Rural Route 2

Thirty-Five Years and Counting

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

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 soy oil 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 award-winning 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.