Travis Bunde, Raven Industries Jeff Behrens, Pioneer
American Soybean Association
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Editor/Design Director
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PRESIDENT’S OUTLOOK
By Kevin Deinert, President of the South Dakota Soybean Association
As another year closes and we reflect on the past year, we again celebrate the resilience of the American farmer. Our community has faced challenges from unpredictable weather to evolving and declining market conditions. But I always stand in wonder as the backbone of our nation rises to meet these challenges head-on and overcome what is thrown at them. I admire and thank you for what you have and continue to do for our great state!
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Thank you to all who could attend our Annual Meeting in Sioux Falls. To reflect the changing dynamics of soybean production and acreage, we expanded the number of districts to adequately and equitably represent the state of South Dakota. Stay tuned for the announcement of the newly elected and reelected directors. We look forward to working together to continue the efforts and excellence of the South Dakota Soybean Association.
KEVIN DEINERT SDSA President
As our directors return from the fields and focus some of their time in the boardroom, we again are reminded that the political landscape too is ever evolving. We are filled with optimism and hope for the future with the political landscape set to bring important opportunities for our industry. Looking within our state, property taxes continue to be a point of contention. Rest assured that SDSA has been focused on this issue for quite some time and will help lead the charge for our farmers.
Our small but mighty state continues to “punch above our weight” as we have seen some of our leaders rise to political prominence. We look forward to working with them as key ag issues still need to be addressed. Most prominently would be completing the Farm Bill. Farmers need policies that strengthen crop insurance, invest in our rural areas, and open doors to global trade opportunities.
The road ahead this year is filled with so much potential, and we at SDSA are excited to walk alongside you. The coming months will be filled with opportunities to strengthen our communities and ensure the vitality of our industry. But we need your voice to help make it happen! Please consider becoming a member of the South Dakota Soybean Association so that we can continue to overcome adversity and help our farm families prosper.
Time has flown by again and another year has ended as your President of the South Dakota Soybean Association. I cannot thank you enough for entrusting me with such a prestigious honor. I walk humbly in the steps of those who have come before me and proudly as we make new paths for our organization. As we look ahead to 2025, we are reminded of the many blessings we share – our families, our work, and our communities. May the year ahead bring you good health, continued strength, and prosperity.
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and God’s blessing be upon you all!
Kevin Deinert
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN
By David Struck, Chairman of SDSRPC
Now that harvest is behind us and fieldwork is winding down, we’re shifting our focus to a new season—one where we work to keep adding value to the soybeans we grow right here in South Dakota. Whether it’s exploring new markets, expanding current uses, or finding brand-new opportunities, the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council is committed to making the most of your checkoff dollars.
This winter, we’ll be hard at work in a variety of areas. In today’s trade climate, it’s important to not only maintain the relationships we’ve built but to keep finding new ones. We’ll be focusing on direct sales and promotional efforts, including supporting animal agriculture by highlighting poultry, pork, and beef exports that rely on soy-based feed.
We’re also diving into new and exciting uses for soybeans. Through partnerships with research institutions like South Dakota State University and other universities, we’re exploring everything from improving feed rations to developing renewable fuels, bioplastics, and even environmentally friendly fire suppressants. These innovations open up more markets and create even more value for your soybeans.
On a global scale, we’re teaming up with organizations like USSEC, ASA, USB, and USAPEEC to promote soybeans worldwide. From Asia to Europe and beyond, these efforts help
South Dakota farmers reach new customers and strengthen our role in the global marketplace.
Closer to home, we’re looking forward to the new soybean processing plant coming online south of Mitchell in 2025. This facility is a game-changer, providing more options and added value for soybeans grown right here in South Dakota.
All of this work is possible because of your contributions to the soybean checkoff. Every dollar is carefully invested to ensure it works as hard as you do, helping grow our markets, improve our products, and build a stronger future for South Dakota agriculture.
On behalf of the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, thank you for your continued support. Whether you’re finishing up fieldwork or planning ahead for next season, know that we’re working alongside you to make sure your soybeans deliver more value than ever before.
DavidStruck
David Struck Chairman of SDSRPC
DAVID STRUCK, Chairman of SDSRPC
Field to Table Building Connections at Soy Connext
South Dakota Soybean attended Field to Table in Gayville, S.D., engaging 770 students with hands-on learning about soybeans, agriculture, and rural life. Students explored topics like soil, dairy, bees, and machinery.
Soy Connext fostered global trade opportunities, hosting over 520 buyer-seller meetings in San Francisco. Highlights included a Chinese delegation breakfast, Soy Excellence platform demo, and updates on global agricultural initiatives, including a new Soy Excellence Center in India.
