Future of Soybean International Marketing Efforts

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Chuck

International marketing was the focus of a press conference held by the United Soybean Board at Commodity Classic. First up on the podium was Phil Bradshaw, USB Chairman and a soybean farmer from Griggsville, IL.

He spoke about future efforts to increase soybean exports as conducted by the USB. A record 1.56 billion bushels of soybeans were exported in the most recent marketing year which is “every other row of soybeans produced in the United States.” He says the USB has just selected a new organization to represent soybean growers on the international level. That will be the newly re-organized U.S. Soybean Export Council.

You can listen to or download (mp3) Phil’s remarks here:

The next person to speak was Jim Call, USB International Marketing Chair and a soybean farmer from Madison, MN.

Jim says the new model that USB has selected to increase soy exports will allow them to better coordinate on planning with exporters and customers. They expect to decrease the duplication of efforts and invest Checkoff dollars more wisely.

You can listen to or download (mp3) Jim’s remarks here:

Last to address the press conference was Ike Boudreaux, USSEC Chairman and a soybean farmer from Lebeau, LA.

Ike says the USSEC is proud to have been selected by the USB to execute the new international marketing model. The new efforts will begin October 1, 2010. He says that USSEC is updating its operational structure in order to earn the business. He describes some of the elements of the plan they will be putting in place which includes targeting six key markets.

You can listen to or download (mp3) Ike’s remarks here:

Commodity Classic Photo Album

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Study Shows Environmental Benefits of Soybeans

Posted on February 2, 2010 by Cindy

Soybeans are better than ever for the environment, which makes soy-based products greener than ever.

usb lifecycle That’s the findings of a new peer-reviewed life cycle profile just released by the United Soybean Board (USB) that documents multiple energy and environmental benefits of U.S. soybean farming and processing.

“This profile is the first comprehensive life cycle study covering U.S. soybean production through four major biobased products,” said Arkansas soybean farmer John Cooper, a USB Director and Member of the USB Domestic Marketing Committee. “U.S. soy already delivers environmental and energy benefits. It’s exciting to see the trends point to even more in the future.”

A key objective was to update life cycle inventory (LCI) databases for soybean production and processing as well as conversion into four key soy-derived feedstocks (methyl soyate, soy lube base stock, soy polyol, and soy resin) used in fuel and industrial products. Its cradle-to-gate scope begins with soybean farming (the cradle) and goes through processing of products (the gate).

Among the study’s key findings are that soybean production results in significant greenhouse gas reductions and that soybean yields are 12 percent higher than 10 years ago and should increase 40 percent over the next decade.

The updated data show approximately 20% less direct energy used in soybean farming due to reduced diesel and gasoline usageand soybean processing facilities reduced their energy consumption by 45% compared to 1998 data.

Qualisoy Improving Feed for Poultry

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Cindy

novus Philip Lobo and Mandy Heth are representing the Qualisoy program of the United Soybean Board here at the International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo in Atlanta, talking to poultry producers about the ways they are working to make soybean meal even better for birds.

“We’ve just recently developed a special soybean that is going to deliver a soybean that has more energy for the feed and poultry industry,” Philip told me. They are starting poultry feeding trials soon and as long as it tests well they could have the variety available within five years. “This will help make our domestic livestock producers more competitive,” he said, which is important to the soybean industry, since 98 percent of all soybean meal produced here is fed to livestock and about 80 percent of the soybean is meal.

Listen to or download my interview with Philip in the player below.

2010 International Poultry Expo photo album

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John Becherer USB CEO Honored By St. Louis Ag Club

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Chuck

john-becherer United Soybean Board CEO John Becherer (left) received the 2009 Agribusiness Leader of the Year award from the St. Louis Agribusiness Club.

According to Dale Ludwig, executive director of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, “John leads one of the most successful farmer-checkoff programs in the world.” Ludwig, a senior staff member of a Qualified State Soybean Board, nominated Becherer for the award. The St. Louis Agribusiness Club represents farmers and others involved in one of the richest agricultural regions of the world.

Becherer describes himself as a consensus builder and views his position at USB as an opportunity to continue his career-long interest in helping farmers farm more profitably.

