Iowa Corn I-LEAD Class 11 Applications Open

Jun 21, 2023

Applications are open for the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) program, which focuses on increasing industry professionals’ knowledge and understanding of the corn industry. This year marks the eleventh class of this reputable ag leadership program, a two-year intensive learning experience available through the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Iowa Corn Growers Association. Applications are available on Iowa Corn’s website and are due July 3, 2023.

“I would recommend I-LEAD to others because it was an excellent program that gave me opportunities I never could have experienced on my own,” said Joe Roberts of Wright County and I-LEAD Class 10 member. “I-LEAD gave me the chance to expand my network, share my story with others and to see the impact agriculture has around the globe.”

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Video: Supplemental Nitrogen on Soybeans: Can Early Nitrogen Increase Yield?

Can supplemental nitrogen help soybeans reach higher yield potential? Technical Agronomist Tim Sickman walks through an ongoing trial at the Nutrien Innovation Farm in Owensboro, Kentucky, exploring whether a modest amount of nitrogen applied at planting can support higher-yielding soybean environments.

The trial compares 30 pounds of supplemental nitrogen across both 15- and 30-inch rows, along with treatments that include sulfur and micronutrients. Similar trials conducted in 2024 and 2025 delivered a six- to seven-bushel yield response, prompting the team to expand the research this season.

Early observations show that treated soybeans are slightly taller and averaging about two additional nodes on the main stem. These added nodes could create more opportunities for blooms and pods, but the true results will come at harvest when the team evaluates pod development, seed fill and final yield.

In This Video:

Why high-yield soybeans may need supplemental nitrogen

Results from the 2024 and 2025 trials

Nitrogen treatments in 15- and 30-inch rows

Fertilizer placement and application methods

Differences in plant height and node counts

Potential effects on pod development and yield