Iowa Soybean Research Center

in collaboration with the Iowa Soybean Association

Industry Advisory Council

Iowa soybean farmers, industry partners and the Iowa Soybean Association have representation on the ISRC’s Industry Advisory Council (IAC), which serves to identify research needs in the areas of soybean production and protection for the center. Current industry partners with representation on the council include AGCO, Albaugh, AMVAC, Beck's, BASF, Bayer, Cornelius Seed, Corteva Agriscience, FMC, GDM, Innvictis/Simplot, Merschman Seeds, Mosaic, Nutrien, Peterson Genetics, Syngenta, and UPL. In addition, the council has three farmer representatives. The IAC meets annually to provide feedback on what research they would like to see funded. Following the council meeting, the ISRC’s management team meets to review the council’s discussions and finalize funding decisions. Members of the IAC are listed below.

Tryston Beyrer, MosaicTryston Beyrer, Mosaic

Tryston is the crop nutrition lead with The Mosaic Company for western North America. Mosaic's mission is to help the world grow the food it needs. Tryston’s role primarily involves training on Mosaic performance products and advanced crop nutrition. Tryston previously worked as a regional agronomist, currently serves on his state C.C.A. board and farms in NW Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois crop physiology program.

Barry christensenBarry Christensen, Farmer

Barry farms near Riceville, IA, with his father and two brothers-in-law. He is involved in the Howard County Experimental Farm, Farm Bureau and other local organizations. Barry spends a lot of time in the fields with growers in his area as a sales representative for Pioneer Seed and selling crop protection for Titan Pro, INC through his company, Christensen Agri-Seeds. He enjoys supporting growers through the use of technology and advanced farming practices to maximize their operations. Barry is a graduate of Iowa State University. 

Todd Cogdill, FMCTodd Cogdill, FMC

Todd is the technical service manager in Iowa for FMC. FMC is focused on solving customer challenges and providing solutions to protect crops and improve yields. This matches up with the goal of the Iowa Soybean Research Center to improve and enhance soybean yields and profitability in Iowa. Todd earned his B.S. and M.S. from Iowa State University and Ph.D. in Agronomy – Weed Science from Texas A&M University.

 

Will CorneliusWill Cornelius, Cornelius Seed

Will is an agronomist, certified crop adviser and the soybean lead at Cornelius Seed, a family seed company in Bellevue, IA, which started in 1935. Their mission is to provide growers with the industry’s leading genetics, traits and service to maximize profits on every acre. Will is a graduate of Iowa State University.


 

Julia Daum

Julia Daum, BASF

Julia is a nematologist and senior program leader in Trait Research, US at BASF, located in RTP, North Carolina. A key focus area for the US-based team is to discover and evaluate novel leads for their potential to become superior agricultural products that protect crops and improve yield. BASF is committed to supporting the industry, and we believe it is important to partner with organizations like the Iowa Soybean Research Center. Together we will develop new opportunities and innovations for soybean growers that will provide long-term benefits for their operations. Julia is a graduate of Iowa State University.

Erin Doran, Sound Ag

Erin Doran, Sound Agriculture

Erin is an agronomist with Sound Agriculture. Her background includes experience in agricultural field sales for crop inputs, data analytics, variable rate farm management, project management, user testing and platform management. Sound Agriculture develops nature-based solutions for tastier, healthier and more sustainable food. Erin is a graduate of Iowa State University.

Bobby Golden, SimplotBobby Golden, Innvictis/Simplot

Bobby is the eastern U.S. technical services manager for Simplot and Innvictis Seed Solutions. Simplot, an international food and agriculture company based in Boise, Idaho, distributes Innvictis products. Simplot pioneers innovations in plant nutrition and food processing, researches new ways to feed animals, sustain ecosystems, and strives to feed a growing global population. Before joining Innvictis/Simplot, Bobby was a rice and soil fertility agronomist for Mississippi State University Extension.

Lynn JustesenLynn Justesen, UPL

Lynn is UPL's technical services lead for row crops. UPL is a global provider of sustainable agriculture products & solutions. UPL is focused on facilitating progress for the entire agricultural value chain, striving towards its mission to make every single food product more sustainable. 


 

Wade Kent, NutrienWade Kent, Nutrien

Wade is a Digital Agronomist Senior Principal at Nutrien. He also farms on his great-grandfather’s farm in north central Iowa. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a B.S. in Agronomy and Seed Science and an M.S. in Crop Production and Physiology. He earned a Ph.D. in Agronomy and Crop Science from the University of Minnesota.

David Long, AlbaughDavid Long, Albaugh, LLC

David is the technical manager of the seed treatment team at Albaugh, LLC. and has been working in seed treatments for over 20 years. His expertise includes solutions with both traditional and biological products that are characterized as fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, and biostimulants. David earned his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at the University of Arkansas.

 

Alex LundgrenAlex Lundgren, AGCO Corporation

Alex is a product manager for CropCare at AGCO Corporation. AGCO is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology. Founded in 1990, AGCO is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia. Alex is a graduate of Iowa State University.
 

