The January issue of the Iowa Soybean Review features an old barn with a new purpose.

Mark and Pam Lage live on a farm near Sheffield, Iowa, that his great-grandfather, John Heidkross, bought in 1904. Mark is a member of ISA’s On-Farm Network® Advisory Committee, participating in strip trials and, more specifically, the OFN’s current nutrient benchmark study.

In 1999, when Mark’s grandparents moved to town, Mark and Pam remodeled the 1912 farmhouse and also decided to remodel the grand old barn, built in 1915, rather than build a new structure for their computer business.

“It would have cost less to build a new Morton building,” Mark says.

It also would have taken less work, but they wouldn’t have had as much room….and they certainly wouldn’t have the same atmosphere!

Starting at the roof of the haymow, they powerwashed all the wood and treated all the wood on the ground floor, including posts, beams and ceiling boards, with deck stain. The old cement barn floor was broken up and removed and a new cement floor poured.

The Lages redesigned the interior of the barn, working with the existing 16-foot sections. The west part, where calves or sows had been housed, became Mark’s garage. The next section, that had once held milk cows and later was a farrowing area, became a display/meeting room for the computer business, which is no longer in operation since the advent of inexpensive, easily programmed laptops. Through the years, the large room has also housed graduation receptions, conferences, quilting retreats, family gatherings and more. Currently, it is the living room for the Lages’ older son Ryan, who has made the barn his residence while working at his John Deere Mechanics internship for the course he is taking at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar.

In the next 16-foot section, the former milk room is now Mark’s office. There’s also a kitchen, equipped with cabinets taken out of the house when it was remodeled, as well as appliances and a kitchen table.

“This is especially great during fieldwork or calving seasons,” Mark says. “All of us guys can stop off here for a rest and a bite to eat without having to go to the house.”

In the next section to the east, there’s a restroom and Mark’s dad, John, has an office. The room Pam used as an office has been converted to a bedroom for Ryan and, at the back of the barn, the “tech room” where computers were formerly assembled, is a laundry room.

Stairs to the haymow reveal a haven for youngsters. Besides basketball hoops centered on each end, there are pool tables, ping-pong tables, foosball and more, along the sides. It’s been a great spot for Ryan and younger brother, Jacob, to entertain friends, including youth group events.

Describing the barn’s latest metamorphosis from business center to living quarters, Mark says, “It was time to make a change anyway.” Asked what else might be in the barn’s future, he grins and says, “Who knows? I think it would make a great house, with one end of the haymow converted to a master suite.”  But he’s not sure Pam will be ready to move out there from the house anytime soon.

A visionary idea by a young soybean researcher, supported by Iowa soybean farmers who shared that vision, has grown into an idea now used by many universities and seed companies. Dr. Walter Fehr joined the faculty at Iowa State University in 1967. An idea he brought with him changed the future of soybean breeding. “I was just building on what my colleagues were doing,’ says Fehr. “ I thought there was no reason we couldn’t grow two crops each year instead of one to more rapidly advance generations.”

According to Fehr, the adoption of these research methods has had a dramatic impact on the development of novel traits. He estimates soybean yield has improved one-half bushel per year, which is much more than could have been accomplished with conventional methods of soybean breeding.

The collaborative efforts of Dr. Silvia Cianzio, a soybean breeder at Iowa State University, have furthered the progress of soybean production exponentially. Cianzio’s work in developing disease resistance in high yielding soybean varieties, including iron deficiency chlorosis, brown stem rot, sudden death syndrome and soybean cyst nematode is important to the future of the soybean industry and the sustainability of soybean production in Iowa, according to Dr. David Wright, director of contract research for the Iowa Soybean Association.

“Thanks to the vision of Iowa soybean farmers, we’ve been able to make important advances in increasing yield, while improving genetic resistance to yield robbing soybean diseases and pests,” says Cianzio.

For more about how this novel research has impacted the soybean industry, visit http://www.soybeanreview.com/article/speedy-soybean-breeding

One of the exciting aspects of social media is the ability to share opinions and interact with others. I enjoy blogging because it allows me to share my photography and write a little more than other social media.
Unfortunately, spammers are ruining our opportunity to share our comments with others. We’ve had to close the comments sections on all our ISA blogs because of spam . . . not contentious comments, but spam. The spammers are pitching anything from Swiffer refills to Viagra and we haven’t figured out a way to make it stop.
So, if you notice that you can’t comment on this blog, don’t be offended, and feel free to comment directly via email. And if you have any advice on how to stop the spammers, please let me know!
Happy New Year, everyone!

A SafeT Home was set up at the Iowa State Capitol for the launch of the Special Delivery campaign

The December issue of the Iowa  Soybean Review features an initiative by several organizations to help those in need in Haiti titled “Special Delivery: Homes, Help. Hope. For Haiti.”

