Press Releases

Petitions Available for Illinois Soybean Association District Director Elections (4-13-2012)
Petitions are available for growers interested in running for open director positions with the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA). Petitions can be obtained from the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), local University of Illinois Extension offices and the ISA office in Bloomington, Ill.

ISA Seeks Soybean Farmers Interested in United Soybean Board Nomination (2-21-2012)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is looking for farmers interested in filling one of Illinois' four director positions with the United Soybean Board (USB). The position currently held by David Hartke, soybean farmer from Teutopolis, Ill., expires in December 2012. Hartke is eligible for another term. To be considered for the national leadership position, farmers must complete the required application and "Agreement to Serve" statement and return them to the ISA office by March 20, 2012.

Chuck Hartke and Tom Jennings Receive 2011 Friend of Agriculture Award (11-22-2011)
Two former directors of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Chuck Hartke and Tom Jennings, were awarded the 2011 Friend of Agriculture Award at the 2011 Illinois Commodity Conference that was held in Bloomington Tuesday, November 22.

Annual Illinois Commodity Conference Challenges Producers to Look to the Future (10-20-2011)
Agricultural commodity producers from across the state will gather for the 2011 Illinois Commodity Conference on Tuesday, November 22 at the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington, Ill. The one-day event - centered on the theme "Gateway to the Future" - begins with registration at 7:30 a.m., which is followed by networking at 9:00 a.m. The first speaker starts at 9:55 a.m., and the entire program ends at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Coatsburg, Illinois Farmer Participates in Regional Ag Exchange Program (8-11-2011)
David Niekamp, a soybean grower from Coatsburg, Ill. and District 8 Director for the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA), recently spent four days in Tennessee on July 20-23, 2011, learning about agriculture in Tennessee as part of the annual Regional Exchange and Awareness Program (REAP) sponsored by the American Soybean Association (ASA), the United Soybean Board (USB), Bayer CropScience and Novus International. The tour was hosted by the Tennessee Soybean Association.

New Illinois Ag Director, Other Leaders Talk Crucial Soybean Transportation Issues (2-20-2012)
Key government and industry leaders led productive discussion at a recent Illinois soybean checkoff-funded transportation event. The day-long summit was held to address challenges and opportunities of the current transportation infrastructure used to move Illinois soybeans domestically and internationally.

Checkoff-Funded Research Shows Early Soybean Planting Boosts Yield Potential (4-26-2012)
Each day Illinois farmers delay soybean planting can negatively affect yields, according to the latest University of Illinois research. Funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff and conducted at six sites throughout Illinois, researchers found the highest yields came from early plantings -- about mid-April -- before yield loss accelerated.

ISA Announces 2011 Yield Challenge Student Team Winners (4-19-2012)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) recently announced the high school and college team winners of the soybean checkoff-supported 2011 Yield Challenge. Gallatin County High School's FFA chapter from Junction, Ill., earned first place in the high school division, with second place going to the Heyworth FFA chapter from Heyworth, Ill. First and second places in the college category went to Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and Illinois State University (ISU) in Bloomington, Ill.

2012 Yield Challenge Promotes New Production Strategies and Technologies (4-3-2012)
Registration Deadline Approaching Fast
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is encouraging any Illinois soybean grower interested in achieving higher yields and profit potential to sign up for the 2012 Yield Challenge before the April 15 registration deadline. Established by ISA and funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff, the Yield Challenge provides a platform for growers to test new and innovative crop management strategies and technologies that could help boost their yields. Participating growers also generate and share valuable data that can be used to formulate recommendations for future production years.

Inaugural Illinois Soybean Summit Educates Growers on Methods for Increasing Yields (3-16-2012)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) hosted nearly 400 soybean farmers, agronomists and agribusiness representatives at the first-ever Illinois Soybean Summit on March 9. Built around the theme of "Reaching Beyond Yield Obstacles," the Summit was established as a platform for sharing ideas, practices and technologies that can help increase soybean yields and profitability.

Illinois Soybean Association Joins Industry Partners in Helping Farmers Defeat Weeds (1-27-2012)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) along with industry partners, Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences and BASF, will host three Illinois Weed Resistance Preparedness Training meetings next month. ISA and its partners want to help soybean farmers around the state prepare, defend and defeat the growing threat posed by weed resistance.

Nominate soybean varieties for the 2012 VIPS by the end of February (2-8-2012)
Help identify the best yielding and most resistant varieties to improve profit Did you grow a high-yielding, high-quality soybean variety last year? Nominate it online by February 28, 2012, to be included in the 2012 Variety Information Program for Soybeans (VIPS).