 

Jon Massman

Jon Massman, Corteva Agriscience

Jon is the soybean technology lead for North American plant breeding at Corteva Agriscience. In that role, he is responsible for identifying and deploying new enabling technologies that ultimately result in driving farmer profitability. Jon is a graduate of Iowa State University and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota.


 

Brett Miller, SyngentaBrett Miller, Syngenta

Brett is a regional research and development head for Syngenta where he leads a team of 13 field scientists and support staff across the Midwest in developing new and innovative solutions for crop protection. He has worked for Syngenta and their legacy companies for 25 years serving in a variety of commercial and technical roles including as a field research scientist in Nebraska, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota; a global herbicide technical manager in Basel, Switzerland; a herbicide tolerant trait manager and as technical development lead. Miller has a B.S. and M.S. in Weed Science from North Dakota State University and owns the farm that his grandparents farmed in western North Dakota.

Mike PetersonMike Peterson, Peterson Genetics, Inc.

Mike is the President and Owner of Peterson Genetics, Inc., in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Peterson Genetics is the leading provider of soybean germplasm to the North American soybean seed trade. He is a past president of the Iowa Seed Association, past chair of the Soybean Division of the American Seed Trade Association and past chairman of the American Seed Trade Association. Mike is a graduate of Iowa State University.

Ben PieperBen Pieper, Merschman Seeds

Ben is a product manager and agronomist for Merschman Seeds in Westpoint, IA. He is also a certified crop adviser. He works closely with genetic suppliers to ensure high level yields across all product platforms. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a B.S. in agronomy.


 

Peter Porpiglia

Peter Porpiglia, AMVAC

Peter is vice president of AMVAC’s Global Product Development and Technical Support. He has led the commercial development of over two dozen chemical active ingredients as well as several natural products in all sectors of crop protection. He recently served as an executive board member of the Weed Science Society of America and the Iowa Pest Resistance Management Program representing all of the agricultural industry. Peter is a graduate of Cornell University and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

Martin Sarinelli

Martin Sarinelli, GDM

Martin is GDM’s research manager for North America, which is based in Gibson City, Illinois. GDM is a global group that applies state-of-the-art technology to research, develop and commercialize maximum productivity soybean varieties and other extensive crops. GDM has operations in 16 countries, 13 R&D centers and 576 testing locations throughout the world.

 

Greg Shepherd, BecksGreg Shepherd, Beck's Hybrids

Greg is a Field Agronomist for Beck’s Hybrids. He was born and raised on a farm in Adair County, Iowa. He, wife Aimee and their four sons now live on Aimee’s grandparent's farm near Mt. Pleasant in southeast Iowa. They manage farm operations in both Adair and Henry County. In 2020, the Shepherd family was recognized with an Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award for their efforts in keeping soil healthy and improving water quality. The Shepherds farm row crops and have a seed stock herd of Charolais cattle. Greg is a graduate of Central College and earned his M.S. in Sustainable Agriculture from Iowa State University.

Suzanne ShirbrounSuzanne Shirbroun, Farmer

Suzanne farms near Farmersburg, IA. She is a District 3 Director for the Iowa Soybean Association and is a sixth-generation farmer. She is passionate about research and is a longtime participant in ISA’s research program. She is also involved in the North Central Soybean Research Program, Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa CommonGround. After watching her grandfather begin terracing, she knew conservation practices would be important in continuing the family farm. She also practices no-till, contour farming and implements waterways and cover crops. Suzanne is a graduate of Iowa State University.

Chris SouderChris Souder, Bayer Crop Science

Chris is the global R&D crop efficiency portfolio manager for Bayer Crop Science. He sets the vision and R&D plan for sustainable corn and soy yield improvements by understanding the intersection of technology innovation, grower needs and business strategy. Chris has also served as the regional agronomy for Iowa and Missouri for Bayer. Chris is a graduate of Iowa State University and Texas A&M.

 

Brent SwartBrent Swart, Farmer

Brent farms with his brother near Spencer, Iowa. He is a District 1 Director for the Iowa Soybean Association and is a member of the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association and Iowa Farm Bureau. He is a fifth generation farmer. He implements strip and no-till practices and uses cover crops on the majority of his land. In addition to farming full-time, he is a field agronomist for Pioneer. Passionate about agronomics, Brent has a B.S. in agronomy and an M.S. in crop production and physiology from Iowa State University.  

Christie WiebbeckeChristie Wiebbecke, Iowa Soybean Association

Christie is the senior director of research for the Iowa Soybean Association. She is responsible for integrating the association’s contracted research programs and managing the ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI). She has an extensive background in soybean breeding with a focus on genetics and varietal selection. Christie is a graduate of Iowa State University, holds an M.A. in education from Chapman University and earned her Ph.D. in plant breeding from Iowa State University.
 

ISRC Management Team
The management team makes funding decisions based on feedback from the industry advisory council.

management team members

The ISRC’s management team consists of:

  • ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean Daniel Robison
  • ISU Department Chairs Amy Kaleita (ABE), Mary Wiedenhoeft (AGRON Interim) and Steven Harris (PPEM)
  • ISA Senior Director of Research Christie Wiebbecke (Chair)
  • ISU ISRC Director and Professor of Plant Pathology and Microbiology Greg Tylka