 For those still hunting for a gift for someone on their list who has everything, or to simply make a difference in someone’s life, please consider contributing to this worthy cause.

 The campaign, coordinated by the Iowa Food & Family Project, is co-chaired by Iowa’s Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Ag Secretary Bill Northey.

 It encourages Iowans, businesses and organizations to donate to the Global Compassion Network (GNC) for the purchase of up to 48 SafeTHomes to be constructed on the Village of Hope in Haiti. The five-acre village, established earlier this year by the GCN, provides transitional housing for families and children displaced by the earthquake.

 To make a donation to the GCN, log on to www.iowafoodandfamily.com/specialdelivery/ or send to: GCN, Attn: Special Delivery, 1066 440^th St., Linn Grove, IA 50133. For more information about GCN’s mission and activities, go to www.globalcompassionnet.org.

 To read the full magazine story, visit www.soybeanreview.com/article/special-delivery-homes-help-hope-haiti

 May this holiday bring peace and joy, and many blessings in the new year!

November is a time of praise and thanksgiving. We pause to give thanks for the blessings we’ve been given . . . a bountiful harvest, food on our tables, and good times surrounded by friends and family.

A portion of the Together We CAN exhibit at this year's Iowa State Fair.

The November issue of the Iowa Soybean Review features a story about the Iowa Food & Family Project (IFFP), an initiative that began with the foresight of the farmer leaders of the Iowa Soybean Association. The initiative, which began as an effort to reach out to consumers who don’t have direct links to farming, is now much more.

One of the projects IFFP took on this summer was an exhibit at the Iowa State Fair called “Together We CAN!” Not only was the display visually interesting, it raised awareness of a growing challenge in Iowa – food insecurity.

One might ask how it’s possible that Iowans, who live in the second largest ag state in the country, need to worry about where their next meal is coming from, but it’s true. In fact, according to the Iowa Food Bank Association, nearly 13 percent of Iowans are food insecure, meaning more than 382,000 Iowans will have to choose between paying bills and paying for food.

The state fair exhibit resulted in donations to the Iowa Food Bank Association valued at $43,000. “This generous support will help us provide essential food resources to Iowans during a critical time of need,” says Food Bank of Iowa Executive Director Carey Miller.

“People were amazed at the exhibit’s creativity, and inspired by the farmers’ commitment to provide healthy food for everyone,” says Aaron Putze, IFFP coordinator.

To learn more about how you can help Iowa’s food insecure population, visit www.IowaFBA.org.

Stay tuned for more news about how Iowa farmers are reaching out to those in need, sharing their bountiful harvest, by visiting www.iowafoodandfamily.com

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Cancer organizations and businesses pull out all the stops to promote awareness of this disease. While awareness is crucial, I think sometimes these promotional efforts can depersonalize the impact breast cancer can have on the lives of those who experience it firsthand. It’s not about the pink ribbon emblazoned on everything from yogurt to potting soil to kitty litter. It’s about the impact this disease has on our friends and family.

As a breast cancer survivor, I’m thankful for all the fundraising for cancer research. I’m thankful for the awareness brought to this disease. And I am so grateful to celebrate my survivorship. But I’m also reminded of those who don’t survive, like my mother. So, for me, the pink ribbon is bittersweet.

Give to the cause. Don’t forget to get those cancer screening tests. Wear the pink ribbon proudly. But don’t forget that behind those pink ribbons are stories of courage.

For more information about breast cancer, visit Susan G. Komen for the Cure: http://ww5.komen.org/

While fall isn’t typically the season for rebirth and renewal, it marks the new “year” at the Iowa Soybean Association. While you are focused on harvesting your crops, we are focused on how to better serve you in the future.

When you receive the October issue of the Iowa Soybean Review, we hope you’ll notice something different. With this issue we’re introducing the redesign of the Review. You’ll notice a more dynamic cover design, as well as more white space and more photos on the inside.

The design was created by Shelby Ostrander, with feedback from the entire ISA communications team. The several-months-long process began with developing a new mission statement. This mission statement reminds us daily of who we serve and standards we wish to uphold.

Iowa Soybean Review Mission Statement: “Our magazine, the Iowa Soybean review, is an eight-times-a-year trade publication for successful, profit-driven Iowa soybean farmers who need cutting-edge information on soybean farming technologies. Unlike other publications, our coverage is focused on Iowa soybean farmers and also has a unique knowledge base that interests savvy and inquisitive farmers, spouses and agribusiness owners.”

The improvements go more than skin deep. More focus has been placed on creating dynamic content that will help you in your quest for profitable, sustainable soybean production.

In addition, we want to create a dialogue. That’s why we also redesigned our website, www.soybeanreview.com. The creation of ISA Web Manager Nick Van Meter, the site provides timely information, as well as more opportunities to offer your feedback and opinions. We want your suggestions and feedback because we know staying in touch with the issues of those we serve will make us the best.