Another Dakotafest in the Books
South Dakota Soybean brought checkoff innovations to Dakotafest in Mitchell, S.D. Despite a rainy start, we connected with farmers, shared fresh donuts, and hosted USDA Administrator Marcia Bunger with SD Corn. Highlights included international visitors from Brazil learning about our checkoff. Thanks to all who joined!
Celebrating National Farmers Day with Fun, Family, and Agriculture!
SD Soybean and SD Corn came together for one final celebration to close out a fantastic season of kids' activities! On Friday, October 4, we partnered with the Agribusiness Division of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce for their annual National Farmers Day at the Barn at Stockyards Ag Experience Barn. This fun, family-friendly event had it all—pick-your-own pumpkins, engaging exhibits, and plenty of opportunities to learn how agriculture shapes our community. Our ‘Beans Make Bacon’ activity showed kids how soybeans contribute to raising happy, healthy pigs.
Donuts, Soybeans, and Football: A Winning Combo at Ag Appreciation Day!
This year marked a first for SD Soybean Checkoff as we participated in USD Football Ag Appreciation Day, and what a day it was! Surrounded by fantastic ag businesses, SD Soybean staff had a blast making donuts and sharing the benefits of soy-based cooking oils. They whipped up donuts fried in Plenish® soybean oil, giving attendees a tasty introduction to heart-healthy cooking. It was a great day of connecting with students and fans alike.
A Legendary Close to Shop Talk 2024
The final Shop Talk of 2024 couldn’t have found a better stage than the South Dakota Hall of Fame. 30 farmers and industry representatives gathered to expand their agricultural knowledge. They had the honor of hearing from Blair Shipp, a representative of the American Soybean Association. Her insightful presentation highlighted the partnership between the ASA and the United Soybean Board, showcasing how they collaborate to empower farmers across the nation.
A big thank you to everyone who helped make this series a success!
Serving Up Hot Lunch During Harvest Commodity Groups Meet with Korean Delegation
SD Soybean staff assisted and served 150 harvest lunches at SD Soybean Processors, including pork burgers and snacks. We’re so thankful for all that farmers do!
On Monday, September 30, a South Korean Trade Team met with executives from the South Dakota ag commodity groups at South Dakota Corn. Corn, Pork, Wheat, Dairy, Soybeans, and Farm Bureau were all represented. Each group had a chance to speak and promote their commodity and South Dakota agriculture.
Trade Team
South Dakota hosted a trade team from the Philippines, starting at the Wheaton Dumont Terminal and visiting Mike McCranie’s farm near Claremont. After lunch at Tony’s Tavern, they toured Dave Struck’s farm near Wolsey and ended the day with dinner at Jordan Scott’s farm near Valley Springs, learning about soybean quality, farm life, and agriculture in South Dakota.
DSU Ag Bowl
South Dakota Soybean staff joined DSU’s Ag Bowl tailgate, celebrating the season opener on the new soy-based turf. Fans loved learning about soy innovation while enjoying a packed stadium and great game!
India Trade Mission
Northern Crops Institute INTSOY Course
The Northern Crops Institute INTSOY Course, attended by 40+ participants from 18 countries, covered soy’s many uses, including food, snacks, and animal nutrition. The group toured SDSU’s dairy and research facilities, South Dakota Soybean Processors, and ended the week in Minnesota, learning about soybean production and processing.
Hobo Day Connecting with Farmers and Consumers
The South Dakota Soybean Checkoff proudly supported Hobo Day, connecting with fans and farmers at the Jackrabbit game. The event celebrated agriculture, community, and the tradition of SDSU’s big day.
During a trade mission to India led by Iowa's Governor, USSEC explored India’s rapidly growing economy, highlighting challenges in raw material access and labor. The Soy Excellence Center (SEC) India, funded by South Dakota and Illinois, has made significant strides since its inception, training over 200 participants in just 10 months. The SEC provides early to midcareer protein professionals with critical knowledge and skills to drive agricultural growth, while promoting U.S. Soy’s unique qualities for future market opportunities.
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
By Jerry Schmitz, Executive Director of South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council & South Dakota Soybean Association
In 1990, Congress passed the Federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, making the Soybean Checkoff a national checkoff. The Act requires an assessment of one-half of one percent of the value of each bushel sold for the first time. The United Soybean Board (USB), a board comprised of farmer volunteers from every soybean-growing state and appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, manages the national checkoff. South Dakota has four board members on USB.
