we put the final touches on this year’s harvest, we look forward to spending time with friends and family over Thanksgiving and the opportunity it provides to reflect and appreciate the many blessings in our lives.
Cultivating a sense of gratitude can significantly impact our mindset and success. Amidst the ups and downs of agricultural life, giving thanks can help farmers stay positive, resilient and connected to their work.
It’s important to give thanks to the people who support you and your farm. This includes family, friends and the larger agricultural community. Whether it’s help during planting season or emotional support during tough times, recognizing this support can reinforce relationships. Expressing gratitude can be as simple as a heartfelt note, shared meal, or verbal acknowledgment.
Farmers have a unique relationship with the land. Appreciating the soil, seeds and harvest can deepen this connection. Giving thanks for our natural resources fosters a greater sense of responsibility and commitment to continuous improvement. A simple walk through the fields to reflect on the beauty of the land or the satisfaction of growing crops can spark gratitude for the hard work that goes into farming.
No matter how small, celebrating achievements is crucial. Whether it’s a successful planting day, timely rain, or a healthy crop, recognizing these moments can uplift spirits.
Challenges are a part of farming and offer valuable lessons. When setbacks occur — like a disappointing harvest or a difficult market — it can be easy to feel defeated. However, reflecting on what can be learned from these experiences is essential. Finding gratitude in the lessons learned can turn challenges into steppingstones for future success.
Finally, giving thanks is about hope. Recognizing past successes and support lays a foundation for optimism. As farmers look to the future, expressing gratitude for the possibilities ahead can inspire creativity and innovation. Setting new goals and imagining what can be achieved in the upcoming planting season fosters a positive outlook.
Your Iowa Soybean Association staff gives thanks as we wrap up a year-long celebration of the organization’s 60th anniversary. Farmers who came together in 1964 to create ISA saw the need to build demand for Iowa soybeans and increase production and profitability. They deserve our thanks as the soybean sector in Iowa has seen incredible growth and expansion.
As we navigate these difficult times, your ISA remains driven to deliver. Past challenges make us thankful to be involved in such an important industry and confident that better days will return.
Rural Route 2
Editor’s Note by Bethany Baratta bbaratta@iasoybeans.com
Thirty-Five Years and Counting
Rows of three-ring binders full of past issues of the Iowa Soybean Review line the shelves of an 8-foot metal cabinet in the basement of the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) headquarters in Ankeny.
Occasionally I’ll pull out an issue, revealing the history of the soybean industry in Iowa page by page. I’m especially nostalgic as ISA celebrates its 60th anniversary next month, and the Iowa Soybean Review marks 35 years this month.
Prior to writing this column, I read through the first issue in its entirety. I was reminded of the progression
of the industry, how seemingly ‘small’ steps have led to increased use of soybeans domestically and globally through oil and soybean meal, and how blessed I am to be in the front seat, witnessing this industry firsthand.
The cover of the November 1989 issue features ISA member Gerald Grant of Nevada. He’s standing in a field at dusk with harvest-ready soybeans all around him. A Case combine with its lights aglow is parked behind him. An accompanying caption suggests Iowa soybean production at 314 million bushels in 1989. Since then, through various practices and improved traits, Iowa soybean production reached 573 million bushels in 2023.
Within this first issue, there’s an announcement that Kirk Leeds of Stratford was hired as a central Iowa field representative. Kirk was named CEO in 1992, a title he still holds today. You’ll find his column on Page 4.
On Pages 15 and 16, newspaper publishers tout the quality of using soy-based ink. “The No. 1 complaint from people who read newspapers is one of soyoil ink’s major assets — ruboff. Soy ink tends to cling to the page rather than to readers’ hands,” the article notes. The Iowa Soybean Review is produced using soy-based ink.
Though the design, font type and size might be different than those magazines 35 years ago, our awardwinning publication stays true to its roots, outlined by then-ISA executive director Allen Johnson in his November 1989 column: “The Iowa Soybean Review magazine will cover all areas that impact on and are of interest to soybean farmers: domestic and international; promotion and development programs; research; Iowa and national legislative issues; ISA membership information; soybean education programs; and many other interest areas.”
That’s one constant you can count on in the next 35 years of the Iowa Soybean Review and the next 60 years of the Iowa Soybean Association.
Thank you for reading.
Through the soy checkoff, U.S. soybean farmers are investing in new production practices to continuously improve their sustainability while protecting the air, water and soil for generations to come.
The Evolution of Cooperatives
Cooperatives remain a vital link in Iowa farmer’s supply chain
BY KRISS NELSON
In Iowa, cooperatives are a vital part of the agricultural landscape.
“Cooperatives were created to provide services and competitive pricing to the people that would benefit from that — their farmermembers,” says Dave Holm, executive director of the Iowa Institute of Cooperatives. “That has not changed despite the evolution in the agricultural industry.”