Illinois Soybean Farmers Partner with Industry to Promote Proper Nutrient Management (2-28-2012)
The Illinois agriculture industry continues to experience regulatory pressure to reduce on-farm input use. Illinois soybean farmers, with funding from the soybean checkoff, are helping promote smart nutrient management decisions this spring, and showcasing the practices farmers use to maintain and even enhance land and water quality.

Illinois Soybean Association Participates in New Sustainability Program (3-10-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) - in collaboration with the United Soybean Board and five other Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs) - is working with farmers to improve agricultural sustainability through the Strategies Targeting American Agricultural Resources and Sustainability (STAARS) initiative. Focused on data collection and analysis, the program was established to help identify ways to improve efficiency in crop production techniques.

Illinois Soybean Association Launches Online Advocacy Tool for Farmers (4-26-2012)
Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) farmer leaders announce the launch of Voice for Soy, a new online legislative action center. Voice for Soy was created to boost ISA's legislative efforts by activating Illinois farmers into effective advocates.

Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) hosted first Illinois Soy 2020 Roundtable (5-2-2011)
Last week, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) hosted the first Illinois Soy 2020 Roundtable in Bloomington, Ill. Leaders from more than 17 soybean stakeholder groups came together to discuss the current state of the soybean industry and work together to set a long-range strategic plan to optimize the soybean value chain and position the U.S. soybean industry as the global marketplace leader.

Illinois Soybean Checkoff Helps Bring World War II Ship to Peoria (9-2-2011)
On September 7, 2011, the LST-325, a World War II amphibious vessel, will arrive in Peoria. The ship, which serves as a World War II memorial and museum, will dock on the Peoria riverfront until September 12. "Illinois soybean farmers played an important role in helping bring this rare, treasured warship to Central Illinois," stated Illinois Soybean Association Chairman Matt Hughes, a soybean farmer from Shirley, Ill. "The Illinois soybean checkoff helps fund the biodiesel that powers this ship, which will be open for public tours in Peoria and other stops along the Illinois River."

Illinois Soybean Farmers to Benefit from Growth in Biodiesel Production (6-16-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and its members were encouraged after reviewing the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monthly biodiesel production numbers. Released in late May, the April production figures reflected significant growth over the prior 12-month period. This increase indicates that the industry is well on its way to meeting the EPA's new renewable fuel standards for usage requirements (RFS-2), which in turn increases demand for Illinois-grown soybeans.

ISA Supports Biodiesel at Fast Stop Grand Opening (5-26-2011)
On Friday, April 29, representatives from the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) helped welcome a new Fast Stop location in Bloomington, Ill. Located at 16 Quest Drive, the station offers B11 biodiesel (a blend including 11 percent biodiesel), giving its customers an environmentally friendly alternative to standard diesel.

Illinois Soybean Association Hires Bioproducts and Industrial Utilization Contractor (4-22-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has hired MARC-IV Consulting as its new Bioproducts and Industrial Utilization contractor. In this role, MARC-IV will be responsible for managing various projects and people associated with the development of new uses for soybeans and soybean products, with a primary focus on soybean oil. In addition to working with new uses, MARC-IV also will provide strategic advice to the ISA staff and farmer-leaders regarding the best future investment opportunities for bioproducts research and market development. This guidance will help maximize the return on Illinois soybean checkoff dollars.

ISA Seeks Applicants for Crop Sciences Scholarships for 2012-13 School Year (10-24-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) again will offer college scholarships to students interested in studying crop sciences at specific Illinois universities. Interested applicants will find the program has changed somewhat from the previous program, when applications become available beginning December 1, 2011.

New Dietary Guidelines Include Soy Products (6-17-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) joins the Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA) in applauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the new food icon, MyPlate. Launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on June 2, MyPlate provides guidelines for healthier eating by showing consumers what their plates should look like at meal times. ISA and SANA are particularly pleased to see that soyfoods are represented in three of the MyPlate food groups.

SoyCam.com Photos Document Impact of Illinois Flooding (6-13-2011)
When established by the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) in 2010, SoyCam.com was intended to educate people interested in learning more about soybean production from start to finish. However, in May of 2011, the website served a second purpose: it documented the devastating effect the 2011 spring flood season had on Illinois farms and farmers.

Watch Illinois Soybean Production in Action at SoyCam.com! (6-10-2011)
The sunshine and warmth of spring have lured Illinois soybean farmers into the fields for another season, and you can keep track of their progress online! SoyCam.com - established by the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff - offers viewers glimpses into the entire soybean growth process through photographs and commentary posted by participating farmers. In addition to the 10 Illinois locations, SoyCam also includes contributions from members of APROSOJA, the Mato Grosso Soybean and Corn Producers Association in Brazil.

