Soybean Month in Iowa Celebrated in August

August 5, 2020

Ankeny, Iowa —Soybean Month in Iowa has been proclaimed by Gov. Kim Reynolds recognizing the industry’s positive contributions to human health, quality of life and the economy. 

From clean-burning biodiesel and feed for livestock, poultry and dairy to a popular ingredient in many foods and industrial products, uses derived from soybeans are nearly limitless. Iowa farmers play a critical role in this success, producing more than 500 million bushels of soybeans annually (or roughly 14 percent of total U.S. output) valued at nearly $4.5 billion.

“It’s truly remarkable to see how quickly domestic production and consumption of soybeans has scaled up,” says Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) President Tim Bardole. “Even more exciting is the fact that we’ve only scratched the surface of the crop’s potential as ISA and others continue to research additional uses and applications for soybeans.”

The variety of soy-based products provided by grocery retailers has also increased exponentially. Unlike most plants, soy contains all essential amino acids making it a complete protein and preferred by a growing number of health-minded shoppers. 

“Protein plays an essential role in global nutrition, regardless if it’s animal- or protein-based consumption,” says Bardole, who also raises pigs on the family’s diversified farm near Rippey. “It’s rewarding to be part of an industry that provides a powerful source of nutrition to fuel our population and economic growth.”

This productivity, Bardole adds, coincides with scaling up practices improving soil and water quality. ISA has helped lead Iowa’s nutrient reduction strategy by working directly with soybean farmers to research and deploy more conservation practices on more acres. They include the use of cover crops, manure management, controlled drainage, reduced tillage, buffer and saturated buffers and prescriptive planting, fertilization and pest management.

ISA was recently named a U.S. Water Prize recipient by the U.S. Water Alliance for its innovative solutions benefiting farmers, watersheds and communities.

“It’s fitting National Water Quality Month is also celebrated in August,” says Bardole. “ISA embraces an integrated approach to production and conservation because they truly go hand-in-hand to the benefit of farmers and all Iowans.”

ISA will celebrate Soybean Month by:

• Promoting the many products and uses derived from soybeans through special events and promotions including renewing ISA's sponsorship of the biodiesel-powered team buses for the University of Iowa and Iowa State University;
• Enhancing the distribution and use of news and information about all things soy-related via launch of a new ISA web site (www.iasoybeans.com);
• Bringing greater attention to the role all Iowans can play in improving water quality courtesy of a new, collaborative campaign to launch Aug. 12 in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance and Newsradio 1040 WHO;
• Celebrating significant events and discoveries involving soybeans and ISA courtesy of the association’s social media platforms (@iowasoybeans).

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The Iowa Soybean Association (www.iasoybeans.com) is “Driven To Deliver” increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish. Founded in 1964 by farmers to serve farmers, ISA is governed by a board of 22 farmers to advocate on behalf of the state’s 37,000 soybean producers, including more than 15,000 ISA farmer members and industry stakeholders.

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