If you have ideas, please comment below or contact me via email at ksimon@iasoybeans.com

John Heisdorffer met many children who are benefiting from soy when he traveled to Guatemala, a Central American country where nearly half of all children are malnourished. The experience prompted him to contribute to the World Soy Foundation that reduces malnutrition through the power of soy. www.worldsoyfoundation.org

The following post is a guest blog by John Heisdorffer, a program committee member of the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program and a past president of the Iowa Soybean Association.  

May is Trade Month. As I plant seeds in my Keota, Iowa fields this spring, I can’t help but wonder where my soybeans will end up in today’s global marketplace.   I think about the children who can have a better diet if they get to eat the soybeans I grow this year.   

After a trip to Guatemala last year, I would be pleased if some of my 2011 crop goes there. Guatemala, which signed the U.S. Central America Free Trade Agreement in 2005, has a population of approximately 14 million people. That’s more than three times that of my home state. As a Program Committee Member of the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), I recognize such growing populations are an important market opportunity where U.S. soybeans serve as a vital source of protein.  

I saw Central American businesses that are eager to offer U.S. soy in Guatemala. Corn is the staple of their protein-deficient diets so manufacturers see an important role for soy protein. Food companies are adding soy to corn-based drinks and much more.  USDA Market Access Program (MAP) funds have allowed representatives of such companies to come to the United States for training in the use of different kinds of soy proteins. MAP funds have also supported “power of soy” promotions to consumers in Central America.  

This trip Guatemala, my first to a developing country, also opened my eyes to the enormous humanitarian role U.S. farmers and Americans in general can and should fulfill.  I met many children who faced hunger every day. Nearly half of Guatemalan children under age five are malnourished. The situation is worse in some areas where child malnutrition rates can hit 90 percent. Guatemala is a focus country for the Federal government’s Feed the Future (FTF) initiative that links USDA’s technical assistance efforts with the U.S. Agency for International Development.  

Looking into the eyes of stunted children prompted me to come home and contribute to the World Soy Foundation, a purely humanitarian initiative, which reduces malnutrition through the power of soy. It was gratifying to see Cargill texturized soy flour from my home state helping the World Soy Foundation nourish children so that they felt like laughing and learning. Women and children packed into their village’s one-room meeting place to learn how to get more protein with soy, thanks to a donation from Cargill to the World Soy Foundation and CARE.   

I was impressed at how the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) was putting soy protein in a relatively new product, called Vitacereal™. WFP worked with local farmers to produce high-quality white maize. They also helped area companies start processing and packaging the blended product made with the maize, U.S. soy flour as well as vitamins and minerals. Some of these companies were the ones that came to the United States for soyfoods training that USDA supported with MAP funds.  

I witnessed how much people appreciated WFP’S Vitacereal™. It is an important tool for them to make a lasting difference in children’s health and ability to be productive members of their future economy. At the same time, products like it create growth opportunities for Central American businesses today. When I think about the children, mothers and entrepreneurs I met in Guatemala, I’m not just planting soybeans this month. I’m sowing seeds of progress.

I’ve been traveling through China for a week now without access to a Blackberry. Surprisingly, I don’t miss it . . . much. There’s something freeing about being rid of the vibration that signals each new message coming in. Surprisingly, life has gone on. Projects are finished, decisions are made . . . all without me chiming in every few minutes. Best of all, I have the opportunity to be present and observant, without the constant distraction of being “connected.”

I can’t promise I will be less attached to my Blackberry once I return home, but through this experience I’ve learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes being disconnected from the technology means you can be more connected to the people around you.

To follow our travels in China, visit www.iasoybeans.com/chinablog2011

As we prepare for the Iowa Soybean Association’s fourth trade mission to China and Taiwan, there are the typical pre-trip jitters. Will I forget to pack something? Will all of my photo/audio/video/computer equipment work? Will the mystery food agree with me?

All of these questions are part of what make travel an adventure. But some of my fears may be based in reality. With all the unrest in the world today, what is the likelihood there will be virtually no access to social media during this trip?

I’m guessing there’s a good chance access to almost all social media will be blocked. In past years, access to sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube has been blocked. There was a noticeable strengthening of the Golden Shield that blocks a variety of Internet content during our trip in August 2010. On that trip, access to sites like Flickr was even blocked. Occasionally I could post photos, but I couldn’t see them. My patient coworkers would respond to my frantic emails asking them to make sure all the photos were right-side up and the captions matched the photos.

Regardless of what I encounter during this trip, I’m braced for whatever communication challenges will come my way . . . I think! I can guarantee I’ll learn a lot from the experience.

The trade team will be traveling March 20-April 1. You can follow the trade team via my blog at www.iasoybeans.com/chinablog2011/

Please feel free to comment!