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BLOOMINGTON, ILL – June 18, 2012 – Soybean farmers from across Illinois are nearly finished with spring planting.  For the third year in a row, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is making it easy for web users to see soybean production in action.  At SoyCam.com – funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff – nine participating Illinois soybean farmers document their farming operations and processes through photographs and commentary, giving site visitors a glimpse into the state’s agriculture industry.

“As Illinois’ representatives to the American Soybean Association/DuPont Young Leader program, we understand the importance of sharing our methods with the media and consumers to ensure they understand how and why we do what we do on our farms,” says Kate Hagenbuch, soybean farmer and hog producer from Utica, Ill.  “Because we grow soybeans for market and to feed our hogs, it made sense to get involved by sharing information from the perspective of animal agriculture.  We believe that it is through efforts like this that farmers best can demonstrate the interrelationship between crops, livestock and the grocery store.”

In addition to Hagenbuch’s emphasis on ISA’s No. 1 target area, animal agriculture, two other participants are focusing their photography on key ISA initiatives.  Dan Farney, soybean farmer from Morton, Ill., and ISA Production Committee chair, is capturing the various ways he incorporates sustainable practices on his farm.  Ron Moore, soybean farmer from Roseville, Ill., and ISA vice chair for sustainability, is leveraging his role in ISA’s Illinois Farm Families program.  He is shooting pictures of his work on the land he’s designated as the Field Moms’ Acre.  Other 2012 SoyCam photographers include:

• Bill Wykes, soybean farmer from Yorkville, Ill., and ISA vice chairman
• Karl Spencer, soybean farmer from Yale, Ill., and former ISA Soy Ambassador
• Nick Wurl, soybean farmer from Urbana, Ill., and ISA Soy Ambassador
• Rob Shaffer, soybean farmer from El Paso, Ill., and ISA secretary
• Ross Prough, soybean farmer from Greenfield, Ill., and ISA vice chair for yield
• Sherri Kannmacher, soybean farmer from Martinsville, Ill., and former ISA Soy Ambassador

The SoyCam site also provides profiles of each photographer, production tips, crop updates and a wide variety of statistics related to soybean production in the United States, Illinois and each of its 102 counties.  The SoyCam Twitter page (@soycam) and YouTube channel (@ilsoycam) help web users stay current on all the latest SoyCam developments.

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is the statewide organization for Illinois soybean growers.  The farmers on its board administer soybean checkoff funds to support research, promotions and educational programs designed to increase demand for Illinois soybeans and administer legislation and membership programs.  For more information, visit www.ilsoy.org.