More than 90 percent of growers get information from private-sector crop advisers, while more than 80 percent of those crop advisers identify Iowa State University as a primary source of their information. These numbers led the organizers of the Corn and Soybean Initiative to conclude that one of the best ways to serve ISU Extension’s end-customer, the grower, was to strengthen ISU collaborative relationships with industry.
Since it was launched in December 2004, the Corn and Soybean Initiative has been working to strengthen partnerships with agribusinesses, retailers, commodity organizations, farm media and others to maximize opportunities to reach growers with research, extension and educational resources.
“There has been tremendous interest in the program from agricultural businesses. We both have the growers’ best interests at heart and that is what makes this program so rewarding,” said Greg Tylka, coordinator of the initiative and professor of plant pathology at ISU.
Tylka credits his partnership managers, the ISU Extension crop specialists and county extension education directors active in the program, for the growth and success of the initiative.
“The partnership managers are the point of contact for our partners. The relationship is active, not passive. Managers stay in contact with agribusinesses and producers, discovering their needs for information, education and research.”
Gene Mohling, ISU Extension education director for Washington and Johnson counties, said the initiative has helped cement his working relationship with Eldon C. Stutsman Inc., a prominent agribusiness in his counties.
“We learned we had more to gain by working together than by ourselves on our own individual projects,” Mohling said. “Stutsman sponsored educational programs at several locations, and we were able to bring in Iowa State University specialists to provide valuable information to their client base. It’s a win-win situation.”
Business owner Mark Stutsman agrees. “Our company has had a long-standing relationship with Iowa State University Extension. The meetings were some of the best attended we’ve had in years. We had several thank-yous from customers.”
Stutsman sees great potential for the Corn and Soybean Initiative and its partners. “I feel Iowa State can be a great source of unbiased research data, taking new technologies and serving as a clearing house for valuable data and targeted research,” he said.
Mohling noted that agribusinesses often are the first to see problems and issues that are out in the agricultural community. Then in turn, those businesses can help direct the ISU Agronomy Department to local issues that need to be researched.
By providing the most up-to-date research-based information to Iowa’s corn and soybean producers in a complete, convenient and coordinated manner, the Corn and Soybean Initiative establishes partnerships that will facilitate the delivery of crop production information. The initiative continues to work on its ultimate goal: improving Iowa growers’ productivity and competitiveness, and enhancing the $7 billion economic impact of corn and soybean production in Iowa.
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