“This well deserved honor reflects highly upon John’s leadership, but also to the level of commitment this organization has to U.S. soybean farmers,” says USB Chairman Phil Bradshaw, a soybean farmer from west-central Illinois. “For 15 years, John has provided guidance in leveraging checkoff dollars and complying with the federal law that established the national soybean checkoff. He helped to spearhead QUALISOY, an industry-wide effort to help market the development and availability of healthier soybeans and soy oil, and helps lead SOY 2020 to create a long-term vision for the U.S. soy industry.”

Becherer was raised on a dairy farm in central Wisconsin and has always maintained strong ties with the agricultural community. John has more than 20 years of management experience and holds a master’s degree in agricultural economics.

United Soybean Board Answering Grower Questions

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Chuck

usb-expert-screen How will the wet fall impact this year’s prices? How can I use social media to promote my farm? What are our competitors in Brazil doing right now? These are all questions you’ll find answered on the United Soybean Board’s Expert Advice Column. It’s part of the newly designed website and we’ve been featuring interviews with the experts who are writing the columns.

USB would like you to take a minute to register on the website and take advantage of all the information they have for growers including, seed selection tips, pest and disease diagnostic guides, a sustainability calculator and a directory with just about every new soy-based product your soybean checkoff has helped develop. You can customize the page too. Here’s how to register:

* Visit www.unitedsoybean.org, then click on login/register, located on the upper-left corner of the home page, to fill out your information fields.
* Congrats! Now you are ready to begin customizing your individual home page.
* Now, just click on add content in the upper-left corner. This will display your customization options.
* Add the modules that meet the needs of your operation, including localized weather, livestock and additional crop information.
* Click the X at the top of an individual module to remove it from your home page.
* To edit the module content, just click the diagonal pencil icon.
* Click the minus sign to minimize a module.

Visit www.unitedsoybean.org today and come back often for time saving updates that can help increase your profitability.

We’d like to thank the United Soybean Board for their support of the AgWired community!

South American Soybean Expert

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Cindy

USB website The United Soybean Board Expert Advice column this week features an update on South America from Pablo Adreani of AgriPAC Consulting. Pablo is an agronomist, journalist and trade consultant from Buenos Aires, Argentina who just happens to be in the United States this week for the American Seed Trade Association meeting in Chicago.

USB Pablo Adreani In this week’s column, Pablo talks about the impact of this year’s weather in South America. Here’s a sample:

The last rains of the middle of November did not reach Cordoba, and the drought continues to affect more than 50 percent of the province. This is the province with the greatest soybean growing area in the country, producing 11 million acres. The first crop of soybeans has already been delayed for a month. According to a report by the Buenos Aires Grain Board Exchange, 3.2 million acres have been planted; this equals 28 percent of the whole province acreage.

I called Pablo yesterday at his hotel in Chicago and talked with him about why it is important for soybean growers in the United States to keep abreast of developments in South America. You can listen to my interview with Pablo below.

The USB Expert Advice tool features a weekly column rotating between four industry experts: Pablo on South American markets, David Asbridge on U.S. markets, John Baize on soybean and soybean oil industry news and Michele Payn-Knoper on using social media in agriculture. The columns can be accessed on the USB website under the “community” tab. Farmers are encouraged to ask questions and post comments after each new article and to engage the industry experts.

Now, here is that interview with Pablo and if you have any questions, just ask the expert after you read his column on the soybean checkoff website:

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Expert Advice From David Asbridge

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Chuck

dave-asbridge Let me introduce you to the David Asbridge and his United Soybean Board, Expert Advice column – Market Production Analysis & Market Outlook. David operates NPK Fertilizer Advisory Service, an independent consulting firm that covers the crop and fertilizer markets, both domestically and globally. Here’s an excerpt from his current column.

The already record large U.S. soybean crop just keeps getting bigger, at least according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its latest monthly supply-demand report. The department now expects U.S. soybean production to reach 3.32 billion bushels for 2009. This represents a 3.8 percent increase over the previous record set in 2006 and nearly 12 percent higher than last year’s crop. USDA bases this production estimate on the record 77.5 million acres planted this year coupled with a record 43.3 bushel per acre yield. The yield is 0.2 bushels per acre higher than the previous record set back in 2005.

David is one of several Expert Advice columnists I’ve had the opportunity to introduce you to over the past couple weeks. Producers can got to the website, read the information and submit questions and get answers.

International News About Soybeans

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Chuck

john-baize John Baize, Baize & Associates is a regular columnist for the United Soybean Board’s Expert Advice. His company specializes in international agricultural trading and policy consulting on oilseeds and soybeans and including biotechnology policy, trade policy, agriculture policy and market development activities.

In his most recent column you’ll find information about China.

A lot has been said about the impact China has had on the global economy since it opened up to foreign investment and capitalism in the early 1990s. However, until one looks at the numbers, it is virtually impossible to gain a true grasp of how much it has impacted our world. In particular, China has been by far the most important factor impacting global demand for soybeans.

I spoke with John about his work for the United Soybean Board. He says he advises the USB on where he thinks global markets are going. He says its his goal to help them make the best decisions on where to spend Checkoff dollars. Producers will find this type of information in his column. John invites producers to submit questions which he’ll do his best to answer.

You can listen to my interview with John below.

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Soybean Growers Can Ask Questions of USB Experts

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Chuck

Marc Curtis United Soybean Board This is the next installment in our series about Expert Advice from the United Soybean Board. While attending the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention I spoke with USB Treasurer Marc Curtis who farms in Mississippi.

Marc serves on the USB Production Committee so he’s especially happy that the organization can offer Expert Advice to soybean growers via a regular column on their website which allows registered growers to read, comment and ask questions and get answers. There are several regular Expert Advice columnists who Marc says are covering various topics like diseases, rust, insects, agronomics and just about anything that a grower will have to deal with. He says that one of the issues Southeast growers have right now during harvest is what to do with a crop that is still in the ground due to wet weather. He says they can find answers by posing questions on the Expert Advice section of the website since USB has a research project in progress on this very topic.

You can listen to my interview with Marc below.

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Expert Advice From United Soybean Board

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Chuck

USB Expert Advice Welcome new AgWired sponsor, United Soybean Board. Over the coming weeks we’re going to learn more about their Expert Advice website module. You should check it out. The website contains a commenting section so please feel free to post your feedback and questions.

“Expert Advice” is a new addition to the official soybean checkoff Web site, that provides farmers with the answers they need from the experts who know. Readers can register on unitedsoybean.org to ask questions, offer perspectives and engage with experts and other farmers. Registration is quick and simple – taking a minute to register can save farmers hours searching on the web.

Four columnists contribute to the Expert Advice Column:

David Asbridge – “Market Production Analysis & Market Outlooks”
Michele Payn-Knoper – “Giving a Voice to Agriculture through Social Media”
Pablo Adreani – “South American Soybean Industry and its Impact on the World Market”
John Baize –“Soybean and Oilseed Industry Issues”

I’ll be featuring interviews with the experts and we’ll learn about what advice they have here during this harvest season.

United Soybean Board Supports World Food Prize Hall

Posted on October 16, 2009 by Cindy

WFP The United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff, through USB’s Biotechnology Initiative, announced a $500,000 investment in the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines, Iowa. This investment will be used to help create a kiosk in the new educational wing at the Hall of Laureates that will help educate the public on the value of biotechnology toward increasing U.S. soybean production.

The announcement was made by Richard Fordyce, team lead on USB’s Biotechnology Initiative and a soybean farmer from Bethany, Missouri. “The exciting things are what are to come – the soybeans that will be bred to increase protein, increase oil,” Fordyce said. “If we can move forward with worldwide acceptance of biotech crops, it could be a very exciting time. The potential is very good for soybeans in helping to address world hunger.”

The proposed educational exhibit is planned to utilize a conversation recorded this past year between the late Dr. Norman Borlaug, founder of the World Food Prize, and the chairman of the United Soybean Board. World Food Prize Foundation president Ambassador Kenneth Quinn said the donation from the U.S. soybean producers will benefit many. “I can speak on behalf of Dr. Borlaug who would tell you thank you as well,” Quinn said. “Not only on behalf of the World Food Prize, but on behalf of all those future generations of students who will come there and be able to hear Dr. Borlaug speak.”

The Hall of Laureates will be named after Dr. Bourlag and housed in the former Des Moines Library. Renovation of the 100-year-old building is expected to be complete by 2011.

USB’s See For Yourself Tour A Huge Success

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Joanna

Last year, the United Soybean Board wanted soybean farmers to learn more about how their checkoff program was helping their bottom line. Thus, the See For Yourself program was created. After a successful first year, the program was continued, and this year, 10 soybean farmers representing eight states, went on a trip to see how the soybeans they grow are being used throughout the world.

Ohio soybean farmer Christopher Gibbs (seventh from left) and United Soybean Board Audit and Evaluation Chair Jim Stillman (sixth from right) take time out from a walking tour of downtown Guadalajara, Mexico to pose with the rest of the See for Yourself participants for a group photograph.

