Iowa Soybean Association Annual Report 2008
The Iowa Soybean Association assists growers with every aspect of soybean
production and marketing, from the quality and volume of the soybean crop they grow, to the markets available for them at harvest, to increasing the price of their product. This publication highlights some of the successes achieved on behalf of Iowa soybean growers in 2009.

A Resilient Production System will Help Growers Cope with Volatility
While the jury may still be out on the climate change debate, there is evidence that you could already be losing 10 percent of your yield each year due to changes in the atmosphere that have already occurred. Looking into the future, soybeans will continue to be developed to maximize yield, but there will be other factors to consider.

The Outlook for Soybean Production and Profits in 2009:
Food vs. Fuel Debate of 2008 Becomes Profitability Concerns for 2009
There is no doubt that 2008 will be a year to remember – or perhaps forget. It was a year of high demand for soybeans and high prices as well as soaring fuel and food prices. It was a difficult growing season and concluded with a challenging harvest and a downturn of global economics resulting in a worldwide recession.

No More Excuses
Your grocery bill should be smaller. The food companies say as much, but somehow
they just haven’t gotten around to it. Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld explained rising food prices to USA Today recently. “Our prices will go up and down as the cost of our ingredients goes up and down.”

2008 Ag-Urban Leadership Initiative Wrap-Up
Iowa is one of the nation’s leading agricultural states and also the home of growing urban areas. Though both sectors are crucial to the economy and culture of our state, there can be a disconnect in communication, and their approaches can be out of sync with one another.

Boone River Watershed Project Assists with Strip-Till Evaluations
Keith Schwandt’s neighbors might see some things that seem out of the ordinary – such as a backhoe digging in his cornfield in July or red flashlights dancing among the rows at 3:00 a.m.

Row By Row
Early Planting is still Important