Illinois Family Farmers High Performance Team to Be Featured at NASCAR Race (5-19-2011)
Illinois farmers have an exclusive opportunity to join the Family Farmers High Performance Team, bringing the farm to more than 30,000 NASCAR fans at the Chicagoland Speedway. Kenny Wallace, currently 7th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) driver rankings, will pilot the “Family Farmers” car in the June 4th race which will be aired live at 7PM on ESPN. Partnered with the television exposure of the “Family Farmers” car, the nearly 18,000 square foot “Farm Experience” will allow race fans to learn more about farming, and more importantly, meet family farmers themselves.

ISA to Unveil New Exhibit Featuring Kenny Wallace & Other Guest Speakers at 2011 Farm Progress Show (8-10-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) will be unveiling a new exhibit at this year's Farm Progress Show - August 30 through September 1 - in Decatur, Ill. Funded in part by the Illinois soybean checkoff, the exhibit will honor Illinois soybean farmers' Legacy of Leadership and feature informative displays illustrating how Illinois soybean farmers are leading the way in animal agriculture, soybean market development, soybean research and new uses for soybeans. It also will include one of the only air-conditioned areas at the show, which will host an array of guest speakers.

Annual ISA Research Report Keeps State’s Soybean Farmers Current on Checkoff-Funded Studies (8-5-2011)
Every year, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) publishes a report detailing the latest in Illinois soybean checkoff-funded research. This document helps soybean farmers stay current on new methods and products that will help them improve the quality and productivity of their soybeans, while also updating them on advances made in developing new markets and enhancing sustainability practices.

ISA’s Annual Research Tour on July 19–20 Offers Attendees Updates on Current Soybean Research (7-7-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) will host its annual two-day research tour on July 19 and 20. Starting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Crop Sciences Research and Education Center, the tour begins Tuesday, July 19 at 8:00 a.m. and continues at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Belleville Research Station on Wednesday, July 20 until 1:00 p.m. The 2011 Research Tour is designed to provide the state's soybean growers and other attendees with current information on what's new in Illinois soybean checkoff-funded research.

MEDIA ALERT: Register for the 2011 ISA Research Tour! (6-7-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) invites farmers, Certified Crop Consultants and members of the media to build their knowledge on what's new in Illinois soybean checkoff-funded research at its free two-day Research Tour. The tour - co-sponsored by ISA and Prairie Farmer - kicks off July 19 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus and ends July 20 at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Belleville Research Center.

Soybean Outreach Summit a Hit with Attendees (3-3-2011)
The 2011 Soybean Outreach Summit was a huge success! We would like to thank the farmers, presenters and directors who attended the event. Overall, the day was a wonderful learning experience that provided opportunities for networking and problem solving. We look forward to seeing everyone again in the summer for the annual Research Tour. Be sure to check back for more information as the growing season is quickly approaching!

Illinois Soybean Association and Cargill Announce Partnership To Advance Soybean Yields and Quality (3-7-2012)
International grain marketing company Cargill is the latest organization to join a new partnership program with the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) to help advance the soybean industry in the state. As a corporate partner, Cargill will collaborate with Illinois soybean farmers to improve soybean yields and quality.

Illinois Soybean Association Offers Holiday Membership Special (12-21-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is inviting the state's soybean farmers -- and others vested in the Illinois soybean industry -- to take an active role in the future of Illinois agriculture by giving the gift of ISA membership. Available at a special, discounted holiday rate of $145 through January 31, 2012, a three-year ISA membership includes many valuable benefits that more than offset the registration fee!

ISA Encouraging State’s Soybean Farmers to Join by Offering Reduced Membership Rate (7-22-2011)
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is inviting all of the state's soybean farmers to take an active role in the future of Illinois agriculture by becoming ISA members. To encourage farmers and others who want to support them to join, ISA is offering a discounted rate of $145 for a three-year membership. That's $50 off the standard price from August 1 through September 15.

ISA Launches New Soy Leader Task Force and Corporate Affiliate Membership Incentive (7-21-2011)
While many soybean farmers have united with ISA and taken a stand against potential threats to the industry, more voices are needed to help secure the future success of Illinois agriculture. To engage the next generation of farmers and meet membership goals, ISA is recruiting representatives who are passionate about the agriculture industry for their new Soy Leader task force. In addition to the Soy Leader initiative, ISA plans to grow its membership base by implementing a corporate affiliate membership program.

ISA Provides Key Information to Soybean Farmers at Farm Shows (11-24-2010)
Farmers Take Part in Survey on Checkoff Initiatives
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is heading to area farm shows with valuable information that will benefit the state’s soybean farmers. At the same time, ISA is seeking farmer input regarding priorities for checkoff-funded initiatives.