URBANDALE, Iowa - The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) held a producer information event on Tuesday, June 19, 2007, at Jim Stillman’s Farm in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Stillman is a crop farmer and a United Soybean Board director. He and his wife, Jan, also operate a soy candle-making business, Generations Soy.

The event was opened with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey discussing the importance of educating the non-farm public about the value of farming to Iowa. He stressed that there is disconnect between farmers and non-farmers that must be repaired so non-farmers can understand that agriculture is driving Iowa’s economy.

Next on the day’s agenda was Heath Ellison, ISA agricultural environmental specialist, who spoke about ISA’s watershed programs. Following Ellison was Dr. Tracy Blackmer, ISA director of research. Dr. Blackmer talked about the On-Farm Network™ and its role in helping growers make agronomic decisions specific to their farms.

After lunch, Megan Ritter, field specialist with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, presented Going to Work for Agriculture in Iowa. Following Ritter was a session by Jeff Kaiser with John Deere Agri Services. Kaiser spoke about aerial imagery and OptiGrow nitrogen management.

The last session of the day was a research update by Palle Pedersen with Iowa State University. Pedersen talked about agronomic issues in soybeans, such as ways to maximize yield and manage pests and diseases. He said bean leaf beetles are one of the greatest yield robbers in Iowa soybean fields. Pedersen took the listeners into one of Stillman’s soybean fields for part of his presentation.