Iowa Institute of Cooperatives: Guiding state cooperatives since 1951
The Iowa Institute of Cooperatives was organized in 1951 and operates under their mission of “enhancing member cooperative’s success.”
According to Holm, the institute helps its 155 members, comprising grain, electrical and credit union cooperatives through legislative lobbying and educational programming.
There are three cooperative statutes in Iowa that the Iowa Institute of Cooperatives works to ensure are up-to-date:
• Chapter 499: This chapter covers agricultural and utility cooperatives
• Chapter 501: This law provides the structure for “closed,” or “new generation” cooperatives owned by farmers
• Chapter 501a: This statute hybrid model allows outside investment into cooperatives
Protecting the Grain Indemnity Fund was a key priority for the Iowa Institute of Cooperatives during the 2024 legislative session, and this emphasis will persist in 2025, Holm says.
Educational programs are geared toward cooperative board members and staff, and they include business and leadership development.
Continued on Pg. 12.
Aerial view of Farmers Co-op Ottosen.
Farmers Co-op Ottosen: ‘Small but mighty’
Farmers Co-op Elevator in Ottosen formed in 1920 and has remained a single location for 124 years.
Jess Welter, an Ottosen farmer, serves as secretary on the board of directors for Farmers Co-op in Ottosen.
He describes the co-op as “small and mighty” and credits the loyalty from their patron and customer base and employees’ dedication as the driver behind the success.
“People have always told us that bigger is better, that we need to expand or that we should be bought out to survive and have more buying power, but that is not the case,” Welter says. He’s served on the elevator’s board since 2005.
“Ottosen elevator is my preferred choice not only because of its proximity to where I live but also because I prefer the personal touch, as the cooperative has managed to run a successful business without needing multiple elevator locations,” Welter says.
It’s the personal touch that’s been the mainstay for 124 years, says Kevin Walker, the co-op's general manager of Farmers Co-op Ottosen.
“We have a very loyal customer base that wants to do business with us because we have close relationships, and they know the people they are dealing with,” says Walker. “We have a long-tenured group of employees with low turnover. Also, we operate with an open-door policy; a customer can come in and speak to me without an appointment, and I know them, and they know me.”
In addition to operating a propane location in Algona, Walker emphasizes their commitment to identifying profitable niche markets for their company. This includes a handling agreement with Scoular, in which they load railcars with organic corn bound for the West Coast.
“Some of our competitors do not want to enter into some things we do because they (the niche markets) are not large enough to do so profitably,” says Walker.
For the past 15 years, Farmers Co-op Ottosen has been working to replace all the company’s fuel delivery trucks and custom application equipment with the latest technology. They are also upgrading their grain receiving facility.
Since 2010, Farmers Co-op Ottosen has constructed a new corn dryer, added
1.5 million bushels of new grain storage and increased their grain receiving capacity to 42,000 bushels per hour. Upgrades also include a new liquid fertilizer and chemical complex along with a 9,000-ton dry fertilizer plant.
Walker assures farmers that the Ottosen elevator will be available to assist them in challenging times.
“We will continue to offer our customers the personalized service they expect,” says Walker. “Along with providing our goods and services at the lowest cost we can, and paying the most we can for their grain and returning dividends to them.”
Continued on Pg. 14.
“The cooperative model is as it was intended to be. It's a marketing hub and enables the farmer to purchase products in volume, thereby taking advantage of better pricing — something we need now more than ever.”
Jess Welter, board member for Farmers Co-op Ottosen and area farmer
Kevin Walker, Farmers Co-op Ottosen general manager
Loading grain at the Ottosen Farmers Co-op.
A LOOK INTO THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT’S HISTORY
As farming became more mechanized and markets expanded, Iowa farmers began organizing cooperatives to reduce their dependencies on middlemen and secure better prices for their products.
Farmers with rail access constructed elevators in the mid- to late 1800s and eventually formed stock companies. These facilities were first built for the purpose of importing coal and lumber, and exporting livestock. These locations often included a grain elevator, marking the start of the grain industry.
Soon, farmers began feeling they were being taken advantage of, Holm says, and in 1922, the federal government passed the Capper-Volstead Act to give farmers the same right to bargain collectively as corporations without violating anti-trust laws.
This spurred the cooperative growth in Iowa.
“A private investor would not have the amount of infrastructure cooperatives have built in this state,” says Holm. “The modernized grain facilities, rail access, agricultural inputs; none of that would be here if it was not for the cooperative system.”
There were 710 cooperatives in Iowa by the late 1940s. Currently, Iowa is home to 42 grain cooperatives.
While the cooperative model continues to evolve, the connections between cooperatives and their members remain unchanged, Holm says.
“Cooperatives have a relationship with their members which is often generational and they want their members to succeed,” he says. “That is the reason cooperatives exist.”