This year, the group started in St. Louis and from there went to Guadalajara, Mexico. I wasn’t on the trip but I had a chance to talk with two growers who were. Jim Stillman, USB’s Audit and Evaluation Chair and a soybean farmer from Emmetsburg, Iowa and Christopher Gibbs, a soybean farmer from Maplewood, Ohio.

Gibbs heard about the program online. He said of his experience, “I didn’t have any real examples of how the soybean dollars were being used, and this trip gave me a real opportunity to see this first hand. I think the goal of this trip was met.” He encourages anyone who is interested in learning more about the program to apply for next year’s trip.

Stillman gave me the rundown on everything they saw and did which you can hear in the interview below. “All the farmers were very impressed and quite in awe of all the things the soybean board is doing in the international markets. We will call on these farmers throughout the year,” said Stillman, “to have them talk about their experiences.”

You can hear about Christpher Gibbs’ and Jim Stillman’s expereinces first-hand in the back-to-back interviews below.

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Biodiesel Powered Sleds

Posted on August 30, 2009 by Chuck

Chuck interviews Donnie Bungart What do you think of when you hear that there’s a sled running on biodiesel? Probably not thinking tractor pull sled are you? Unless you’re a tractor pull fan. Well those big machines that the tractors and trucks pull are also diesel powered and in Jefferson City, MO there’s a company that manufactures them and runs them on biodiesel.

The company is Bungart Motor Sports and I learned about if from Donnie Bungart. Thanks to Tom Steever, Brownfield Network, for the picture.

Bungart Biodiesel Sled Donnie says they do over 160 shows a year around the country. At the Midwest Extreme Truck and Tractor Pull in Jefferson City he says they had two sleds in operation. He says they run B20 in them and have been for over 3 years very successfully. Donnie says they’ve had a lot of luck locating the fuel when they need it, especially at major truck stops.

So if you’re not a tractor pulling enthusiast you might ask, “What’s a sled?” Donnie says it’s a weight transfer machine. It starts out not weighing much but as the tractor pulls it more and more weight is transferred which ultimately stops the tractor. At least we hope! Thanks again to the United Soybean Board for inviting me out to the tractor pull.

You can listen to my interview with Donnie below:

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Pulling With Biodiesel

Posted on August 30, 2009 by Chuck

Dennis Shramek and Young Blood This soybean grower from Missouri doesn’t plant corn with the machine he’s standing next too. No way. But he does power it with a biodiesel blend and compete in tractor pulls across the United States. He’s Dennis Shramek and one of the competitors in this weekend’s NTPA Midwest Extreme Truck and Tractor Pull. Thank you to the United Soybean Board for inviting me out.

I met him early Friday evening long before his class was set to compete. Dennis grows soybeans and corn in central Missouri. He says they do a lot of no-till. Besides growing crops he’s got this AGCO DT225 which he competes with for points. He says they run over 3,000 horsepower! They blend their own biodiesel and jug it up and bring it along to the event. He gets better lubrication with biodiesel than pure low sulfur diesel. He says they’ve been competing with this tractor for about 6 years and they’ll compete at least 16 to 18 times a season.

Dennis is sure that the biodiesel industry will grow since it’s a clean fuel and helps the U.S. economy and helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

You can listen to my interview with Dennis below:

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Midwest Xtreme Truck and Tractor Pull

Posted on August 29, 2009 by Chuck

Last night I spent a little while at the National Tractor Pull Association Midwest Xtreme Truck and Tractor Pull in Jefferson City, MO. There was a big crowd and I’ve never seen so many trucks and tractors, modified and ready to pull. My main reason to attend was because the National Biodisel Board and United Soybean Board were involved since several participants were running a blend of biodiesel in their tractors. I’ll have a couple interviews coming up soon with them.

In the meantime, I thought you’d enjoy a couple short video clips. These are some of the early competitors. The first one below was taken with my iPhone and I uploaded it there. The bottom one was taken with my Flip Mino HD and uploaded this morning. What do you think of the quality of each?

United Soybean Board Committed to the Success of Soybean Farmers

Posted on August 17, 2009 by Joanna

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
and

I sat down with Keith Dunn with the United Soybean Board (USB) during the Ag Media Summit to see what their main initiatives currently are. Dunn explained to me the importance of animal agriculture and how supportive the USB was of this industry.

