(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / Joclyn Kuboushek)
I2P meetings connect research, ROI and conservation
January 29, 2026 | Kriss Nelson
As winter meetings continue across Iowa, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is bringing farmers together to focus on a question that matters every year: how research translates into real-world profitability.
ISA is hosting two Innovation to Profit (I2P) meetings next month, an I2P: Building for Profit in Williamsburg on Feb. 12 at Kinze Manufacturing in Williamsburg and I2P: Innovation on Tap in Templeton on Feb. 19 at the Templeton Center in Templeton.
Through its I2P series, ISA connects on-farm research, agronomic insight and conservation tools with decisions farmers are making now. The goal, says ISA research agronomy lead Alex Schaffer, is to ensure farmers see a return on the soybean checkoff investments they help fund.
“The farmers who are paying and investing in the soybean checkoff have already paid for this research,” Schaffer says. “So, it’s important that we get out and talk about the research we do, not only with the participants, but with the farming public at large.”
This year’s I2P discussions will center on return on investment, highlighting results from 2025 trials and offering a preview of what is ahead in 2026.
“In 2025, we looked at inputs like fungicide, insecticide and sulfur on soybeans,” Schaffer says. “Those will be some of the main projects we talk about regarding return on investment. That’s the importance of the soybean checkoff, doing these trials, understanding the return on different practices and products and maintaining profitability.”
In addition to sharing research results, the RCFI team will host a farmer panel designed to encourage peer-to-peer learning.
“The panel will be valuable for farmer-to-farmer information sharing, talking about what works and what doesn’t,” Schaffer says. “We’re bringing together a diverse group of people who offer different perspectives, along with farmers who are really in tune with everything ISA offers. Hopefully, we can elevate those voices and highlight the different opportunities and learning experiences available through ISA.”
ISA’s conservation team will also play a key role in the meetings, connecting research outcomes to practical conservation tools that fit within modern farming systems.
Todd Sutphin, ISA conservation services and program lead, says the events provide an opportunity to help farmers navigate conservation programs alongside production decisions.
“We’ll share information on what programs are available, what’s changing for the upcoming crop year and how and where farmers can take advantage of new opportunities,” Sutphin says.
That includes both in-field and edge-of-field options, with an emphasis on matching practices to individual farm goals.
“We’ll talk about cost-share options for in-field practices like cover crops, reduced tillage and nutrient management, as well as edge-of-field projects such as bioreactors, saturated buffers and oxbows,” he says. “It’s about helping farmers match the right practices and programs to their goals, whether they’re focused on soil health, water quality or return on investment.”
Upcoming I2P events
Date and time: February 12, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Kinze Manufacturing, 2172 M Ave., Williamsburg, IA 52361
Topics include:
- Soybean trials that work, featuring results from sulfur, fungicide and insecticide trials to maximize ROI
- Cover crops that pay, including cost-share programs and profitability strategies
- Conservation without the hassle, highlighting edge-of-field practices that protect water and habitat
The post-event tour of Kinze Manufacturing is currently full. To be added to the waitlist, contact Julia Brenizer at jbrenizer@iasoybeans.com or 815-878-5622.
Date and time: February 19, 2026, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Templeton Center, 230 S. 5th Ave., Templeton, IA 51463
Topics include:
- Soybean trials that work, featuring results from sulfur, fungicide and insecticide trials
- Cover crops that pay, with cost-share options and strategies for profitability
- Conservation without the hassle, focusing on practical edge-of-field solutions
Bonus: Raise a glass to ROI with a post-event tour and tasting at the Templeton Whiskey Distillery.
If you have any questions, e-mail Emma Harper at 641-344-7577 or eharper@iasoybeans.com.
Written by Kriss Nelson.
Back