Farmers Cooperative adds Farmers Elevator and Livestock Company in Boone and Jordan around 1970. West Central Cooperative Company and Farmers Cooperative Company would later merge to form Landus Cooperative in 2016.
Photo credit: NEW Cooperative
Photo credit: Landus
In 1978, NEW Cooperative expanded to include locations in Fort Dodge, Otho and Roelyn. The unification gave NEW flexibility to load unit trains on two railroads.
Landus serves more than 5,500 farmers across 34 states and 16 countries.
Landus: Focused on innovation
What began in 1888, with its earliest roots at Farmers Elevator and Livestock Company in Jordan, Landus now serves more than 5,500 farmers across 34 states and 16 countries.
“Over the years, dozens of elevators, grain companies, feed mills and suppliers, agronomy facilities and even a hardware store and energy company have merged, changed hands and banded together to remain relevant and strong in the global marketplace,” says Matt Carstens, president & CEO of Landus and Conduit. “At Landus, we support every link in the food chain, from seed to commodity, from product to feed and from cow to the kitchen table.”
Regardless of size, Carstens says Landus is committed to keeping the farmer at the center of everything.
“Everyone at Landus, including myself, are constantly listening to what matters most to farmers. Whether it be access to affordable healthcare, reliable logistics, competitive pricing or innovative solutions that can make their jobs easier and more efficient,” he says. Landus is dedicated to innovation and actively seeks new and creative solutions for the benefit of its farmers, he says.
Cooperatives were formed to help create value for their members. The initial focus was on grain shipping, sales, bulk pricing and chemicals.
“Today, we work to provide value in any way possible,” Carstens says. “From grain sales and chemicals to drones and the power of data to healthcare and e-commerce, we must keep the farmer at the center of everything we do. And that means we have to adjust to their needs and the problems they need help solving.”
An example of these innovations includes Landus Health and Conduit Health coverage; Landus Advantage, a new freight brokering division; Landus Energy, providing Landus farmers more efficient and cost effective ways to get fuel, gasoline and eventually adding propane, lubricants, DEF and other related products to fuel their operations; Conduit, a first-of-its-kind company that
combines the best elements of a farmerowned cooperative and a technology company and AcreEdge, a lineup of agronomy products created by Landus agronomists and scientists.
The cooperative, in partnership with Talus Renewables, recently began producing green ammonia using renewable energy to remove hydrocarbons from traditional anhydrous ammonia manufacturing processes. Talus Renewables will soon be in operation for the fall fertilizer season.
“This innovative processing makes farming more sustainable, economical and efficient,” says Carstens. “Utilizing existing equipment and methods, farmers will alter the carbon intensity score of their operations by switching to green ammonia.”
Carstens realizes if their farmers do not succeed, the cooperative does not succeed.
“Those are words we live by at Landus,” he says. “No matter what economic uncertainties lay ahead, we will listen to our farmers and work alongside them as we face it together. At the end of the day, we would not be where we are today without the hard work and dedication from our 5,500plus farmers across the nation.”
Matt Carstens, president & CEO of Landus and Conduit
NEW Cooperative: 51 years of serving their members
Fifty years ago, the idea of two local cooperatives merging was fresh. In 1973, a local cooperative with a 50-rail car capacity and another local cooperative with excess grain to market turned this idea into a reality. This venture was the beginning of NEW Cooperative. For more than 50 years, NEW Cooperative has stayed committed to farmers while being driven by its more than 12,000 members across 82 communities.
NEW Cooperative’s goal has since remained the same while evolving to ensure its customers and members have access to a sustainable rail market and markets beyond the rail.
“Since 1973, NEW Cooperative’s purpose has never wavered,” says Dan Dix, general manager of NEW Cooperative. “As times change, so do the needs of farmers. NEW Cooperative is devoted to evolving with them by providing the solutions they need in grain, agronomy, precision agriculture, energy and feed. By using leadingedge technologies and resources, we will continue to make their operations efficient and profitable.”
For NEW Cooperative, efficiency is a top priority when working toward strategically improving facilities so they can best serve members today and in the future, Dix says. Demand for additional agronomy and grain services
in the Churdan area has yielded in the construction of two buildings, which will hold 1.25 million bushels of soybeans and 2.75 million bushels of corn. Increased grain receipts and demand for agricultural services have led to other construction projects in Belmond,
Clearfield, Humeston and Osceola.
NEW Cooperative expanded its feed division by building the Pomeroy feed mill in 2017. Since then, NEW Cooperative built feed mills in Rowan and Cooper.
“It has been an exciting time of growth and opportunity for NEW Cooperative,” says Dix. “In the last ten years, NEW Cooperative has added 50 locations while also doubling in size over the last three years. While undergoing these changes, NEW Cooperative relied on its core
principles and mission, which it has always followed: to serve its members.”
NEW Cooperative is known as one of the first Iowa ag retailers to offer variable-rate fertilizer applications and continues to offer precision ag, data management and precision hardware services through their SOILMAP software.
