Weekly Update: 05.04.23

ILLINOIS FARMER TESTIFIES BEFORE THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE  

Last week, American Soybean Association (ASA) President and Illinois farmer, Daryl Cates, testified before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit, where he provided the perspectives of soybean producers on the upcoming Farm Bill. 

ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS VISIT ISA VICE CHAIRMAN’S FARM  

ISA Vice Chairman, Ron Kindred, recently hosted state and federal legislators on his farm in Atlanta, Ill. There, Kindred led farm tours and ISA staff discussed agricultural issues that farmers are facing at the state and national levels, which provided an opportunity to educate legislators about on-farm issues firsthand.  

SOY FLOUR AS A HEART-HEALTHY, PROTEIN-RICH INGREDIENT

As Soy Foods Month comes to an end, ISA is challenging consumers to substitute soy flour as an ingredient for cakes, cookies, and breads. Considered a “complete protein,” this powerful ingredient boasts health benefits as well as versatility, and can significantly increase the shelf-life of baked products.  

FFA WATER TESTING CHALLENGE

IL Corn and ISA have teamed up to offer the second annual FFA Water Testing Challenge, where participants can learn about the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and practices that can reduce nutrient loss. If your chapter is interested in participating, contact Megan Dwyer at mdwyer@ilcorn.org. Final reports must be submitted by November 17, 2023.

 Dr. Jason Bond and his team have been working to extend greenhouse trials to better understand the relationship between soybean cyst nematode (SCN) infestation and soybean phenology, while also expanding image analyses. This research will help farmers and the industry better understand what SCN populations are doing in fields.