Inside This Issue: 



• Sign Up Growers for the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative
• Seed Science Technology Short Course
• 2027 Seed Forum & Golf Tournament
• Dr. Lulu Rodriguez Retires From ISU
• ASTA's 2026 Field Crop Seed Convention
• Upcoming Iowa Seed Association Events
• Thank You to Our Sponsors!

The Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative is off to a strong start for the 2026 season, with 95 growers signed up to date, representing more than 28,000 acres of seed corn across Iowa. As seed corn harvest gets underway, growers have a unique opportunity to take advantage of the earlier harvest window to establish cover crops and achieve greater fall growth. Cost-share assistance is available at $20 per acre for winter-hardy cover crops and $10 per acre for non-winter-hardy cover crops, with an additional $10 per acre available to first-time cover crop users.

The 2026 cost-share application period is still open, and growers are encouraged to apply as they finalize their fall cover crop plans. There is no acreage cap, and applications should be submitted before cover crops are planted. Whether a grower is trying cover crops for the first time or continuing to expand their use, the Initiative provides financial assistance while supporting soil health, reducing erosion, and improving water quality across Iowa’s seed corn production acres.



For more information on how to apply, visit Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crops Initiative | Grower Resources. Erica Lydolph, project coordinator, can be reached at covercrops@agribiz.org. Please share this information with seed production representatives and growers!

The Seed Science Center at Iowa State University is hosting a Seed Science & Technology Short Course on November 4-6, 2026, at the Seed Science Center in Ames. Learn from industry experts and ISU faculty and tour leading industry facilities. For more information, visit Seed Science Technology Short Course – ISU Seed Lab

At the August board meeting of the Iowa Seed Association, the directors decided to explore combining the annual Seed Forum and golf events. The Seed Forum has been held in February at the Agribusiness Showcase for many years and included the association annual meeting, speakers, networking, and presentation of scholarships. The golf tournament has been held in June in Ames and raises money for the scholarship fund.

Attendance has been waning at both events. The goal of combining the events is to increase attendance, engagement with our members, and funding for scholarships. The event is tentatively planned for June 2027 in central Iowa. More details to come!

The Iowa Seed Association congratulates Dr. Lulu Rodriguez on a distinguished career of agricultural communication, international development, and global seed systems. Rodriguez served on the Iowa Seed Association board of directors in her role as Interim Director of the Seed Science Center from 2023 to 2024. Most recently, she organized a visit to the U.S. by a delegation of representatives from Ukrainian seed companies that included a discussion with the Iowa Seed Association.



For more information, visit Seed Science Center Celebrates the Retirement of Global Programs Leader Dr. Lulu Rodriguez | Seed Science Center.

Registration for ASTA’s 2026 Field Crop Seed Convention is open! This year the convention returns to the Midwest. Join your colleagues and business partners in Chicago, Illinois from December 7-10 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk for the seed industry’s premier field crop meeting.



For more information and to register, visit 2026 ASTA Field Crop Seed Convention.

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