URBANDALE, Iowa - The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) held it’s annual meeting and leadership conference December 13 and 14 in Ames at the Gateway Conference Center. More than 120 county soybean association members and directors were in attendance from across the state.

The meeting’s keynote speakers proved to be very informative and enlightening. Officials including Congressmen Tom Latham and Steve King and Secretary of Agriculture Elect Bill Northey spoke on such topics as the 2007 Farm Bill, current agricultural issues facing Iowa and the new Congress. John Hoffman, ISA district three director and ASA first vice president, addressed the group on the upcoming farm bill as well as ASA’s priorities including biodiesel tax incentives. Jim Sutter with the National Oilseed Processors Association also addressed the audience about the domestic and international demand for soybeans, soy oil and soybean meal. Dr. Tracy Blackmer and Carol Balvanz, both with ISA, presented scientific data pertaining to the application of manure on soybean ground and provided information for participation in the upcoming public comment process.

One of the main events at the annual meeting is to set policy for the upcoming year. Delegates to the ISA annual policy meeting set and focused ISA policy for 2007 on several key issues. On renewable fuels, the delegates affirmed their support for a tax incentive approach for biodiesel promotion, as well as support for industry-led quality assurance programs. The delegates also supported a resolution to establish a state-certified fuel testing laboratory as a further measure to ensure access by plants, jobbers and retailers to quality testing equipment.

On environmental issues, the delegates adopted resolutions supporting an exemption for agricultural dust and regulatory relief for companies who utilize environmentally-friendly biobased products in their operations. Other resolutions adopted by the delegates covered topics such as property taxes, transportation systems and agricultural research.

A highlight of the meetings was the award ceremony for counties. Honors such as the Active County Award, Membership Recruitment and Growth, Top Recruiter and Top New Member Recruiter were awarded. The Western Iowa Active County Award went to Adair County, while the Eastern Iowa winner was Scott County. The award for Western Iowa County Membership Recruitment and Growth went to Fremont/Page and the Eastern Iowa winner was Bremer County. The Western Iowa Top Recruiter award went to Delbert Christensen from Audubon County. Christensen is also the treasurer of the ISA board of directors and a director from district four. The Eastern Iowa Top Recruiter was Earl Brandt from Bremer County. Top New Member Recruiter award for the western half of the state went to Delbert Christensen and for the eastern half of the state the award went to Larry Marek of Washington County. Marek is the secretary of the ISA board of directors and a director from district nine.