Public Affairs

We are driven to leverage non-checkoff resources to develop and secure local, state and national policies and regulations that allow you and the industry to flourish. While you're busy running your operation, our Public Affairs team is where you can’t be to make, shape, implement or fight commonsense laws and regulations that impact your farming operation. We...

  1. Convene and lead state policy staff interaction for idea sharing and generation across the soy family.
  2. Deliver timely and relevant policy news and analysis through our email updates.
  3. Streamline grassroots policy development process, delegate engagement and policy presence to ensure Iowa’s soybean farmers’ voices are heard.

Recent State Work

  • Serving as a consistent and reliable source of information, data and policy analysis for Governor’s office, IDALS and other principal agencies and organizations.  
  • Receptive and responsive to farmer impacts and needs in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak; advocating for easement of truck weight limits and hours-of-service regulations to protect the agricultural supply chain during Plant 2020.  
  • Working to secure long-term, dedicated conservation and water quality funding to protect natural resources and farmer livelihoods for generations to come.  
  • As renewable fuel policies evolve and consumers seek more efficient fuel sources, biodiesel will continue to play an important role, much to the benefit of the Iowa soybean farmer. ISA is prioritizing farmers and rural communities by protecting the federal RFS from unlawful attacks that stunt future growth of the biodiesel industry and shortchange soybean farmers. With the fate of the federal RFS program unknown, the ISA (with support from the Iowa Biodiesel Board) is leading statewide legislation that would significantly increase the demand for Iowa-grown soybeans and soy oil.   

Recent Federal Work

  • When the Covid-19 pandemic brought unforeseen challenges to Iowa agriculture, ISA was quick to mobilize and lead statewide efforts to elevate soybean farmer interests. ISA launched an effort to ensure imminent funding needs, transportation, and supply chain issues were recognized, considered, and met. 
  • ISA is growing and securing soybean trade opportunities and wins while guiding agreement implementation, ex. the Phase 1 trade deal with China and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The ISA helped farmers avert an economic disaster in recent years by proving the need for federal assistance to offset the negative price impacts of trade disputes; successfully advocating for MFP payments of $1.65 per bushel in 2018 and up to $90 per acre in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic and decimation of Chinese hog herds by ASF led to slow soybean exports in 2020. However, as we navigate a new year, orders are mounting and being fulfilled, with optimism that global purchasing will remain strong. 
  • The ISA has long been and will continue to be your champion for a science and evidence-based regulatory system. When the EPA vacated three key product [dicamba] registrations overnight, ISA led an immediate and decisive effort to keep the crop protection tools available at the peak of the 2020 growing season. 

ISA also leverages non-checkoff resources to support ISA’s commitment to invest and be involved with the American Soybean Association.

How do we set policy?

Delegates from each of Iowa’s nine crop districts meet to change or approve ISA’s policy document each year. The document serves as an advocacy roadmap for soybean farmers and staff. Guiding principles are affirmed pertaining to conservation, trade, biofuels, biotechnology and a host of other soybean-related issues.

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