What do animal feed, biodiesel, frying oil, adhesives and tires all have in common? They include U.S. soy, thanks to innovative investments made by U.S. soybean farmers and their soy checkoff. 

At Commodity Classic, farmers learned more about the new uses, research programs, markets and more that create each #Cropportunity, or profit opportunity, for U.S. soybean farmers. 

“U.S. soy is no longer just a rotational crop – it’s grown to be a big profit-driver on the farm,” says United Soybean Board (USB) Chair Lewis Bainbridge, a soybean farmer from Ethan, South Dakota. “Because farmers invest in their checkoff, USB can identify and capture profit opportunities, leading to the strong growth we’ve seen in both supply of and demand for U.S. soy.”

Maximizing profit opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers is a persistent mission for the soy checkoff. During the show, USB invited farmers to visit the USB booth to speak with their soy checkoff farmer-leaders about what they see as the next big #Cropportunity for U.S. soy. 

“Innovation is critical to take farmer profitability to the next level,” says Bainbridge. “Farmers should know that every day, their checkoff works to find a new marketplace solution and uncover a new #Cropportunity.”

USB’s 73 farmer-directors work on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers to achieve maximum value for their soy checkoff investments. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds in programs and partnerships to drive soybean innovation beyond the bushel and increase preference for U.S. soy. That preference is built on U.S. soybean meal and oil composition and the sustainability of U.S. soy. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.