How is the soybean checkoff utilized by ISA?

October 1, 2025

In the year ahead, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) will boost demand for homegrown soy, drive on-farm resilience and bring value to the nearly 37,000 soybean farmers from across the state. Led by its 22 farmer leaders, ISA recently approved a 2026 fiscal year checkoff budget, strategically allocating funds across vital research, promotion and education investments.

The board approved the budget during the association’s June meeting in Ankeny, prioritizing strategic investment in several areas such as animal health and nutrition, infrastructure, production research and international trade. In addition, the board focuses its engagement efforts on strengthening relationships with farmers, industry stakeholders and key influencers benefiting ISA and the agricultural community. 

Approved Budget Areas

Productivity - 34.46%

• Foster research and conservation projects and programs that serve Iowa farmers.
• Develop integrated research programming and technical assistance supporting robust agronomic practices and farmer-led conservation practice implementation.
• Expand holistic understanding of the soybean cropping system and innovative practices.
• Assemble statewide projects that enable robust datasets to deliver locally relevant insights for implementation. 

Demand - 25.91%

• Promote soy exports, including soybeans, meal and oil.
• Improve infrastructure to increase competitiveness.
• Advance bioenergy solutions and markets.
• Accelerate domestic utilization of soy meal and oil for animal, human and industrial use. 

Engagement - 22.91%

• Connect all Iowa soybean farmers with ISA.
• Encourage soybean farmers to be active participants with ISA.
• Strengthen the relationship between soybean farmers and ISA.
• Develop leaders to maximize ISA's reach and influence.
• Serve as the go-to source for soybean industry news and information.
• Advance the positive attributes of soy and modern agriculture. 

Operations - 11.47%

• Maximize the impact of our people and resources through operational excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Advocacy 5.35%

• While the majority of the Advocacy budget is funded through non-checkoff resources for lobbying and other efforts, some checkoff funds can be used to support general issue updates, including informational backgrounders. 

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