Soy products showcased at Agronomy Farm Field Day

HEYWORTH, Ill. — Illinois Soybean Association marketing efforts were highlighted during the recent Agronomy Farm Field Day, tying together the production of a high-quality product and its relationship with global demand.

“We rely a lot on what the agronomy team is doing to get the product out there and to give us a high-quality product that we can brag about to all of our customers around the world,” said Eileen Pabst, ISA market development manager.

“We talk a lot about those conservation practices that we’re researching and continuing to learn about. A lot of our international customers have regenerative ag plans and carbon neutral goals. Those kinds of conversations are really a benefit to our customers.”

“We’re currently operating in about 80 different countries, from developing markets to mature markets. So, we have a really wide range of things that we’re targeting,” she said.

“We work very closely with those international partners such as World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, U.S. Soybean Export Council and U.S. Meat Export Federation.

ISA’s marketing development efforts focus on animal agriculture, biofuels, food and oil, infrastructure, new uses, and trade.

Certified Products

Sustainable Soy-certified products were featured at ISA’s marketing booth during the field day that included several examples of products available in the marketplace.

ISA’s “It’s Sustainably Soy” Certification program recognizes organizations, construction firms and executives for utilizing sustainable soy-based products in their infrastructure projects. The certified products are on the association’s “It’s Sustainably Soy” website at ilsoy.org/soycertification.

A growing number of soy- and bio-based construction additives, materials and methods are available to companies seeking to improve the sustainability of their infrastructure investments.

The “It’s Sustainably Soy” Certification recognizes organizations committed to environmentally-friendly infrastructure investments by utilizing products based on soybeans, a renewable, abundant crop.

To be certified, the percentage of soy used in the company’s products must be comparable to the minimum standards outlined in the BioPreferred Program.

Among the products at the booth was Blue Bear Ickee Stickee Unstuck adhesive remover produced by Franmar Inc., a family-owned manufacturer based in Bloomington and founded by Frank and Marilyn Sliney.

The eco-friendly adhesive remover quickly eliminates buildup and residues, including sticker residue, labels, duct tape and more, from most surfaces.

Another featured product is Dynamic Green Products’ bio-based bar and chain oil, built to reduce friction, handle heat, pressure and other demanding cutting conditions. DGP is based in Houston.

“One of our farmers said they really liked this concrete cleaner,” Pabst said of C-New Concrete Cleaner and Degreaser from Ballwin, Missouri-based BioSpan Technologies.

C-New Concrete Cleaner and Degreaser is a biodegradable, high-performance solution that lifts stubborn stains, breaks down grease and restores concrete to like-new condition — without the use of harsh chemicals or harmful solvents.

“These are all products that are privately made, and we’re helping them with their advertising. These are all soy-based,” Pabst said.

“We also have our Illinois Soy Biolubricant for your farm equipment. We have farmers testing this right now. This is an Illinois soy product.”

The biolubricant is among the pilot projects spearheaded by ISA’s Soy Innovation Center with a goal of the product hitting the shelves soon.