USB invests one-half of the monies collected in domestic and international soy promotion for feed, food, biofuel and industrial uses. They also invest in research for new uses, such as replacing petroleum with soy oil in tires, asphalt and concrete preservatives, insulation, astroturf, and many new types of plastics. The other half of the collections are managed by the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (SDSRPC), a nine-member volunteer board of South Dakota soybean farmers. The current target investment channels for SDSRPC are research, domestic use, international use, biofuels and public/farmer education.
Research is focused on production challenges faced by farmers, as well as areas of increased use and new uses. SDSRPC invests in local research projects to address concerns that are unique to South Dakota soybean growers but also collaborates with several states to jointly fund challenges across the U.S. Projects range from disease and insect control to livestock feed to real-time weather information which provides guidance for pesticide application. SDSRPC has also invested checkoff dollars in the POET BioProducts Center and bioproducts research in Brookings.
Domestic and international investments are focused on driving demand for local soybeans. SDSRPC promotes soy-based livestock and aquaculture feed, artificial turf, firefighting foam, domestic port accessibility and transportation infrastructure. Since over 60% of South Dakota soybeans/ meal/oil are exported, transportation plays a vital role in the price farmers receive for their soybeans. Hosting foreign
buyers so they can visit local soybean farmers and elevators and see the quality of South Dakota soybeans and the care they are given from planting to export is extremely important. Foreign buyers frequently invite SDSRPC members to tour their businesses, describe the challenges they are facing, and seek solutions together.
JERRY SCHMITZ Executive Director of SDSRPC and SDSA
Biofuel use is growing in a number of sectors. Biodiesel made from soy oil is used as fuel for diesel engines and promoted for bioheat by New York and other cities. Biodiesel adds approximately 13% to the value of a bushel of soybeans. Renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel are also made from soy oil, and demand is growing. Checkoff dollars are used to educate industry and consumers about the mechanical, environmental, and health benefits of using biofuels.
Public/farmer education is funded to raise awareness of the many benefits of soy, the things farmers do on their farms and why they do them. Sharing that information helps consumers better understand what is taking place around them so they feel educated and comfortable about agriculture. Results of research and information about new techniques are shared with farmers through meetings, newsletters, media and magazine articles paid for using checkoff dollars.
Each year, SDSRPC partners with over 30 state and national agricultural organizations in the quest to drive demand for South Dakota soy and make soybean production a safe, economically, and environmentally sustainable crop.
U.S. FOOD AID GROWS FOOD STABILITY AND EXPORT MARKET DEVELOPMENT
HOW U.S. SOY CAN HELP GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND GROW MARKETS
Global food insecurity isn’t top-of-mind among most soybean farmers, especially regarding its relationship to national security. However, those golden beans gathered at harvest certainly play an expanding role in global peace and market development.
South Dakota Soybean Association Executive Director, Jerry Schmitz, was among 150 public and private sector leaders at the September launch of Feed the Future Accelerator for Sub-Saharan Africa. The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are driving this innovative bipartisan effort to promote global food security and strengthen national security.
“Working with food-deprived nations is in our best interest for peace. Soybeans can play a vital role to help malnourished and chronically hungry people,” Schmitz says. “Investing in food to assist nations with a protein shortage is also a line of defense to keep the peace and reduce the opportunity for bad actors to step in.”
CONFLICT REALITIES
While this accelerator project aims to build a breadbasket in southern and eastern Africa for 260 million hungry people, the hope is to build a long-term resilience across many countries to reduce pressure on U.S. taxpayer funding of constant emergency responses.
Luke Lindberg, President & CEO of South Dakota Trade, says conflict is the number one driver of food insecurity, and unfortunately, the world is in conflict right now. At the annual Midwest Ag Export Summit in August, many global experts discussed global challenges to trade, including armed conflicts and growing hunger.
“The goal of many food aid efforts is to alleviate some of these crisis spots and make the world a better and safer place—one that is well fed,” Lindberg says. “If we can be there as good stewards and good friends to support someone when they’re down, then they’ll be there to support us when they’re up.”
Through those golden harvested beans, soybean farmers’ investment plays a critical market development role as these
A Cambodian aquaculture farmer feeding fish grown using In-Pond Raceway System (IPRS). Photo Credit: ASA/WISHH
underdeveloped and developing countries learn how U.S. soybeans play an essential role in human nutrition.
One example of how soybeans play a more significant role in Ready-to-Use Supplementary foods and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods is in Edesia Nutrition products used for malnutrition in more than 60 countries. After dialogue with representatives from the United Soybean Board (USB) and continued work with the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), Edesia created a product that contains 25% more soy flour, which makes the product more cost effective and meets nutritional and protein needs.
