Opportunity for soybean producers - Request referendum

May 23, 2024

By Farms.com

Soybean producers in the United States have a chance to voice their opinions on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced that producers can request a referendum to determine whether they want the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a referendum on the order.

Participation in this request for a referendum is voluntary. Soybean producers should participate if they wish to have a say in the future of the Soybean Promotion and Research program. The program, operated as the United Soybean Board, aims to maintain and expand both domestic and foreign markets for soybeans and soybean products.

Funding for the program comes from a mandatory assessment of 0.5 of 1 percent of the net market price of soybeans, with all producers marketing soybeans, except organic producers, required to pay the assessment.

To trigger a referendum, at least 10 percent of eligible producers must participate in the request. If successful, a referendum will be held within one year from the determination. However, if the request for a referendum does not garner enough support, no referendum will be conducted.

Soybean producers have until May 31 to request a referendum. To be eligible, producers must certify that they or the producer entity they represent paid an assessment between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023.

Video: Veteran Farmers: A Legacy of Service in Rural America

Veterans Day is a time to honor the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and values. And for some, the transition from military service to civilian life brings them back to the farm.

At Farm Bureau, we believe it’s important to not only celebrate veterans but also those who continue to make a difference in agriculture and their community. We've partnered with Farm Credit to establish the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to shine a light on those who have continued to go above and beyond to serve their communities.

This year, we recognize retired Colonel Joe Ricker as the inaugural Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence winner. Joe served over 30 years in the Army before retiring from the Pentagon and completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, his commitment to excellence in farming and enriching the lives of veterans has blossomed in a myriad of ways in both his local community of Wilkinson, Indiana, and across the country. Joe grows apples and raises bees on his farm in Indiana. Joe founded “Veterans IN Farming,” an organization, now with more than 1,100 members, dedicated to providing veterans in Indiana with the tools and training to succeed in agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization, comprised of and directed by farm and ranch families who engage in all types of food, fuel and fiber production.