“Helping our members get the most out of their crop input dollars is another principle that has never wavered,” says Dix. “Our agronomists and precision ag team are vital partners of our member’s operations. Reviewing crop input plans and assisting members in managing their farm’s data are just a few of the ways they help to maximize customer’s potential.”
Besides their grain and agronomy services, NEW Cooperative’s energy department has recently expanded. While previously meeting their member’s energy needs in northwest, north central, western and southern areas of the state, NEW Cooperative is now delivering their expanded propane and refined fuel energy services in Wright and Pocahontas Counties while establishing new services in Hamilton, Webster, Humboldt, Calhoun and Greene Counties.
Continued on Pg. 17.
With easy access to the railroad, grain moves by rail to various destinations.
Dan Dix, general manager NEW Cooperative
Photo credit : NE W C
PORT OF BLENCOE
Dubbed as a “gateway to the world market,” NEW Cooperative’s Port of Blencoe site is the cooperative’s only barge loading and unloading facility. Located halfway between Council Bluffs and Sioux City, the Port of Blencoe is the farthest stop north on the Missouri River and shifts high-volume freight from the road to the waterway.
The spring of 2021 marked the beginning of grain and fertilizer transportation to and from the port.
From an agronomy viewpoint, the Port of Blencoe puts NEW Cooperative in line to tap worldwide product availability and more attractive prices. In terms of grain marketing, farmers’ commodities can link to new destinations for increased market value.
The fertilizer storage building at the Port of Blencoe stores fertilizer for both wholesale and retail distribution and can hold 20,000 tons of product.
Besides fertilizer, the Port of Blencoe ships a variety of products including soybeans, soybean meal, corn and distillers dried grains.
The Port of Blencoe opens up market opportunities on Iowa's west coast.
AGP: Improving market opportunities for farmers
More than 40 years ago, Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) began with a focus on processing soybeans and has grown to be the world’s largest farmerowned soybean processor and leading supplier of soybean meal and refined vegetable oils.
Currently, AGP has 10 soybean crush plants in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota; four soybean oil refineries and three biodiesel production facilities.
They also have a footprint in the Pacific Northwest with an export terminal used to market soybean meal to overseas customers.
What is unique about AGP is that it is a federated cooperative owned by approximately 150 local and regional farmer-owned cooperatives. AGP’s cooperative stockholders represent approximately 250,000 farmers through their membership.
More than 90% of the soybeans processed at AGP are from cooperative
member-owners who purchase soybeans from their farmer-owners.
“AGP adds value to their soybeans by processing them into soybean meal, soybean oil and a variety of coproducts,” says Chris Schaffer, AGP’s CEO. “Unlike most of our competitors, as a cooperative, AGP’s earnings stay local. Profits are returned to our members, their farmer-owners and the communities we operate in.”
With renewable diesel (RD) production significantly increasing demand for soybean oil, AGP is seeing the need to crush more soybeans to meet the feedstock needs of the RD industry.
With predictions of the domestic soybean crush industry to increase production capacity by nearly 30%, this could mean more demand for U.S. soybeans — particularly in AGP’s trade territory.
To help meet this demand, AGP is constructing its 11th soybean crush facility located in David City, Nebraska, scheduled to become operational in 2025.
The company is also adding a second export terminal in the Pacific Northwest that will double their export capacity to benefit their current and future overseas customers and improve their ability to compete for business in the Pacific Rim.
Besides new facilities, AGP aims to re-invest in their current facilities. Currently, the company has plans to spend over a billion dollars on improvements within the next three years.
“Some of our plants have been in operation for over 40 years, but the company has always prioritized repairing, maintaining and upgrading all the plants to increase efficiencies, improve safety and to remain competitive,” says Schaffer. “We like to say for some of our older facilities, the only thing that remains original is the nameplate.”
Investments in Iowa include upgrades to AGP’s Eagle Grove facility, a new meal load out at the Sheldon plant, additional storage in Emmetsburg, and expanding the crush capacity at Sergeant Bluff.
“These investments will improve market opportunities for Iowa soybean farmers and sometimes, will reduce costs to producers by improving loading and unloading times,” says Schaffer. “These investments will also help AGP continue to add value to the producers’ crops and return value to our members and the local communities for years to come.”
Contact Kriss Nelson at knelson@iasoybeans.com
Chris Schaffer, AGP CEO
The Eagle Grove location of AGP Cooperative.
Photo credi
Photo credit: AGP
We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to water management because no soil type or farm is alike. At ADS Agriculture, we tailor solutions to maximize the benefit of your water management system based on your farm’s needs. From subsurface irrigation to automated lift stations and control structures, we have the total water management solutions to improve yields, increase farmable acres and raise the value of your land.
A2024 Water Monitoring Results
Tony Seeman ISA Water Lab Service Manager aseeman@iasoybeans.com
fter nearly four years of drought in some parts of Iowa, the spring rains finally arrived and restored soil moisture to normal levels.
While good news for Iowa farmers and the crops they raise, after an extended dry period, Iowa soils can have an excess of residual nitrate-N that is vulnerable to leaching, causing drinking water issues and large algae blooms.
Monitoring for results
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS) was designed to address nutrient losses by providing a menu of proven conservation practices to be implemented across the state. The Farm to River Partnership (F2R) is a Water Quality Initiative (WQI) demonstration project with funding from the state to increase implementation and demonstrate improvements. F2R is managed by Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA) and supported by the Iowa Soybean Association. Historic ACWA water monitoring data identified Elk Run as a nitrate-nitrogen hotspot and led to the formation of the F2R partnership.
ACWA’s water monitoring approach focuses on sampling rivers and the smaller watersheds that contribute to them. Comparing results from different areas as water moves downstream helps target resources to have the most significant impact and also provides feedback about conditions.
Weather variability challenges
Streamflow and nitrogen loss vary widely in response to the annual excess or precipitation deficit, similar to crop yield. Broadening the view of yield (production per area) to include environmental measurements can help assess the progress toward the INRS goals. Even though both crop and nutrient yields are impacted by weather, some key differences exist.
First, crop yields can suffer poor performance of too little or too much water, while nitrate-N yield to rivers is generally more problematic as conditions get wetter. That cycle is over once the crop is harvested and the final yield is known. Whereas in soil and water, there can be a lag where prior years’ conditions can continue contributing to nitrate-N yield. Because this cycle is irregular and often longer, assessing how well agronomic and conservation practices address the issues is confounded.
The year-to-year weather variability generally has a bigger impact than any single practice, so it is important to replicate and continue studies over time to reach a consistent result or conclusion. One way to overcome this variability is by using analog years.
While weather is never the same from one year to the next, patterns are cyclical, and different years can experience similar conditions. Comparing wet years to
wet years and dry years to dry years provides a better picture than comparing one year to the next.
Another technique to evaluate environmental data over time is to use a paired approach. By comparing two separate but similar areas, we can look for differences attributed to something besides the overall conditions affecting both. Elk Run is a 21,000-acre watershed straddling the Carroll-Calhoun county line and was the original WQI demonstration area beginning in 2015. Nearby Prairie Creek drains 18,000 acres of similar agricultural land and has more typical stream nitrate-N levels. Calhoun County had extended dry spells leading into the wetter years analyzed here. The drought of 2011-2012 was slightly shorter but more pronounced than in 2022-2023.
Regarding soil nitrogen being left over, 2012 saw a significant reduction in corn yield, and 2013 also suffered from below-trend yields.
Estimated water yields were slightly higher in 2013 (~5 in. vs. 4.25 in), with the difference coming from a drier June. Overall, precipitation patterns were similar. Nitrate-N
yields were lower in 2024 than in 2013. However, the difference between streams shows a greater reduction in Elk Run. If the discharge had been the same in June 2024 as in June 2013, Prairie Creek would have lost the same amount of N (26 pounds/watershed acre.) As it was, Prairie Creek N loss was 29% lower in 2024.
In Elk Run, N loss was 51% lower than in 2013. Further evidence of improvement in Elk Run is provided when the same flow is assumed for June 2024; there would still be a 34% reduction between the two years, while Prairie Creek showed none. So, while the difference in N loss from Prairie Creek was driven by less June flow, Elk Run showed a more significant reduction based on factors beyond just the difference in water yield.
The reductions shown in Elk Run suggest that increased efforts there significantly impact nitrogen loss from the watershed compared to other tributaries of the Raccoon River. As more edge-of-field practices are implemented and farmers engage in continuous improvement, the amount of N loss should continue to improve.
Fig 2. Nitrate-Nitrogen loss from two North Raccoon River watersheds post drought
Estimated Nitrate-N Yield (April-July)
Soy Snaps
BY JOCLYN BUSHMAN
A collection of images capturing farmers in the fall of 2024.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
ISA Farmer Member Brock Grubbs glides his combine through a golden soybean field near Perry.
Plentiful pods in central Iowa.
A combine fills a semi with soybeans on a farm near Otho.
ISA Farmer Member Brock Grubbs pauses during harvest for a fieldside portrait.
An autonomous tractor with a grain cart crawls across a field in Boone during the Farm Progress Show.
ISA Farmer Member Chuck Brockmann checks on his cattle near Long Grove.
There’s an understated calm about Lisa Obrecht.
Lisa Obrecht says being a leader within the soybean industry means having a passion for agriculture and having a robust understanding of policy and issues that could impact soybean producers.
“I want to be a changemaker within the industry,” she says. “It’s important to stay connected to the family farm and pass on information and guidance along to the next generation.”
For Obrecht, being a part of the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Grassroots Fellowship, Experience Class, serving as a voting delegate and working with other farmermembers has been both humbling and rewarding.
“I continue to be excited about being a part of ISA, which allows members to learn and grow,” she says. “To be a new leader has been fantastic and it will serve as an influence in my life.”
Those who know Obrecht, a Story County farmer, know she rarely gets rattled; she’s deliberate in what she does and what she says. She takes in information and applies it to her
work and life. You might say she has a Zen quality to the energy she exudes.
It’s this calm confidence and passionate involvement that led her to the stage during an ISA awards banquet last winter. Obrecht was chosen as the recipient of the 2024 Iowa Soybean Association New Leader award.
Sponsored by Corteva, this award is annually presented to an ISA member who has recently grown their involvement in the association’s program and shown outstanding leadership skills in their efforts.
Being engaged
“I’m inspired and excited,” says Obrecht after she learned that she had been named an award winner. “It was an incredible feeling to hear my name announced and to hold the New Leader award plaque.”
But those who work closely with Obrecht through ISA programming weren’t shocked to hear her name as a recipient.
Robert Haus, of Corteva, presented Lisa Obrecht with the 2024 Iowa Soybean Association New Leader award.
“Lisa has been highly involved in ISA programs and events throughout the last year,” says ISA Producer Services Coordinator Kennady Henry, who nominated Obrecht for the award. “Lisa kickstarted her journey with ISA by joining the 2022-23 Policy Leaders Fellowship (now known as the Grassroots Fellowship). She was a great addition to the group and was always eager to learn more about the soybean industry and the policy world.”
Obrecht served as a voting delegate at the 2022 Winter Soy Summit. She then joined the Experience Class to gain a broader understanding of the state’s soybean industry.
“She has been a great farmer leader and helped recruit a new farmer in her area for the latest grassroots fellowship,” Henry says. “Lisa has been an amazing farmer leader, and we look forward to seeing her continue to grow within ISA.”
For Obrecht, being involved with ISA was an easy decision, and one that continues to be rewarding.
“I quickly realized that my efforts could make a difference,” she says. “I learned that people are at the heart of the Iowa Soybean Association. I feel like we all share a love of farming and soybeans, and most importantly, a passion to inspire others around us.”
Obrecht’s efforts were on display when the Grassroots Fellowship class traveled to Washington, D.C., where participants met with legislators and industry leaders.
She says the opportunity to share her farmer perspective with those who help craft farm policy has been important.
“Soybeans are our future,” she says. “We have to be engaged about what will impact our livelihood. If you want your voice to be heard, you have to dialogue with members of Congress, industry officials and others. We can bring attention to not only the issues that we’re concerned about, but also share in our success stories from the farm.”
It’s about family
Obrecht raises soybeans, corn and cattle with her father and her brother near Zearing.
It was her father, she says, who helped guide her along the path toward being a successful farmer.
“He would sometimes push me past my comfort zone, but he’s certainly been my biggest influence, and it’s made me a better person and a better farmer,” she says.
ISA has been and is a touchstone for Obrecht, reminding her what’s really important. Being a part of the ISA, its programming and leadership opportunities is like being part of an extended family, Obrecht says. Whether it’s research, concerns about markets and trade, Obrecht says ISA allows its members to relate to each other because they have the same vested interests.
“I wanted to be a part of ISA because they offer new perspectives on what’s going on, while at the same time making you feel like we’re one big family — a family where everyone has a voice.”
Contact Jeff Hutton at jhutton@iasoybeans.com
Contributed photos.
“I want to be a changemaker within the industry. It’s important to stay connected to the family farm and pass on information and guidance along to the next generation.”
Lisa Obrecht
Lisa Obrecht and her father, David, and her son, Blake, take a break during the harvest in 2023.
progress THROUGH INNOVATION
Robb Ewoldt honored with 2024 Innovator in Production Research award
BY JEFF HUTTON
R“ We always have to be looking at the next best ideas. It’s not about reinventing the wheel but making it better.”
Robb Ewoldt
obb Ewoldt shies away from being labeled as an innovator; he just prefers you call him a farmer.
But Ewoldt is both. He has proven over the years that adapting new ideas, new practices and seeking out better ways to improve crop production while also protecting the environment can be profitable. And it’s just good business.
That’s why he was named the 2024 Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Innovator in Production Research award recipient. The award, sponsored by John Deere, recognizes an individual or organization leading the way in the use of precision agriculture technology and working to discover, validate and manage practices to improve soybean profitability.
Active engagement
In their nomination of the Davenportarea farmer, ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI), noted that the
definition of a true innovator is one that “introduces something new or different.” Ewoldt, they said, expands that definition many steps further because he never gives up until he has found success at what works best for his farm.
Ewoldt is a great proponent of RCFI not only because he’s always willing to participate in new trials and programs but because he works the Plan-Do-Check-Act style of practice.
“By relentlessly experimenting with this approach over time, Robb has found a way to put the two forces of better yield and increasing his bottom line while improving the environment,” the RCFI staff says. “How has he done this — by his ‘Learn-Fail-Fix-Yield’ mentality with no-till, strip-till and cover crops.”
Ewoldt shares what he learns with other farmers and industry experts because he knows it can be beneficial for all Iowa producers.
The next best ideas
His latest endeavor has been the design and implementation of a 15-inch row striptill toolbar for soybeans.
“We want to grow 15-inch beans, but how do you get the fertilizer in the right spot,” he asks. “So, we came up with this toolbar. And the hypothesis was when we went from no-till to strip corn, we had a 14% jump in yields. My thought was what if we could do that with beans and placing the fertilizer in the root zone. If we could do half of what we did with corn — 7% — that could be a 3-3.5 bushel per acre increase.”
The work on the toolbar has not been easy, however.
“I have a much better respect and understanding for some of the things engineers have done on ag equipment,” he says. “After building this thing, and it certainly didn’t always go as planned, we had to shift, adjust and pivot to make it work.
“I sometimes call it ‘Robb’s folly,’” he laughs.
Ewoldt hopes that this liquid suspension fertilizer bar will allow for greater yields and a greater return on investment.
“I don’t look at this or anything as trying new stuff, but instead I’m just trying to improve,” he says. “I have a motto, ‘produce the most, using the least and with the best practices.’ In other words, we want the highest yields, with the least number of inputs needed, while using the most environmentally-friendly conservation practices known.”
Understanding how new ideas could shape the future is important.
“As we lose ground to urban development, and as the population grows, we need to find better ways to grow more with what we have,” he says. “We always have to be looking at the next best ideas. It’s not about reinventing the wheel but making it better.”
An open mind
Ewoldt, a past ISA president and current director with the United Soybean Board, says farmers and industry leaders must find new ideas that will benefit conservation, water quality and the bottom line.
“Practices over the last 10-15 years have led to more profitability, more yields and a return on investment,” he says. “I’ve set
out to try and improve our operation by working on new concepts.”
And Ewoldt is open to new endeavors.
“I’ll listen to anybody — other farmers I respect, the experts, ISA staff and others,” he says. “There are a lot of great ideas out there. Some ideas fit into your operation, some don’t, but you go into it with an open mind.”
Doing
the best he can
Ewoldt says he appreciates the recognition, but he refuses to rest on what he’s accomplished on his family farm over the past couple of decades.
Whether it’s been no-till beans, striptill corn, championing research efforts through trials on his 2,000-acre farm, the veteran farmer believes he’s doing what’s right for his operation.
“The approach is you have to take on new ideas,” he says. “It’s too dangerous to stay complacent, and with a little bit of risk comes great rewards.”
In the end, Ewoldt keeps it simple: “I just want to do the best I can.”
Contact Jeff Hutton at jhutton@iasoybeans.com
"It's too dangerous to stay complacent, and with a little bit of risk comes great rewards," Ewoldt says. Ewoldt started farming full time in 1996. His 'Learn-Fail-FixYield' mentality with no-till, striptill and cover crops has reaped rewards for his overall productivity.
ISA President Suzanne Shirbroun and Keith Soltwedel, of John Deere, presented the 2024 Innovator in Production Research award to Robb Ewoldt.
IAWA LAUNCHES WEB TOOL TO COMPARE IOWA COVER CROP INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
Farmers can browse, filter and compare cover crop incentive programs by using a new, first-ofits-kind website in Iowa, costsharecompare.com, built by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA). The goal is to help farmers transition to using cover crops by making it easier to find and sign up for cost share.
In addition to cover crops, the web tool features payment programs for no-till, strip till, nutrient management, and extended crop rotations.
These management practices improve water quality by preventing erosion and nutrient runoff while enhancing soil health — all outcomes directly related to IAWA’s water quality mission.
“There are a lot of programs out there and a lot of money to help farmers try these practices. The way we see it is if we can reduce overwhelm, that will lead to more sign-ups, which leads to more acres in cover crops, and ultimately improved water quality,” says IAWA Communications Director Rebekah Jones.
Costsharecompare.com started as a printable guide, released this past spring.
“It’s been awesome to see our partners immediately use this information to help more farmers,” says Jeff Lucas, IAWA Executive Director. “At the end of the day, the website is a tool that connects farmers to a conservation agronomist or other professional to make cover crops work on their farm beyond the initial payments.”
Cover crop incentives offset costs for seed or application and can also help mitigate the risk of yield drags — minimizing impact on pocketbooks while maximizing long-term farming and water quality benefits.
IAWA is accepting new program additions. If you know of another program that should be added, please reach out to Rebekah Jones at rjones@iaagwater.org.
The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) is increasing the pace and scale of farmer-led efforts to improve water quality in Iowa. Founded in 2014 by Iowa Corn, the Iowa Soybean Association, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association, IAWA is building public-private partnerships focused on implementing water quality solutions. Learn more at www.iaagwater.org.
Rebekah Jones, IAWA Communications Director
Jeff Lucas, IAWA Executive Director
Iowa Soybean Farmers
ELECT NEW LEADERSHIP TO DRIVE DEMAND, GROW OPPORTUNITIES
BY BROCK JOHNSTON
Farmer-leaders of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Board of Directors elected Brent Swart of Spencer as president during its September board meeting. The association’s 22 volunteer farmer directors represent the state’s nine crop reporting districts in overseeing the management and allocation of soybean checkoff and non-checkoff resources.
Swart was first elected as a district 1 director in 2018. He grows soybeans, corn and cover crops with his brother Steve on their fifth-generation land near Spencer in Clay County. Swart has been a long-time advocate for checkoff-funded efforts advancing soybean research and promotion, and has held leadership positions with the Midwest Soybean Collaborative and the Iowa State Soybean Research Center.
“I’m privileged to have the opportunity to represent Iowa soybean farmers in this role,” says Swart who most recently served as ISA presidentelect. “ISA can continue to be a strong advocate and voice on the issues that directly benefit Iowa soybean farmers. As stewards of soybean checkoff
dollars, I’m confident in the ISA board’s ability to find opportunities that are best suited to boost farmer profitability, productivity and sustainability amid these challenging times.”
Four farmer-leaders were also appointed to serve on the ISA’s Executive Committee, including:
• Tom Adam, President-Elect — Harper
• Lee Brooke, Treasurer — Clarinda
• Sam Showalter, Secretary — Hampton
• Scot Bailey, At-Large — Anita
Directors are chosen by Iowa soybean farmers through the ISA election in July and take office in September. Members voted for two farmers from their crop reporting district and four farmers to serve as at-large directors.
Newly elected farmers who will serve threeyear terms on the board are: Newly elected farmers who will serve three-year terms on the board were: Mike Yegge, Lake Mills (District 2); Amanda Tupper, Ionia (District 3); Matt Willimack, DeWitt (District 6); Jeff Ellis, Donnellson (District 9); and Jack Boyer, Reinbeck (At-Large).
The 2024-25 Iowa Soybean Association executive directors: (left to right) Scot Bailey (Anita), at-large; Tom Adam (Harper), president-elect; Brent Swart (Spencer), ISA president; Sam Showalter (Hampton), secretary; and Lee Brooke (Clarinda), treasurer.
The assessment on grain sold to or deposited at Iowalicensed grain dealers and warehouses as part of the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund (Grain Indemnity Fund) will continue for an additional year, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS).
Barring any further claims made against the fund, the assessment is anticipated to cease on Aug. 31, 2025, IDALS says.
In April of 2023, the board that oversees the fund agreed to reinstate producer fees after the fund balance dropped below the statutory $3 million floor after multiple claims were filed following grain facility failures in 2021 and 2022. By law if the fund drops below the $3 million threshold, it requires the Grain Indemnity Fund Board to reinstate the participation fees for grain dealers and warehouses as well as a ¼-cent per bushel assessment. The assessment must remain in effect for at least one full year and remain active until the board votes to suspend the collection of fees or the Fund reaches $8 million.
Prior to the start of the assessment in September 2023, the balance of the fund was just under $312,000. IDALS reports that assessment collection during the first three quarters, which occurred in December 2023, March of 2024 and June of 2024, reached more than $4.7 million. The final quarter of assessment for this current year began in September. Based upon fourth quarter collection estimates, the fund balance is not expected to exceed $8 million. That means the assessment must continue another year.
Created by the Iowa Legislature in 1986 during the farm crisis, the fund is designed to provide financial protection to farmers with grain on deposit in Iowa-licensed warehouses and grain sold on a cash basis to state-licensed grain dealers. In the case of a failure of a state-licensed grain warehouse or grain dealer, the fund pays farmers 90% of a loss on grain up to a maximum of $300,000 per claimant. Over the nearly 40-year history of the fund, more than $19 million in claims have been paid to more than 1,600 grain producers.
Work continues
One of the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) legislative priorities in 2024 was to modernize the fund and raise its cap from $8 million to $16 million. Though nothing changed during the 2024 legislative session, the fund remains top of mind for ISA.
Matt Herman, ISA’s chief officer for demand and advocacy, says the real point of discussion for modernizing the fund would be whether the fund would cover credit sale contracts. While many farmers may not think credit sale contracts impact them, Herman says farmers who sell grain to a co-op in the fall but take payment in the spring are technically working under a credit sale contract.
“If new legislation includes credit sale contracts, the liability could balloon to hundreds of millions of dollars at any given time and that’s something we need to be aware of,” says Herman.
