2025 Winter Innovation to Profit

Overview

Join the Iowa Soybean Association’s Research Center for Farming Innovation to discuss project outcomes in your area and how they impact farmer profitability.

Gain insight into area-specific research trial results, conservation benefits and cost-share opportunities.

Four Locations Across Iowa

Northwest Iowa

Location

Siebens Forum, Buena Vista University

610 W. 4th St., Storm Lake, IA 50588

Date and Time

February 20, 2025

10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Agenda

10 a.m. - Registration

10:30 a.m. - Welcome

10:40 a.m. - Morning Sessions

Opportunities in Water Conservation

Alex Buseman, ISA conservation services manager

ISA is committed to helping Iowa farmers advance land stewardship and sustainability. We are driven to pursue funding opportunities to promote and implement edge-of-field, water conservation practices. These practices include saturated buffers, oxbows, and woodchip bioreactors. Learn a general overview of these practices, including what they look like, their benefits, how they perform, and management strategies. Also, hear about some funding opportunities that you can take advantage of!

Optimize Your Seeding Rate

Alexander Litvin, Ph.D., ISA research agronomy lead

Weighing seed purchases against yield potential is an important business consideration. The Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) tests a range of seeding populations annually to evaluate their impact on soybean yield and return on investment under varying climate and soil conditions. These results provide valuable insights for improving seeding rate targets for maximum profitability.

11:45 a.m. - Lunch

12:30 p.m. - Afternoon Sessions

Blended cover crop approach for Soy and Corn

Drew Clemmensen, ISA research agronomist

ISA is investigating the effects on nutrient sequestration, soil health, and crop performance through multi-species cover crop implementation and nitrogen inhibitors specific for either soy or corn. Learn more about the initial results from the 2024 season and join the discussion.

Cover Crop Application Methods: Which is Right for Me?

Ryan Johnson, ISA conservation agronomist

There are many reasons why farmers have adopted cover crops and continue to do so. Each farmer has a different goal in mind which will maximize his return for investing in cover crops. Knowing your goals and situation will help to determine which is the best method of application for your farm. We will highlight the various ways cover crops are applied to determine which method will have the biggest success and return on investment for your farm.

1:30 p.m. - Farmer Panel

2 p.m. - Discussion

2:30 p.m. - Adjourn
Northeast Iowa

Location

Ridge Stone Golf Club

7 Brickyard Rd. Sheffield, IA 50475

Date and Time

February 18, 2025

9:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Agenda

9:45 a.m. - Registration

10:15 a.m. - Welcome

10:25 a.m. - Do Inputs Increase Profits?

Shane Beck, ISA research agronomist

Alex Schaffer, ISA sr. research agronomist

Not all input costs result in meaningful returns. In review of the 2024 season, we explore on-farm research trials highlighting optional inputs and their effective return on investment with additional focus on the specific growing conditions believed to have led to these results.

11:40 a.m. - Lunch

12:30 p.m. - Financial Opportunities in Conservation

Evan Brehm, ISA conservation agronomist

Cover crops are pushing 4 million acres in Iowa as of 2024. Financial programs have assisted in offsetting costs and it can be confusing on what programs are stackable. This session will present various cost share opportunities for farmers to adopt cover crops and other soil health practices.

1:00 p.m. - Benefits of Edge of Field Practices to Farmers

Brandon Iddings, ISA sr. conservation services manager

Managing the edge of your field can provide many benefits to your farm without sacrificing tillable land. The different edge of field practices, their value, and new opportunities in your area will be discussed along with potential funding and technical assistance options to implement these practices.

1:30 p.m. - Farmer Panel

Hear from the farmers who have implemented the practices discussed throughout today’s program. This will be a question-and-answer forum in which attendees can ask questions to the panel.

2:30 p.m. - Discussion
Southwest Iowa

Location

Afton Community Center

240 N Douglass St., Afton, IA 50830

Date and Time

February 25, 2025

10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Agenda

10 a.m. - Registration

10:15 a.m. - Welcome

10:20 a.m. - Morning Sessions

Optimize Your Seeding Rate

Mikaela Connelly, ISA research agronomist

Weighing seed purchases against yield potential is an important business consideration. The Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) tests a range of seeding populations annually to evaluate their impact on soybean yield and return on investment under varying climate and soil conditions. These results provide valuable insights for improving seeding rate targets for maximum profitability.

Blended Cover Crop Approach for Soy and Corn

Alexander Litvin, Ph.D., ISA research agronomy lead

ISA is investigating the effects on nutrient sequestration, soil health, and crop performance through multi-species cover crop implementation and nitrogen inhibitors specific for either soy or corn. Initial results and discussion from the 2024 season.

11:30 a.m. - Selecting Blended Cover Crop Species

TJ Kartes – Saddle Butte Ag, seed salesman

Further explore blended cover crop options with Saddle Butte Ag Cover Crop Seed. Determine the factors to consider when selecting species for a blended cover crop program in soybean and corn production. Learn how different cover crops contribute to improved yield performance.

12 p.m. - Lunch

1:00 p.m. - Afternoon Sessions

Conservation Practice Economics

Joseph Wuebker, ISA conservation agronomist

Breakdown of economic impacts of implementing conservation practices and potential opportunities to increase ROI with in-field conservation adoption.

Conservation at the Field Edge, Simplifying Technical and Financial Assistance

Rob Davis, ISA watershed program manager

RCFI assists farmers with implementing conservation practices on the edge of fields to provide wildlife habitat and improve water quality. A quick overview of practices and current funding sources to help get conservation on the farm while staying out of the field will be covered.

1:30 p.m. - Farmer Panel

Hear first-hand from local farmers about their experiences and outcomes from various ISA research trials.

2 p.m. - Discussion

2:30 p.m. - Adjourn
Southeast Iowa

Location

Dallmeyer Hall- Lower Level, Washington County Fairgrounds

611 Hwy 1 South, Washington, IA 52353

Date and Time

February 27, 2025

10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Agenda

10 a.m. - Registration

10:20 a.m. - Welcome

10:30 a.m. - Relay Cropping: Environmental Outcomes and Managing Risk for Profit

Alex Schaffer, ISA sr. research agronomist

ISA has researched on-farm relay cropping in recent years. Learn more about 2024 results from ISA’s monthly field monitoring, soil and water quality projects, as well as ways to manage a relay crop system to mitigate agronomic risk and maximize profit.

11 a.m. - Additional Revenue and Savings from Conservation Practices

Matt Swanson, ISA conservation agronomist

Conservation practices can reduce input costs and generate revenue. Join ISA to discuss ideal conservation scenarios, cover crops, reduced tillage, soil health and organic matter.

11:40 a.m. - Lunch

12:30 p.m. - NIR Manure Sensor Based Application

Lucas De Bruin, ISA research agronomist

Exploration of manure application based on real-time fertility content, focusing on enabling more precise nutrient management. A conversation on the potential to reduce synthetic fertilizer inputs, increase crop yields and enhance water quality.

1 p.m. - Local Farmer Panel Examine their Experiences with ISA Research

Hear first-hand from local farmers about their experiences and outcomes from various ISA research trials.

1:45 p.m. - Benefits of Edge of Field Practices to Farmers

Brandon Iddings, ISA sr. conservation services manager

Managing the edge of your field can provide many benefits to your farm without sacrificing tillable land. The different edge of field practices, their value, and new opportunities in your area will be discussed along with potential funding and technical assistance options to implement these practices.

2:15 p.m. - Discussion

2:30 p.m. - Adjourn

CCA Credits Available

Looking to continue your education and expand your knowledge? There are 2.0 hours of Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits available for attending this event.

Register Today