INVESTING CHECKOFF DOLLARS INVESTING CHECKOFF DOLLARS INVESTING CHECKOFF DOLLARS
THE DREAM CONTINUES TO BE FULFILLED By Jerry Schmitz, Executive Director of SDSA and SDSRPC
D
ecades ago, a group of soybean farmers dreamed that they could somehow control their own destiny rather than being servants to the same cultural practices, production methods, and market challenges year after year. Rather than chasing after the next best miracle crop, learning about it, and investing capital in new equipment and facilities needed to produce and market it, they wanted to make the very best of a crop they were already producing. They wanted to build upon the foundation of a crop they knew could provide a profitable future. They formed a member soybean organization that initially helped farmers become familiar with soybean varieties and production methods. As the organization evolved, the farmer members realized that their dream held far more potential than first imagined and challenged themselves with forward-looking questions.
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SDSOYBEAN.ORG SOY TOPICS PROGRAMS & EVENTS JERRY SCHMITZ Executive Director of SDSA and SDSRPC
NEWS & MEDIA LEGISLATION AND MUCH MORE
WHAT IF farmers themselves could propel university and private research to help local farm families be more efficient, productive, and economically sustainable? Realizing that demand is a driver of price, WHY NOT support research to create new uses to generate even greater demand for soybeans? HOW CAN farmers make sure that U.S. soybeans, soybean meal, oil, and derivatives are recognized as the most desirable choice for all possible customers, domestic and foreign, and provide a steady year-round supply of soybeans and related products so customers do not seek other more reliable alternatives? What began as a member organization with a dream evolved into two separate organizations with distinct differences and yet, a common goal of enhancing the economic viability and longevity of soybean-producing families. The American Soybean Association (ASA) and the United Soybean Board (USB). ASA, composed of twenty-six state soybean affiliates, is the member organization that initiated and fostered the dream. It is a catalyst paving the way for soybean success by engaging in domestic and international policies that affect all facets of the soybean industry. It is active in policies involving farm programs, crop insurance, trade, taxes, infrastructure, sustainability, and more. Two South Dakota farmers are seated on the ASA national board. USB, composed of soybean farmers selected from all soybean-growing states, specializes in increasing profit opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers by meeting the current needs of farmers and their customers and creating new uses and customers worldwide. Four South Dakota farmers are seated on USB. Working in tandem, USB and ASA have expanded the footprint and viability of U.S. soybean farmers. They continue to open markets worldwide and increase demand exponentially. Leveraging your checkoff dollars, USB and state soybean checkoff organizations create and promote new uses that private industry and government are clamoring for: environmentally friendly and renewable concrete and asphalt road preservatives, auto tires, motor oil, and plastics, to name a few. The synergistic partnership between ASA and USB has not only catapulted soybean demand by consumers, private industry, and governments, but those entities promote our soybeans in their advertising and programs. - - The dream those farmers had decades ago lives on, and the potential for the future is even greater now than then.
Summer Issue 2021
SDSL
11
