Iowa Soybean Association Tees Up Soy’s Sustainability Progress as Principal Golf Classic Sponsor

May 24, 2022

In addition to requiring unwavering determination, testing one’s mental mettle and dealing with Mother Nature’s unpredictability, the game of golf and Iowa’s soybean farmers have one more thing in common: a commitment to improving environmental stewardship and sustainability.

There are numerous similarities between golf and production agriculture, and they headline the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) inaugural sponsorship of the Principal Charity Golf Classic to be held June 3-5 at Wakonda Club in Des Moines.

“Iowa soybean farmers join the game of golf in finding new and better ways to improve performance while doing better for the environment,” says Robb Ewoldt, ISA president and soybean farmer near Davenport. “Whether playing the front nine or farming the back 40, we owe it to future generations to do everything we can to maximize output while using fewer inputs.”

The Principal Charity Golf Classic, held in central Iowa since 2001, is a PGA Tour Champions event uniting players with central Iowa businesses and families to help those in need. Mark Calcavecchia, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomery are scheduled to compete in the three-day, 54-hole event.

Ewoldt says Iowa’s soybean farmers join in using the latest technology and scrutinizing data to lessen its environmental impact while improving the game. Examples include:

• Sustainable resource management (using fewer and more prescriptive inputs including products to fertilize and manage pests).
• Enhanced environmental protection efforts.
• Water storage and reclamation for irrigation.
• Soil temperature measuring and testing to utilize turf and crop inputs more efficiently and effectively.
• Pollinator habitat restoration.
• Recycling packaging and multi-use containers.

Production agriculture and the game of golf learn from each other in enhancing environmental stewardship, says Principal Charity Golf Classic tournament coordinator Mitchell Longo.

“Our partnership with the Iowa Soybean Association is ideal because it emphasizes our shared approach to advancing sustainability,” said Longo. “From better water filtration to more prescriptive use of inputs, there’s a lot to be proud of while continuing to learn and improve.”

Whether consumers of the game of golf or food and fiber, people want to know that environmental stewardship and conservation are top of mind, Longo says.

“Farmers and golf course managers and superintendents take pride in being innovative leaders in this space and sharing the specifics as a result of our relationship with Iowa’s soybean farmers.”

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Funded by the soybean checkoff

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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 40,000 soybean producers, including more than 15,000 ISA farmer members and industry stakeholders.

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