Communication/Outreach

Communication and outreach are critical components in all efforts to advance agriculture's environmental performance while maintaining production and profitability, if those efforts are to succeed. 

Because Iowa Soybean Association is operated by and for farmers and committed to their success, farmers around the state, and in other states where ISA provides services, are more inclined to respond positively to ISA EPS outreach and engage in project opportunities. Since work began in the North Raccoon's West Buttrick Creek watershed years ago, staff have set a goal of working with farmers operating 50% or more of the working lands in implementation project watersheds, which average 25,000 acres in size.

For activities geared more to individual farmers, such as demonstrating new and promising practices, piloting ISA EPS's environmental management system for farmers in its various stages of development (CEMSA and ADAPT), outreach conducted by EPS staff has always met with willing response from farmers and their crop consultants who will take the lead, are eager to learn what they can do to improve their stewardship of natural and economic resources, and readily share their experience with others.

With a history of commitment to collaboration across public and private sectors, sometimes with partners who have not previously worked with a commodity association, ISA EPS staff also bring organizational outreach to the programs and projects in which they engage. 

Communication before and during project implementation, along with dissemination of information afterward, is facilitated by Iowa Soybean Association's ten Communications and Marketing professionals — writers, marketing experts, editors, web designers, and graphic artists — coordinating with ISA EPS's communications liaison. Iowa Soybean Association's own web site, newsletter (Gold Standard and E-Gold Standard) and magazine (the Iowa Soybean Review), provide first-stop vehicles for getting out the word on programs and project to Iowa farmers and media outlets, and a recording studio in ISA's new building provides easy access for producing podcasts, radio spots and interviews.