URBANDALE, Iowa - Members of the Iowa County Corn and Soybean Producers and the Iowa Soybean Association gathered at the OxYoke Innterstate in Williamsburg on Feb. 16 for their annual meeting. Following the evening meal, they heard several speakers.

Palle Pedersen, assistant professor and soybean extension agronomist at Iowa State University, was the featured speaker, talking about soybean plant health. He emphasized the importance of scouting and sound agronomic practices.

Pedersen’s main research goal is to improve the economic status of farmers by solving soybean production problems with an emphasis on soybean responses to new technology and management systems, and the effect of agronomic practices on soybean pathogens and pests.

Doug Blythe, Iowa County Corn and Soybean Association county president said of Pedersen, “Palle did an excellent job and gave us a good deal of relevant information. I believe everyone felt they took away useful information.”

Others who participated in the program were Bruce Gaarder and Larry Jons of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Doug Blythe, who currently serves as president of the Iowa County Corn and Soybean Association. Amanda Wall, producer services coordinator for the Iowa Soybean Association, explained producers will continue to be invited to educational district meetings as part of ISA’s All in a Day’s Work campaign. She handed out copies of ISA and ISU’s new  Soybean Disease and Pest Guides.

Prizes included ISA coffee mugs and calendars, soy cookbooks, All in a Day’s Work  T-shirts, and ICGA provided a model tractor.

“We’d certainly like to see more producers benefit from the information that is shared at these meetings,” said Blythe. “We would encourage anyone who is interested to get involved and participate in future events.”