The United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff invite U.S. soybean farmers to apply for the third annual See for Yourself program. The soybean checkoff organizes the program, which includes visits to review checkoff-funded projects in action, every summer to help USB evaluate its programs by hearing farmers’ perspectives on the checkoff.
Additionally, by following an itinerary that enables farmers to visit several facilities that represent end users of U.S. soy, this educational expedition gives U.S. soybean farmers a firsthand look at the results of their checkoff investment. In between stops, farmers get an excellent opportunity to interact with USB leadership, ask questions and provide comments about the checkoff.
“Last year, we received great feedback from the soybean farmers who took the trip about how they had no idea the checkoff was involved in so many areas,” said soybean checkoff farmer-leader Karen Fear, a soybean farmer from Montpelier, Ind., who participated last year. “Then they come back and they talk to their friends and neighbors about how USB uses their checkoff investment to increase profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers.”
USB is looking for 10 U.S. soybean farmers who have little to no hands-on experience with soybean checkoff programs to participate in this year’s program from July 26-31. Interested farmers must fill out an application on the USB Web site at www.unitedsoybean.org and submit it by April 1. USB will also invite a limited number of media members to cover the program.
Beginning in St. Louis, participants will hear from the USB chairman, CEO and executive director, as well as from representatives of every USB program area, about how USB invests checkoff funding with the goal of increasing demand for U.S. soy. Then the group will travel to Mexico, a major importer of U.S. soy.
While on the trip, participants will visit several end users of their products, including:
>> A livestock operation that uses soybean meal as its primary feed.
>> An organization that fuels its vehicle fleet or equipment with soy biodiesel.
>> An aquaculture farm that uses soybean meal as its primary protein source.
>> A research facility where scientists work on the next big idea in soy-based products.
>> A representative of the food industry that uses U.S. soy in human food.
>> A soybean oil refinery. “This trip shows soybean farmers a lot about where their products end up,” Fear said. “I don’t think a lot of them realized where their soybeans go; it really opened their eyes. I don’t think they realize how much soy is exported, and they need to know that. And I think it’s interesting for them to realize just how many products are made from soybeans.”
USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean