Rick Stearn is chairman of the production committee for the United Soybean Board. He was attending the NAFB Washington Watch Issues Forum. The United Soybean Board was a major sponsor and had people on hand like Rick to address issues like animal agriculture and the impact of animal rights groups. The reason for this Rick says is because domestic animal …
Soybean Request For Referendum Starts Today
A request for referendum campaign kicks off today on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. USDA is conducting it and producers have four weeks to participate. According to the United Soybean Board: The request for referendum will determine whether U.S. soybean producers want a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act …
O&B Staff Members Show Their “AgNess”
The staff of Osborn and Barr were encouraged to “Show Your AgNess” during a photo competition in honor of National Ag Week. O&B serves as the agency of record for several agricultural clients, including the United Soybean Board and the Propane Education and Research Council, so it was a good way to help the staff get back to their ag …
Columbian Poultry Success Story
As the name implies, the International Poultry Expo is a global event that attracts poultry industry professionals from around the world. I had the pleasure of meeting Jorge Bedoya, president of the Columbian Poultry Industry Association, at the U.S. Soybean Export Council booth and got to talk with him about how soybean producers in this country have helped grow the …
ASA Calling For Investigation of USB
All is not rosy in the soybean world as evidenced by a release sent out this morning by the American Soybean Association. “Serious ethical, legal, and financial allegations have been raised about how farmer checkoff funds and program activities are being conducted,” said ASA President John Hoffman, a soybean producer from Waterloo, Iowa. “These significant allegations have caused ASA to …
New USB Website
The United Soybean Board has a newly designed website which features the ability to do some customization of the content you see. It’s an example of what I call the “try to be everything to everybody” strategy since it’s got weather, news, markets, etc. I suppose that’s fine for some people but . . . maybe it’s just me but …
Iowa Farmer Participates in World Food Prize
There were many corporate, government and organization types at the World Food Prize symposium last week in Des Moines – but there were lots of real farmers as well, from all over the world. The opportunity for farmers from different countries to network with each other is very valuable, especially for sharing ideas to increase productivity. Laura Foell is a …
Soybeans Feeding the World
The role of soybeans in helping to feed a growing world population was emphasized at the World Food Prize events in Des Moines this past week by the prominent presence of soybean industry groups like the United Soybean Board. I spoke with USB CEO John Becherer (pictured here on the right with World Food Prize Foundation president Ambassador Ken Quinn) …
Soy Sponsored World Food Prize Luncheon
Several soybean groups – including the United Soybean Board, Iowa Soybean Association, Soy Foods Council, WISHH, and World Soy Foundation – jointly sponsored the luncheon today at the World Food Prize symposium. There was a record crowd of more than 750 in attendance, including over 100 students participating in the WFP Youth Institute. Appropriately, the event today is held on …
World Food Prize Coverage
I am preparing to head up to Des Moines today to cover the 2008 World Food Prize festivities and Borlaug Dialogue. I have never been to this event, but I am looking forward to it. The 2008 World Food Prize laureates are Bob Dole and George McGovern, who are being honored for their work in establishing the McGovern-Dole international school-feeding …