ISRC to Feature Innovative Research at Farm Progress Show
The Iowa Soybean Research Center will be making its first ever appearance at the Farm Progress Show, September 1-3, 2026, near Boone, Iowa. Look for us inside the ISU exhibit space. ISRC Co-directors Mark Licht and Steve Whitham will be on hand to provide information about the ISRC’s research mission, while faculty research affiliates of the center will be demonstrating emerging technologies that have been funded by the center. The technologies include plant sensors that can detect changes in soybean plants and the two-armed “PhenoAgent” robot that can apply those plant sensors and other precision-related tasks. Full article
ISRC Welcomes TerraMax as New Industry Partner
In June, the Iowa Soybean Research Center welcomed TerraMax as its newest industry partner, which means they will have a representative on the ISRC’s Industry Advisory Council (IAC). The IAC provides guidance on research needs and funding priorities for the center. Full article
ISRC Hosts Webinar on Continuous Soybean Project
On May 12, the ISRC held its first ever research project webinar on the recently concluded multi-year study on Optimizing Continuous Soybean Production, which was selected for ISRC funding in the fall of 2022. The webinar was held exclusively for the center’s Industry Advisory Council to provide findings and answer questions about the project. ISRC Co-director Mark Licht served as the webinar host with the project’s lead researchers Sotirios Archontoulis, agronomy, and PhD student Carolina Freitas providing an overview. Collaborator, Greg Tylka, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, joined the group for a question answer session to provide insight on soybean cyst nematode (SCN) counts. Full article
ISRC-funded Relay Intercropping Project Featured in Field Day
ISRC faculty research affiliate Silvina Arias, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, along with others involved in her project funded by the ISRC, held a field day at ISU’s Sorenson Research Farm near Boone, Iowa on June 5, 2026. Arias’s project titled, “Application of Innovative Intercropping Practices to Increase Soybean Production in Iowa,” explores which winter/spring small grains and oilseed crops are best paired with soybean and how relay intercropping systems can help improve profitability for farmers by growing more than one crop and exploring benefits to soil health. Full article
ISRC Holds Staff Retreat, Discusses Upcoming Meetings
ISRC staff and Industry Advisory Council Chair, Joe McClure, who is the Chief Officer of the Research Center for Farming Innovation at the Iowa Soybean Association, met mid-June to go over plans for the center’s soybean research forum and annual Industry Advisory Council (IAC) meeting, which will be held September 15 and 16, respectively. The group also previewed the 12 soybean research ideas that were submitted for funding consideration this year. Full article
Iowa Soybean Association Approves Soybean Research Funding at Iowa State, Increases ISRC Funding
The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) held its summer meetings June 30-July 2, 2026, and reviewed research funding for fiscal year (FY) 2027. The full ISA board met on July 2 and approved more than $2 million in soybean production and demand research funding at Iowa State University. Included in that total was $225,000 in funding for the ISRC, an increase of $25,000 from FY26, which will then be leveraged with industry partner funding when the ISRC makes its research funding decisions this fall. Full article
Baum Lab Hosts Molecular Plant Nematology Meeting
Professor Thomas Baum’s Laboratory in Iowa State’s Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology hosted the 2026 Molecular Plant Nematology Meeting at Iowa State May 13-14. The group included scientists specializing in plant-parasitic nematode research from Cambridge University, England; University of California-Davis; University of Tennessee, and Kansas State, among others. The researchers met to discuss and share recent science advancements, ways to collaborate on projects and identify funding opportunities. Full article
ISU PhD Students Selected for Prestigious FFAR Fellowship
Three Iowa State University PhD students were recently selected for the 2026-2029 Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) Fellows Program. The program provides professional development and career guidance across FFAR’s challenge areas and strategic initiatives to the next generation of food and agriculture scientists. Full article
Raigne Selected for GDM Travel Grant for 2026 NAPB Meeting
Joscif Raigne, a PhD student in plant breeding at Iowa State was selected by ISRC industry partner GDM to receive a $1,000 travel grant for the 2026 National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) Meeting, which was held in June and hosted by Texas A&M. Raigne, who is part of the Soynomics group, advised by Asheesh “Danny” Singh, presented on “Phenomic-assisted Selection in Soybean Variety Development.” Full article
Highlighting ISU Student Research Talent: Meet PhD Student Brady Clausen
Iowa State graduate research assistant Brady Clausen recently made the decision to pursue his PhD at Iowa State after earning his MS in Sustainable Agriculture and Plant Pathology this past spring. Clausen has been a vital part of working on the ISRC-funded research project titled “Soil Amendment with Biofuel Industry Co-products (Biochar and Digestate) for Improving Soybean Disease Management and Enhancing Soil Health,” led by Leonor Leandro. Full article
Get to Know IAC Rep: Greg Shepherd, Beck's Hybrids
Greg Shepherd is a field agronomist and sustainability specialist for Beck’s Hybrids, an ISRC industry partner. He serves as a representative on the ISRC’s Industry Advisory Council (IAC) for Beck’s. Full article
ISRC Researcher Spotlight: Rabail Chandio
ISRC faculty research affiliate Rabail Chandio is an assistant professor and extension economist in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University. Her research interests include studying the trends in the U.S. farmland market and examining the role of agricultural policy in driving farmers’ choices and financial outcomes. Her research areas of interest include farm risk management, agricultural finance, decision-making in agriculture, technology adoption, agricultural policy, and conservation and agriculture. Full article
Weed Science Field Day Held at ISU Curtiss Farm
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Weed Science program hosted a field day on July 1, 2026, at the Curtiss Farm in Ames, Iowa. ISRC faculty research affiliate and Extension weed specialist, Wes Everman, the weed science team and ISU Extension agronomists, provided new insights on herbicide efficacy and weed management practices. Full article
ISRC Offers Soy Trivia Fun at CALS Life Sciences Day
ISRC staff participated in Life Science Day hosted by ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Council on April 23, which was held for students in life science majors. Students enjoyed the ISRC's soy trivia game and appreciated the soy-related prizes of The Only Bean roasted edamame in a variety of flavors and Lotus Biscoff cookies that contain soy flour and soybean oil. Full article
Three ISRC Faculty Research Affiliates Receive University Awards
Congratulations to the three ISRC faculty affiliates who will receive University Awards at a community celebration later this fall. The university awards are the highest recognition available to Iowa State employees. Following are the recipients and the honors or awards for which their peers and colleagues nominated them.
University Professor: Thomas Brumm, Mary and Charles Sukup Global Professor in Food Security; professor, agricultural and biosystems engineering
Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award: Kan Wang, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences (agronomy); Global Professorship in Biotechnology
Award for Early Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice: Richard Roth, assistant professor, agronomy; nitrogen science education specialist
ISRC Affiliates Receive Promotions
The following ISRC research faculty affiliates recently received promotions at Iowa State University. Congratulations!
Katie Dentzman, sociology and criminal justice, associate professor
Walter Suza, agronomy, adjunct professor
Andrew VanLoocke, agronomy, professor
Marna Yandeau-Nelson, genetics, development and cell biology, professor
Upcoming Events
August 4, 2026: NCSRP Visit to ISU
August 6, 2026: Meals from the Heartland food packaging event
Sept. 1-3, 2026: Farm Progress Show 2026, Boone, IA
Sept. 14, 2026: ISRC Workshop with Industry Advisory Council, Alumni Center
Sept. 15, 2026: ISRC Annual Industry Advisory Council Meeting, Reiman Gardens
Each Wednesday at Noon - Iowa Learning Farms Webinars
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