(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association)
Sharing insights from conference hall to shop floor
January 6, 2026 | Kriss Nelson
From the conference hall to the shop floor, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is kicking off a full slate of winter programming designed to share ideas, results and opportunities for the year ahead.
ISA events include the annual Farm Forward Conference, Innovation to Profit meetings and Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) Shop Talks.
"Events are vital to bringing farmers together to access actionable research, explore new market opportunities, stay informed on policy and strengthen community connections," says Bre Wagner, ISA producer services manager. "Founded by farmers, for farmers, ISA designs its winter meetings to provide the insights, tools and connections Iowa soybean farmers need to succeed."
Farm Forward
The ISA's Farm Forward conference on February 4, at the Hotel Fort Des Moines, will gather Iowa farmers, agribusiness leaders and policymakers to discuss the future of agriculture in a changing world.
"This event will take a deep look at the beliefs, systems and habits that have shaped American agriculture and challenge us to think differently about what comes next," says Megan Decker, ISA's manager of advocacy. "Through conversations on global trade, ag transportation, market dynamics, innovation in Iowa and state and federal policy, we'll examine how better questions can drive better outcomes for farmers, rural communities and consumers alike."
Ray Starling will be the keynote speaker for the event, which will also feature expert panels exploring new ideas, linking local innovation to global prospects and rethinking the future of U.S. agriculture in a more interconnected world.
Starling previously served as chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, as principal agriculture adviser to the president and chief of staff and counsel to U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. Starling also worked as general counsel for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Starling currently serves as general counsel for the North Carolina Chamber and president of its Legal Institute, leading one of the nation's most active agricultural policy portfolios.
In 2022, he published "Farmers Versus Foodies," an Amazon bestseller and Pulitzer nominee.
Innovation to Profit
ISA's winter Innovation to Profit meetings will provide an update from the Research Center for Farming Innovation's (RCFI) research and conservation teams. Meetings will be held Feb. 12 at Kinze Manufacturing, 2172 M Ave., Williamsburg, and Feb. 19 at the Templeton Event Center, 230 S. 5th Ave., Templeton.
Alex Schaffer, ISA research agronomy lead, says winter meetings are about more than sharing data; they're about connecting the work of the checkoff back to the farmers who make it possible.
"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 discussions will again center on return on investment, highlighting results from 2025 trials and previewing what's ahead in 2026.
"In 2025, we looked at inputs like fungicide, insecticide and sulfur on soybeans," Schaffer explains. "Those will be some of the main projects we talk about regarding return on investment. That's the importance of the soybean checkoff is doing these trials, understanding the return on different practices and products and maintaining profitability."
The RCFI team will also host a farmer panel for farmers to learn from other farmers.
"The panel will be valuable for farmer-to-farmer information sharing, talking about what works and what doesn't," he 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."
Todd Sutphin, ISA conservation services and program lead, says ISA will also connect attendees with conservation programs and practical tools that can make a difference both within and beyond the field.
"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," he says.
In addition to providing an update on technical advice around managing conservation cropping systems, Sutphin says the team will explore a suite of practices to help farmers understand what's available.
"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."
RCFI Shop Talks
Lucas De Bruin, ISA research agronomist, says this winter's RCFI Shop Talks will feature a localized, farmer-driven approach.
The events will be held in the farmers' own shops, a fitting setting for conversation among farmers. Spanning the state, the series gives farmers a chance to gather where the work happens, connect with neighbors and talk through shared challenges and successes.
Programs with Chris Gaesser in Lenox, Dean Sponheim in Nora Springs and Rob Stout in Washington are scheduled for early January.
"The goal is to have farmer-led conversations about what they're doing on their farms when it comes to conservation practices, and the tips and tricks that have helped them," De Bruin says. "We want it to be interactive and conversational."
Upcoming Winter Events
Farm Forward Conference
Feb. 4 - Challenge assumptions and grow opportunities
Hotel Fort Des Moines
1000 Walnut St. | Des Moines
Winter Innovation to Profit Meetings
Feb. 12 - Building for profit
Kinze Manufacturing
2172 M Ave. | Williamsburg
Feb. 19 - Innovation on Tap
Templeton Event Center
230 S. 5th Ave. | Templeton
Research Center for Farming Innovation Shop Talks
Jan. 13 - Small grains and big gains
Chris Gaesser | Corning
Jan. 14 - Smarter tillage and cover crops
Dean Sponheim | Nora Springs
Jan. 15 - Conservation practices that pay
Rob Stout | Washington
Written by Kriss Nelson.
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