The U.S. soybean crop may be struggling this summer, but the farmers who grow it know there will still be plenty to go around and they are excited about the newest biobased soy products in the pipelines for the domestic market.
Left to right here are Dale Profit and Jim Stillman – both from Iowa, Karen Fear of Indiana, and Lewis Bainbridge of South Dakota. They are all members of the United Soybean Board who attended this week’s USB Biobased Products Stakeholders’ Workshop in Dearborn, Michigan. I talked with each of them about the event, the importance of biobased products made from soy, partnerships with companies like Ford, and how the crop looks in their areas.
Jim is USB Vice Chairman, a 4th generation farmer from Emmetsburg, and he was impressed to find out that Henry Ford originally used soy oil to make some of the components of his early vehicles and tractors. “To think that it started clear back in the ’30s,” he said. “What if we had carried on? What would we see today?”
Listen to my interview with Jim here: USB Vice Chairman Jim Stillman
As chairman of USB’s Domestic Marketing Committee, Lewis was pleased to announce the new Collegiate Biobased Network to help grow the scientists who will create the new products of the future. “It’s an opportunity for outstanding students working on biobased products to actually see something brought into the market,” he said. “Gives students a chance to interact with folks who are actually getting the products on-line.”
Listen to my interview with Lewis here: USB Director Lewis Bainbridge
Karen is on the USB New Uses Committee and she stressed how the soybean checkoff works with private industry like Ford Motor Company. “It really helps the farmer understand where his dollars are going,” she said.
Listen to my interview with Karen here: USB Director Karen Fear
Dale is also on the New Uses Committee and says even though the types of new uses for soy would make up only a small percentage of the crop, it’s value added for the farmer.
Listen to my interview with Dale here: USB Director Dale Profit
Check out the photo album below and the SoyBiobased.org website as well.
2012 USB Biobased Products Stakeholders Workshop Photos