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 |