KeithDunn “Currently in the United States 98 percent of the soybean meal goes for animal feed for poultry, beef cattle and dairy cattle,” explained Dunn. “So we feel that animal agriculture is very important to the industry.”

Other important elements of the USB program include its work with biofuels as well as a responding to a recent request for referendum. Less than 1/10th of 1 percent of the growers requested a referendum on the soybean checkoff and Dunn mentioned that it shows that soybean farmers are very confident in their soybean checkoff and the work that is being done.

Biofuels is a hot topic and one that is very important to USB. “We’re concerned with the new renewable fuels standard and we want to make sure these are based on sound science, factual and will work for the American people.”

You can see all our pictures from the Ag Media Summit in the IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album.

You can listen to my full interview with Keith Dunn here.

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No Request For Soybean Checkoff Referendum

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Chuck

It looks like there was very little interest on the part of soybean growers to request a new referendum according to the results of the latest opportunity as announced by USDA.

USDA received only 759 request for referendum forms at county Farm Service Agency Offices, which reflects approximately one tenth of one percent of all eligible U.S. soybean farmers. Had 10 percent of the 589,182 eligible farmers – with no more than one-fifth of the 10 percent coming from any one state – requested a referendum, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture would have conducted the referendum on the soybean checkoff within 12 months.

USDA requires a soybean checkoff request for referendum period every five years. The most recent period took place from May 4 to May 29.

“These results reaffirm that U.S. soybean farmers strongly support our soybean checkoff,” says USB Chairman Chuck Myers, a soybean farmer from Lyons, Neb. “Our effective, efficient and farmer-driven program will continue to strive to maximize the return on investment of each checkoff dollar to ensure that U.S. soy is the highest quality and most competitive in the global marketplace.”

Farmers certifying that they paid the checkoff, which is one-half of one percent of the price per bushel sold, at any time during a period beginning Jan. 1, 2007, and ending Dec. 31, 2008, were eligible to participate in the petition for a referendum. Eligible farmers who did not want a referendum did not need to take any action.

United Soybean Board Supporting Animal Agriculture

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Chuck

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 production agriculture is the number one customer for domestically produced soybean meal (over 96%). He agrees that if animal rights groups who want to end animal agriculture are successful it will change the whole industry since many elements are very interdependent.

Some other issues important to USB from a production standpoint include soybean rust, soybean quality and soybean yield.

You can listen to my interview with Rick here:

NAFB Washington Watch 2009 Photo Album

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Soybean Request For Referendum Starts Today

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Chuck

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 requires that the Secretary of Agriculture provide soybean producers the opportunity to petition for a referendum every five years.

Soybean producers eligible to participate in the request for referendum are defined as any producer who paid an assessment on the sale of soybeans during the period beginning January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2008, and who owned or shared in the ownership and the risk of loss of such soybeans during this period of time. Eligible individuals who do not want a referendum need not take any action.

Producers can obtain a LS-51-1 form to request a referendum either in person, by mail or by fax from May 4, 2009, through May 29, 2009, from their county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices or online at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmarketingprograms. Individual producers and other producer entities can request a referendum at the county FSA office that maintains and processes the producer’s administrative farm records. A producer not participating in FSA programs may request a referendum at the county FSA office serving the area where the producer owns or rents land.

Request for Referendum forms returned by mail must be postmarked by midnight May 29, 2009, and received in the county FSA office by close of business on June 5, 2009. Producers also need to attach documentation such as a sales receipt to this form showing that the producer, corporation or other entity paid assessments on soybeans during the period from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2008. FSA will determine a producer’s eligibility and notify all producers who are ineligible to participate in the request for referendum process.

The U.S. Soybean Federation has also commented publicly on the request for referendum.

“There is absolutely no question that soybean farmers have benefited from the national soybean checkoff program,” says Warren Stemme, USSF president and a soybean farmer from Chesterfield, Mo. “The farmers who created the checkoff nearly 18 years ago demonstrated an amazing amount of insight and now it’s the job of today’s soybean farmers to keep the program and the corresponding legislation intact.”

Beginning today soybean farmers have the opportunity to participate in a request for referendum. Farmers can sign a petition requesting a vote on the continuation of the soybean checkoff program.

USSF Vice President Jerry Slocum explained that farmers who believe the soybean checkoff is doing a good job for them don’t need to sign the petition.