As the new year begins, Illinois soybean farmers face a unique supply-and-demand challenge. On the supply side, 2024 projections show an estimated average yield of 67 bushels an acre across about 10.8 million planted acres. That results in a projected 720 million bushels of production. That projected 11 percent increase over 2023 provides ample reason to push harder than ever for new market demand.

And that’s where your Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is preparing to flex some serious muscle.

In an era of intense global competition, ISA is stepping up with a dual call to action. We always aim to provide you with the tools and resources to help you grow a larger crop, but we’re equally committed to creating new market opportunities that bring serious value to your farm gate. From finding new uses and buyers to driving innovation, we’re doubling down on strategies to boost demand and keep Illinois soybeans profitable—not just for today, but for the future. We’re playing the long game.

Growing Production Insights
Bryan Severs, a soybean farmer from Vermilion County, is Chairman of the ISA Soybean Production Committee. In that capacity, he leads a committee that provides direction to our production team in areas such as investments in innovative agronomic research and education. The committee focuses on helping farmers achieve consistent yields through research partnerships and tackle regional issues such as soil quality, water management and land stewardship. ISA’s field trial program provides farmers across Illinois with direct, applicable insights on everything from seed selection to fertilizer management and pest control—a win-win for productivity and conservation.

ISA connects farmers with several partners in the industry that offer programs to implement sustainable production practices. These groups offer data-driven solutions to optimize input applications, improve soil health and produce higher yields. We also provide educational workshops, webinars and field days to ensure farmers have access to the latest research and technologies with an emphasis on the economic sustainability of their operations.

Moving Illinois Soybeans Near and Far
With a growing soybean supply, expanding market demand is essential. Brady Holst, a soybean farmer from Augusta, is Chairman of the ISA Market Development Committee. His committee provides direction for all of ISA’s market development efforts. Domestically, our top priority is livestock feed, as livestock is the largest end-user of soybeans. Through partnerships with animal agriculture organizations, ISA promotes soy’s benefits as a high-quality protein source for livestock across Illinois and beyond. This collaboration is critical for maintaining reliable domestic demand for Illinois soybeans and stabilizing local markets.

ISA is also driving new uses for soybeans in industries such as bioplastics, renewable fuels and household goods. Our Soy Innovation Center is pioneering research and partnerships to incorporate Illinois soybeans into renewable, sustainable products. ISA has partnered with the automotive industry to support the use of soy-based materials such as foams and plastics in car parts. This creates an entirely new demand stream for soy. We are collaborating with companies to develop soy-based adhesives and lubricants, positioning Illinois soybeans as a key ingredient in environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based products.

To strengthen our competitive edge globally, ISA’s Trade and Exports program connects Illinois soybean farmers with buyers around the world. It focuses on key markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America. This year, the program established partnerships with international companies to increase exports of Illinois soybeans. Each year, we strive to increase new market opportunities by 15 percent.

To keep our soybeans competitive and accessible to foreign and domestic buyers alike, we study and support infrastructure improvements. Illinois’ well-connected roads, railways and rivers give us a transportation advantage, but aging infrastructure such as bridges requires attention. ISA advocates for investment in roads, rails and river transportation to ensure a smooth and dependable supply chain from Illinois farms to crushing facilities in our own state and to ports beyond our nation’s borders. These efforts, their results and future investments in our continued infrastructure work will fuel a lot of discussion at the upcoming Soybean Summit 2025. (You can read more about the Feb. 10-11 event later in this issue.)

Legislative Priorities
In addition to tracking supply and demand, sharing timely and accurate information on agricultural issues is vital to the success of Illinois soybean farmers. Ryan Frieders, a soybean farmer from Waterman, is Chairman of the ISA Government Relations Committee. This committee serves as a critical liaison between our farmers and legislators, working on your behalf for positive and impactful legislation. Focused on state and federal policy priorities such as the Farm Bill and the EPA’s Endangered Species Act and its Herbicide Strategy, your Government Relations Committee stands at the ready to protect your freedom to farm.

Economics of Success
Projections for 2024 suggest an average price of $11.20 per bushel—down from $12.55 in 2023—because of global competition, especially from Brazil. ISA’s comprehensive support and resources are designed to help farmers weather these cycles by increasing operational efficiency and finding new markets. Our resources and data-driven insights are also available to help Illinois farmers make informed financial decisions.

Our 2025 strategy is straightforward: grow supply responsibly, expand demand creatively, build and strengthen relationships with legislators and support Illinois farmers through every market cycle. Through strong partnerships, timely issue updates, targeted production research and innovative approaches to market development, we’re working to make Illinois soybeans a worldwide staple across industries, markets and customers.

Let’s get to work, Illinois!