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SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - May 11, 2012 (5-10-2012)
It’s Time to Add your Voice for Soy
Decisions made by lawmakers in Springfield and Washington, D.C., impact your farm’s bottom line. Ensure your voice is heard when decisions are made. Join Voice for Soy, ISA’s online legislative action center, and become an effective advocate for Illinois agriculture. Find all the tools you need to track current legislative issues, connect with legislators and take action. Register today.

SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - May 3, 2012 (5-3-2012)
It’s Time to Add your Voice for Soy
Decisions made by lawmakers in Springfield and Washington, D.C., impact your farm’s bottom line. Ensure your voice is heard when decisions are made. Join Voice for Soy, ISA’s online legislative action center, and become an effective advocate for Illinois agriculture. Find all the tools you need to track current legislative issues, connect with legislators and take action. Register today.

SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - April 27, 2012 (4-26-2012)
Voice for Soy Gives Farmers New Legislative Action Opportunity
When pending legislation could affect Illinois or U.S. agriculture, it is crucial that farmers organize and reach out to legislators. Illinois soybean farmers are encouraged to join Voice for Soy, ISA’s new online legislative action center, to add their voices in Springfield and Washington, D.C. “Voice for Soy is a powerful advocacy tool and significant benefit to our membership,” says Mike Marron, soybean farmer from Fithian, Ill., and ISA market access and advocacy vice chair. “Farmers can prepare to take action by registering at Voice for Soy today.” Voice for Soy enables farmers to advocate quickly when legislative issues may impact their bottom lines. Farmers can track current issues, receive an email alert when action is needed, and use easy, online tools to connect with appropriate legislators. Additionally, Voice for Soy is an open, voluntary advocacy center where other farmers and farm groups can join in on common issues to amplify the impact. Get started by visiting www.ilsoy.org/voiceforsoy and register today.

SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - April 20, 2012 (4-20-2012)
Illinois Soybean Farmers to Address Market Access, Sustainability in Europe
Maintaining and expanding market access for Illinois soybeans is one of the priorities of the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and Illinois soybean checkoff. A small group of Illinois soybean farmer leaders and other industry stakeholders will be in Europe, April 23-26, to address critical market access and sustainability issues to keep market pathways open to Illinois soybean and soy product sales. Bill Wykes, soybean farmer from Yorkville, Ill., and ISA vice chair, will make the trip with fellow soybean farmer Ron Moore from Roseville, Ill., ISA sustainability vice chair; and Amy Roady, ISA director of communications. Sharon Covert, soybean farmer from Tiskilwa, Ill., and one of the Illinois representatives for the United Soybean Board (USB), also will be part of the trip. The group will participate in USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) Europe Cooperator Conference in the Netherlands. Wykes, Moore and Roady will then meet with European Union (EU) industry and trade contacts in The Netherlands and Belgium.

SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - April 13, 2012 (4-12-2012)
Yield Challenge Signup Deadline is April 15
ISA leaders encourage any Illinois soybean farmer 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 farmers to test new and innovative crop management strategies and technologies that could help boost their yields. Participating farmers also generate and share valuable data that can be used to formulate recommendations for future production years. Click here for complete details about the Yield Challenge, including information on how it works, pricing structure and an online registration form. Farmers also may contact Yield Challenge Coordinator Jim Nelson at 309-825-7542 or yieldchallenge@ilsoy.org.

SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - April 6, 2012 (4-5-2012)
Study Confirms Illinois Animal Ag's Solid Economic Impact
An updated study about the contribution of animal agriculture to Illinois’ economy shows the industry continues to serve as an economic engine in both rural and urban areas. The production sector contributes $3.5 billion of total impact and more than 25,000 jobs to the state’s economy. When combined with meat and dairy processing, the entire complex produces more than $27 billion in total impact — up from $21 billion in 2004 and equal to five percent of the state’s economy and 99,000 jobs. The trend in Illinois livestock output shows modest growth in real value of products sold. Pork and poultry lead with positive real growth, dairy is nominally flat and has declined in real terms, while beef, sheep and lamb marketings declined both nominally and in real terms. The Illinois Livestock Development Group (ILDG), which is supported by the soybean checkoff, contracted with Peter Goldsmith at the University of Illinois to conduct the updated study. This is the third time this study has been conducted since 2001. Copies of the full report can be downloaded from the website under the “research” tab.

SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - March 30, 2012 (3-29-2012)
ISA Evaluates Cuban Market Potential
Illinois soybean farmers are losing market share in Cuba to competitors who are geographically more distant. In 2006, the U.S. had more than 75 percent of the market share of Cuba's soybean meal and oil imports. Today, Brazil has more than 75 percent. ISA directors Matt Hughes, Doug Winter, Dan Farney and Tim Seifert and ISA Director of Strategic Market Development Mark Albertson traveled to Cuba earlier this month on a mission funded with non-checkoff dollars to learn more. The goals of the mission were to build relationships with key individuals and organizations that buy and use soybeans, gain intimate knowledge of supply and demand dynamics for soy in Cuba, learn how Illinois can be the preferred supplier of soy and set the stage for future visits and mutually beneficial supplier agreements. ISA believes Illinois is well positioned to be Cuba's best supplier of soybeans and soy products, given the state's logistical advantages and commitment to quality.

SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - March 23, 2012 (3-22-2012)
Check Crop Insurance Coverage Before Planting Early
Unseasonably warm, dry weather may have farmers thinking about planting crops earlier than usual. Brian Frieden, USDA’s Risk Management Agency director for the Springfield Region, reminds producers that crops planted before the earliest planting date are not eligible for replant payments, but the insurance guarantee is not affected as long as producers follow good farming practices. In Illinois, the earliest planting date for corn is April 6, except for the southernmost counties of Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union with an April 1 date. For soybeans, the northern third of the state has an earliest planting date of April 16. The remainder of Illinois has an April 21 date. For more details or the impact early planting may have on your crop insurance policy, contact your agent.

SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - March 16, 2012 (3-14-2012)
Soybean Farmers Support Bill that Supports Biobased Products
ASA commended this week Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow for her support and leadership through introduction of legislation (S. 2155) that continues and builds upon the Biobased Market Program established under the 2002 Farm Bill. The bill recognizes the importance of biobased products, promotes an increase in biobased manufacturing and supports the progressive and groundbreaking work of the biobased products industry. With its expanded support of USDA’s BioPreferred program, the legislation continues to encourage the U.S. government to purchase biobased products and sends a positive signal to industry to continue their investment in biobased manufacturing.

SOYBEAN WEEKLY UPDATE - March 8, 2012 (3-8-2012)
Two Illinois Soybean Farmers Receive National Honors
Two dedicated Illinois soybean farmer-leaders were honored Friday, March 2, during Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn. C.W. Gaffner, past ISA director from Greenville, Ill., received the American Soybean Association (ASA) Lifetime Achievement/Membership Focus Award. Philip Bradshaw, past United Soybean Board (USB) chairman from Griggsville, Ill., received the ASA Meritorious Service Award. The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Board of Directors nominated both farmers for the awards.