Iowa Soybean Association Celebrates Producers on National Farmers Day

October 12, 2021 | Brock Johnston

Ankeny, Iowa – Join the Iowa Soybean Association today, October 12, in recognizing National Farmers Day by reflecting on the invaluable role Iowa farmers play in providing food, fuel and fiber around the world.

As one of the world’s oldest and most vital professions, farmers remain one of the highest contributors to economic growth in Iowa, while consistently providing resources for a growing global population.

In 2021, Iowa soybean farmers planted nearly 10 million acres, up 500,000 acres from the year prior. The state’s soybean industry contributes nearly $9 billion to the state’s economy annually.

Historically known as “Old Farmer’s Day”, the national observance was cultivated to inspire and celebrate the hard work farmers put into growing crops every year.

“Farmers are under a pressure cooker of circumstances,” said ISA President Robb Ewoldt, a farmer near Davenport. “The way ISA takes some of that pressure away is by delivering innovative research and increasing soybean demand.”

As science and technology continue to advance, producers have modernized farming techniques to prolong harvest, increasing yields and profits.

A recent survey of nearly 400 Iowa soybean farmers, respondents identified yield growth, market competition and disease control as issues critical to increasing the profitability of their soybean enterprise:

• Yield growth – improvement of soybean yields year over year when compared to other commodity yields.
• Market competition – developments in technology and foreign trade, as well as identifying emerging or alternative markets for food grade and specialty soybeans.
• Disease control – increasing yield by developing and implementing new genetic enhancements.

Survey respondents also cited marketing biodiesel, enhancing consumer trust in modern agriculture and improving water and soil quality as issues impacting their long-term success.

“Helping farmers find solutions to this growing list of issues is not only critical to the viability and relevance of the soybean industry, but to the rural economy and the families it encompasses,” said Ewoldt.

Iowa is among the nation’s leaders in soybean production. Learn more at iasoybeans.com.

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Funded by the soybean checkoff

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The Iowa Soybean Association (www.iasoybeans.com) is “Driven To Deliver” increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish. Founded in 1964 by farmers to serve farmers, ISA is governed by a board of 22 farmers to advocate on behalf of the state’s 40,000 soybean producers, including more than 15,000 ISA farmer members and industry stakeholders.

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