It is a strange time. Normally, we would be gearing up for an in-person gathering at Commodity Classic in San Antonio, next week. However, due to the pandemic that took a hold of us just after Commodity Classic last year, we are grounded and meeting virtually. This means that many organizations who would have been meeting at Commodity Classic, are meeting now ahead of next week?s event. The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) had its board meeting this week in Ankeny.
Robb Ewoldt is the President-Elect of the ISA and a producer from Davenport. He talks about the fact that is good to get together, even socially distant, to talk about the things that are top of mind for producers and the industry in 2021. One of the things they are looking at is what will bean acres look like in 2021, and how will they budget it out.
Ewoldt says that he is expecting to see more soybean acres not just because of the prices, though they are definitely helping. He says a lot of corn-on-corn acres are going to be switched because of the derecho effect.
Jeff Frank is an Auburn farmer and District 4 Director. He talks about what is seen out in his part of West-Central Iowa. There were no derecho issues for them, but he sees the increase in soybean acreage coming as well because they were locking in these good prices.
Frank said the board is also focused on developing even more uses for soybeans and biproducts. The market can only get stronger as science develops new things that soybeans can be a part of.
For more information on the work being done by the Iowa Soybean Association, visit their website.
