Pods of Potential

Restoring natural oxbows can turn your challenging wet areas into native wildlife habitat and dependable watering sources for livestock. In this episode of Pods of Potential, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Iowa Private Lands Coordinator Drew Diallesandro joins ISA Senior Conservation Services Manager Brandon Iddings to discuss the oxbow restoration process. Learn how restored oxbows benefit farms by improving wildlife habitat, supporting flood mitigation and creating a productive use for excavated soil. They also discuss how partnering with the Iowa Soybean Association makes restoration a simple, no-cost process for landowners.

It's officially summer, and soybeans are growing fast across Iowa! In this episode, ISA Research Agronomist Shane Beck and Conservation Agronomist Brock Webb provide an in-season update on crop conditions and share what farmers should be scouting for as July approaches. They also discuss potential challenges that could emerge as the growing season progresses.
 
You'll hear the latest from research trials monitoring corn rootworm pressure and exploring sulfur's impact on soybean production. Plus, get an update on the Farmers for Soil Health program and how it is helping farmers implement in-field conservation practices through $35-per-acre incentives for both new and existing cover crop acres.

Farmers across Iowa are turning to water monitoring to evaluate nutrient efficiency and enhance water quality. In this episode of Pods of Potential, Iowa Soybean Association Water Lab Service Manager Tony Seeman and Heartland Co-op Strategic Partnership Coordinator Thomas Fawcett discuss how water monitoring helps farmers determine if current management practices are effective and identify conservation practices that may reduce nutrient loss. Explore how Iowa farmers, commodity groups and ag retailers are working together through Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance to enhance water quality across the state using water monitoring results. 

Protecting soil health and water quality is a priority for Iowa farmers. But what role do public policy and checkoff-funded research play in conservation adoption?
In this episode of Pods of Potential, ISA Chief Officer of Demand and Advocacy Matt Herman, Story County farmer Dave Struthers and Iowa State University Professor Michael Castellano discuss the impacts of corn stover removal and conservation practices on Iowa's farming landscape and policy arena.
Explore conservation from multiple perspectives: the research behind it, a farmer’s why behind implementing it and the policies that shape it. Learn how in-field agronomic benefits, policy incentives and research findings influence how farmers adopt conservation practices.
This episode of Pods of Potential is partially funded by the soybean checkoff.

Farmers across Iowa use tile systems to drain excess water from their farm fields. But did you know tile drainage can be paired with a buffer strip to enhance water quality? Iowa Soybean Association Conservation Agronomist Alex Logan joins Jake Luft and John Alhers of Luft & Sons Farm Drainage Solutions to explain how conservation practices can work alongside pattern tiling. They walk through simple, cost-effective water quality practices and how they help remove nitrates from the water leaving your field tile.

When every bushel counts, inputs need to generate a return on investment. Explore ways to reduce input costs for greater margins as Clay County farmer Paul Kassel and ISA Technical Insights Manager Rosie Koch share findings from checkoff-funded fungicide, sulfur and seeding rate research trials. Learn how unbiased, farmer-led research can guide your 2026 growing season decisions in this episode of Pods of Potential and the latest edition of the RCFI Insights Report.

When conservation and agronomy work together, they can deliver real, on-farm benefits. Explore how you can make your underperforming acres benefit your farm and your bottom line as Greene County farmer David Ausberger shares his conservation story. Hear how David uses conservation to improve soil quality and reduce operating costs. Iowa Soybean Association Conservation Services and Programs Lead Todd Sutphin also shares how ISA leverages partnerships to help farmers implement in-field and edge-of-field conservation practices at little to no cost.

Soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) are one of Iowa’s most damaging pests, silently cutting yields and reducing profits for farmers. In this episode of Pods of Potential, Matt Carroll from the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), Greg Tylka from the Iowa Soybean Research Center at Iowa State University and northwest Iowa farmer Austin Behrendsen dive into the prevalence of SCN and the latest research-backed strategies to manage it. Learn why ISA partners with organizations and universities to fund critical research, including work on SCN, and how proactive management can protect both your crop and your bottom line.

What factors influenced soybean and corn yields this season? The Iowa Soybean Association’s Research Agronomy Team breaks down the key trends they saw across Iowa fields this year — from weather impacts and the spread of southern rust to the value of well-timed fungicide applications. This episode of Pods of Potential also highlights the results of sulfur and cover crop trials, offering practical insights for the next growing season.

Scott County farmer Mike Paustian says yes - and he has the results to prove it. In this episode, learn how farmers are maximizing their acres by growing small grains and soybeans within the same season. Paustian shares his experience with relay intercropping and how it’s driving profitability on his farm. ISA Research Agronomist Lucas De Bruin explains the agronomics behind why intercropping soybeans works and highlights trial results from across Iowa.

Explore the pros and cons of different seeding methods for cover crops and how they cater to your farm's unique needs. Linn County farmer Jim O’Connell, ISA Senior Research Agronomist Alex Schaffer and Conservation Agronomist Evan Brehm weigh benefits like seed-to-soil contact and convenience for airplane, drone, high clearance machine, broadcast, drilled, and harvest air seeded methods. Whether you're new or experienced with cover crops, this episode provides clear, research-backed insights to help you make informed decisions for your farm.

Explore how on-farm research trials, funded in part by the soybean checkoff, are helping Spencer farmer and Iowa Soybean Association President Brent Swart boost efficiency and increase return on investment. ISA CEO Kirk Leeds explains how the association leverages checkoff dollars to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Iowa’s soybean farmers. Learn how your investment in the soybean checkoff is advancing the industry in this episode of Pods of Potential.