Soybean farmers sound off on crop progress and industry priorities

July 17, 2025 | Aaron Putze, APR

Nearly 100 soybean farmers and industry leaders are meeting this week in Norfolk, Va., for the United Soybean Board’s (USB) summer meeting. Agenda items included Fiscal year 2026 budget and programming approvals, chair and CEO reports and updates from domestic beef, pork and poultry representatives.

Between the formal business meetings, I chatted with farmers from Iowa, South Dakota, North Carolina and Ohio. Topics included crop conditions in their areas and progress on key issues and challenges impacting fellow growers and the soybean industry.

Steve Reinhard (Bucyrus, Ohio): Steve farms 1,300 acres of soybeans, corn and soft red wheat in north central Ohio (about an hour south of Lake Erie and an hour north of Columbus). Served as 2024 USB chair.

“We’re a bit behind but the soybeans and corn look decent. We’re on track for average or slightly above average yields. We were late with planting due, so we won’t go too far above average. We like to start planting in the middle of April, but we didn’t get in until around the middle of May and continued through mid-June. May turned cold and wet – enough rain that you couldn’t do any field work. Average yields in my area are 230-bushel corn and around 65–70-bushel soybeans.

“The two issues we’re focused on as a soybean industry is increasing domestic demand for soybeans and soybean meal exports. I just returned from visits to Mexico and into Latin America where U.S. soy imports are up 15% so far this year. We continue to drive home the differentiation of U.S. soybean meal compared to the competition. The issues in Iowa are the same as Ohio – high input costs compared to driving greater demand so we can generate profitable prices for farmers.”

Brent Renner (Klemme, Iowa): Brent serves as an at-large director on the Iowa Soybean Association board and USB director. He grows soybeans, corn, alfalfa and runs a cow-calf operation. This will be his 25th harvest.

“Soybeans have looked tough from the word ‘go’ this year. It’s been a struggle. As things sit today, they look like they are 2-3 weeks behind, but they’ve shown vast improvement over the past month. I’m going to have a lot of fields 100,000-110,000 population due to germination issues caused by cool, dry weather immediately after planting. A lot of uneven stands but with soybeans, that’s not always a dagger like it can be with corn. We’re hoping for a strong August to put something out there that we’re not expecting. Right now, my expectations are slightly below average soybean yields. We’re now too wet – potholes that were planted twice are under water again. And you don’t have to go too far south and it’s even worse – Wright County looks like Minnesota and the land of 10,000 lakes. This is my 25th growing season and I’ve already lost track of saying, ‘Well, I’ve never seen that before!’

“What I share with my fellow soybean farmers is that USB is focused on moving soybeans, whether through demand, innovation or technology. This includes finding new uses and applications for soy. And exciting development is the production of soy foam for firefighting. Demand for the product is on the verge of taking off as it’s a viable replacement for products that contain PFAS. The product is made from soy meal and flour, byproducts of the soybean crush process. There’s also been a lot of good news as of late on the renewable fuels and biodiesel front with the stepped-up volume obligations and leveling the playing field with importation of biofuels feedstocks. After a lot of negative news, we’re starting to see some positive news.”

Tim Ostrem (Centerville, South Dakota): A long-time state and national soybean leader, Tim farms soybeans and corn and will celebrate his 50th harvest this fall. His farm is located between Sioux Falls and Sioux City.

“Last year might have been one of my worst due to floods; then went to drought in the same year. This growing season started out dry, but we’ve now got the best-looking crops I’ve ever had. The low, middle and high ground is all good. In our area, 50-bushel soybeans and 180-bushel corn are average. We were below those yields last year because some acres had to be zeroed out due to flooding. If we can keep receiving timely rains to finish out this year’s growing season, we’re looking at 60-plus-bushel soybeans and 220-bushel corn. We’re currently scouting for aphids which can be a problem. Tar spot continues to move closer and closer but so far, it’s not an issue on our farm.

“Looking to the future of soybean demand, we’re optimistic. We have soybean crush expansion taking place in the area, including a new facility in Mitchell, South Dakota. We’re going to have more soybean meal and oil available so as an industry, we’re focused on how we can move these additional volumes domestically with China not taking our whole beans like they used to. We can move these products, whether as meal, meat or oil and then commit to retaining the new demand we create. Transportation fuels are also a big deal, with an emphasis on continuing to reduce carbon intensity scores to make it more competitive for states like California working to reduce air emissions.”

Derek Potter (Grantsboro, North Carolina): Derek farms near the eastern coast of North Carolina, specializing in corn and soybean production. He’s serving his ninth year as a USB director.

“We had a favorable start to getting the crops planted and then some rain which required some replanting. Those replated acres are a bit late and have a ways to go but overall, corn and soybean development is pretty decent. If we keep getting water, we might have areas that get above average yields. If you go 30 miles to the west of where I farm, the topography changes, soils get lighter so yields may vary a bit more. For corn, we’ll start harvesting mid-to-late August as the crop is moving along given the recent heat. For soybeans, the first to middle October is when harvest starts.

“When it comes to the work of USB, we’re always looking to drive sustainable and economic production so we as soybean farmers can stay in business. We’re focused on developing new soybean traits, markets, and uses. It might sound self-serving but is about doing whatever we can do to keep ourselves in business and remain profitable. Focusing on the big picture and all aspects of soybean demand helps every soybean farmer. As has been said, a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Written by Aaron Putze.

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