By Doug Schilling, ASA Industry Relations Project Coordinator
For U.S. soybean farmers, conservation decisions are increasingly connected to the economic realities of running a farm. Managing input costs, protecting soil and water resources, navigating conservation programs, and responding to changing policy and market expectations all play a role in maintaining a productive and profitable operation.
ASA and PepsiCo representatives posed for a picture in front of a PepsiCo truck that runs on B100. PepsiCo’s fleet of
trucks utilizes over 1.7 million gallons of biodiesel annually.
The American Soybean Association Farmer Forum brings farmers together with agricultural leaders and technical experts to discuss these issues and connect producers with practical information they can use on their farms. This year’s forum, Building Your Conservation Program and Profit Potential, welcomed 133 farmers, industry partners, and agricultural stakeholders Aug. 31 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa.
“The Farmer Forum is about giving farmers practical information they can take home and use on their own operations,” said ASA President and Ohio soybean farmer Scott Metzger. “By bringing farmers together with experts from across agriculture, we can have meaningful conversations about conservation, managing costs, and finding solutions that make sense both agronomically and economically.”
Held ahead of the Farm Progress Show, this year’s program emphasized the connection between conservation and farm profitability. Panels explored regenerative agriculture, reducing input costs through conservation practices, and how agricultural organizations are addressing policy concerns while expanding programs and research to support farmers.
The Making Regenerative Ag Work for Farmers panel brought together USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce and representatives from Field to Market, PepsiCo, and ADM to discuss successful implementation of regenerative agriculture and the role of public-private partnerships.
A second panel focused on ways farmers can use conservation practices to improve efficiency and reduce expenses while maintaining productivity and soil health. United Soybean Board Director and Oklahoma farmer Brent Rendel, FieldLogic Agronomy Chief Revenue Officer Jacob Kibbons, and agronomist and Certified Crop Adviser Ruth McCabe shared their perspectives and experiences.
The final panel brought together representatives from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Iowa, the Missouri Soybean Association, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, and ASA to discuss conservation programs, research, and policy.
“ASA believes that every conservation effort should be voluntary, incentive-based, and meet growers where they are,” said Carson Fort, ASA director of government affairs. “When government policies reflect the needs of farmers, we increase participation, leading to more resilient farming operations.”
Attendees also heard updates from ADM and the Soy Checkoff before participating in three rounds of interactive discussions with technical experts from agricultural organizations and companies.
“The roundtables gave us a chance to talk directly with experts, ask questions, and learn more about the programs and resources available to farmers,” said Jim Martin, ASA director and Illinois soybean farmer. “It was valuable to hear different perspectives and come away with ideas we can take back and consider on our own operations.”
The day concluded with a networking reception, giving farmers, industry representatives, and conservation experts additional time to connect. By combining policy, research, conservation programs, and practical on-farm perspectives, Farmer Forum provided producers with information and connections to help them evaluate conservation opportunities that support their operations and long-term profitability.
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