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Soybean checkoff strives to improve competitiveness and profit potential for U.S. soybean producers
St. Louis, Missouri
April 12, 2004

United Soybean Board (USB) farmer-directors examined their strategic approach to ensure the future competitiveness and profit potential of U.S. soybean farmers at their Board of Directors meeting recently in Omaha, Neb.

The farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff met to assess the current situation of the soybean industry, prompting an adjustment in the board's strategic approach. The updated strategy aims to improve U.S. soybean farmer profit potential and create new opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers to improve their competitive position in the global market by differentiating U.S. soybeans, supporting the domestic animal agriculture industry and continuing to promote and develop new biobased products.

Due to the dramatically increased numbers of bushels of soybeans being produced globally, the soybean checkoff is working to create and develop new market opportunities.

"The soybean world has changed significantly over the last few years," said USB Chairman Criss Davis, a soybean farmer from Shullsburg, Wis. "With growing competition from South America, increased pressures facing the U.S. animal agriculture industry and new market opportunities for biobased products, it's important for the soybean checkoff to adjust its strategic approach to address these issues," he said.

By working cooperatively within the soybean value chain - which includes farmers, processors, seed companies and end users - through industry coalitions such as QUALISOY(tm), the soybean checkoff is able to leverage resources to create opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers to be more competitive and maximize profit potential. QUALISOY is an innovative business platform that unites all levels of the soybean industry to create added value and increase global competitiveness for the U.S. soybean industry through the development, commercialization and promotion of enhanced quality traits.

Soybean farmers' support of the domestic animal agriculture industry - voted a top priority by USB farmer-directors - is vital to the long-term stability of the U.S. soybean industry. By improving soy feed quality and investing in ways to support U.S. animal producers against outside pressures, through measures such as the Animal Agriculture Initiative, the soybean checkoff is dedicated to keep its number one customer close to home, securing its competitive advantage over outside suppliers.

"Brazilian poultry and livestock won't be eating American soybeans," Davis said. "The closer chickens, hogs and cattle are to the soybeans we produce, the better our profit opportunities will be."

Biobased products, such as soy biodiesel and soy-based plastics, have large market potential, and USB is committed to researching, developing and promoting these products. The checkoff is already seeing success - for instance, soy biodiesel consumption has increased to 25 million gallons in just three years, and soy-based polyol plastics are being used on equipment such as John Deere's 50 and 60 series combines. More can be done, and USB, through a vote of support from its farmer-directors, is committed to doing more.

Also, at the board meeting, Davis appointed USB's new program, support and ad hoc committee chairs. USB Immediate Past Chairman David Durham of Hardin, Mo., chairs Communications; Kent Gronlie of Northwood, N.D., Domestic Marketing; Benny Cooper, of Kevil, Ky., International Marketing; Eric Niemann of Nortonville, Kan., New Uses; and Jim Sallstrom of Winthrop, Minn., chairs Production. Support committee chairs are Jerry Ford of Lake Village, Ark., Audit & Evaluation, and Bryan Hieser of Minier, Ill., Trade Analysis. Ad hoc committee chairs are Jay Franklin of Vinita, Okla., Analytical Measurements & Standards, and Jack Hartman of Sumner, Iowa, Research Coordination.

Team leaders for USB's initiative leadership teams were appointed as well. Mark Pietz of Lakefield, Minn., is the team leader of the Animal Agriculture Initiative, Janice Peterson of Bloomington, Ind., is the Biobased Products Initiative team leader and USB Secretary Chuck Friedrich of Aurora, S.D., is the team leader of the Select Yield & Quality Initiative.

The board meeting reaffirmed USB farmer-director's commitment to research opportunities to be more competitive around the globe and to ensure U.S. soybean farmers' profit potential, while maximizing soybean checkoff funds.

Continually assessing its strategic approach and effectiveness, another way the soybean checkoff is working to give U.S. soybean farmers a competitive edge. USB is made up of 62 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff

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