WISHH’s work with this nutritional product fits our strategic plan to deliver sustainable soy solutions to every life, every day, says USB Director and Salem, S.D. farmer, Dawn Scheier.
GROWING RELATIONSHIPS ARE CRITICAL
Since 2000, when visionary soybean leaders founded WISHH, U.S. soybean farmers have been investing in global food security through increased export opportunities. WISHH is the catalyst for developing and emerging markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
“We are grateful every day for farmer support as we find and create new human food, animal, and aquaculture feed markets for U.S. soybeans,” says Gena Perry, Executive Director of WISHH. “We’re laying the foundation for future trade in developing and emerging markets, working at the intersection of food security, market development, and trade.”
Challenges abound on the ground, everything from finance to infrastructure to supply chains, value chains, and cold storage, and they vary by country, according to Perry. A critical piece is connecting U.S. soybean farmers as brand ambassadors with our
in-country partners.
Ask any farmer who’s traveled on an international See For Yourself tour or attended the Northern Crops Institute INTSOY Course about the value of these meetings. They will smile with fond remembrances of global buyers and the personal bond they experienced when discussing their farm and family, especially as photos were shared.
FARMER TRAVELS HELP EXPORTS
“Once we get our foot in the door and establish a relationship, the people from other countries who meet U.S. soybean farmers really value this interaction,” Schmitz says. “They want to keep this relationship going so that as future food needs arise, they will become U.S. soybean buyers and want to visit their farms.”
Alan Poock, Director of Asia for WISHH, says international buyers are also impressed that U.S. farmers invest their money (through checkoff) to help developing countries improve food security and grow local businesses.
A case in point involves an aquaculture technology and soy feed production value chain program in Cambodia, entering its fifth year. WISHH worked with an aquaculture advisor to adapt a U.S. in-pond raceway system (IPRS) design to create a new production method that meets Cambodia’s unique challenges.
“This new production method dramatically increases fish production using a cage that mimics natural current in existing ponds,” Poock says. “Instead of using homemade food tossed in a pond, a commercially produced, higher protein soy-based floating pellet feed has dramatically increased fish production.”
Thanks to checkoff investment, WISHH not only provides technical assistance and education for Cambodian fish farmers, but
Photo Credit: ASA/WISHH
it helps with local pelleted feed production and supports a local IPRS builder, helping new and existing farmers.
A second success story in Cambodia involves many years of work with a tofu and soy milk company. “They’ve now completed their third order of identity-preserved U.S. food soybeans and are considering expanding their plant which opened seven years ago,” Poock says.
Such work in Cambodia has made it a growing and important export country for U.S. soybeans. Similar successes are occurring in other countries. “We take a long-term view to develop these markets, because we’re changing people’s behaviors, buying habits, and value chains,” Poock says. “By building relationships
and investing time, money, and U.S. expertise in these countries, we’re earning trust, which increases markets over time.”
As these developing countries grow their need for more protein, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) begins to expand the market. By partnering with growing countries like India and others in Central and South America, we can help improve their protein consumption and alleviate childhood and adult nutritional deficiencies.
“We’re working with many governments, in-country associations from food and nutrition to livestock and supply chains, and local businesses,” says Will McNair, USSEC Director of Human Protein and Oil. “Our goal is to educate and promote how U.S. soybean quality delivers efficiencies and a higherquality soy food desired by these growth countries.”
For example, Indonesia is the largest soy food market for U.S. soybeans. They import approximately 2.3 million metric tons, primarily for food use to produce tempeh. “As countries become wealthier, they’re increasingly buying high-end identitypreserved soybeans and soy protein isolates to produce better quality food products,” McNair says.
Such U.S. soybean market growth in developing countries bodes well for our export future, as higher-quality soybeans are gaining on lower quality, lower priced Brazilian soybeans. “And if higher soy food consumption trends continue among more elderly populations in Japan and beyond to improve health, greater global adoption could occur over the next 10 to 20 years,” McNair says.
The newest IPRS system in Cambodia. Photo Credit: ASA/WISHH
2024 SOUTH DAKOTA HARVEST RECAP: A YEAR OF WEATHER EXTREMES AND RESILIENCE
As South Dakota’s 2024 soybean harvest wraps up, farmers across the state are reflecting on a challenging yet instructive growing season. From delayed planting to weather extremes, the year brought mixed results for many producers, including South Dakota Soybean Association directors Dan Nigg of Sisseton and Ross Tschetter of Bridgewater.
For Nigg, the season was marked by an unusually long planting window, starting on April 28 and extending into late June.
“It was alright,” Nigg said of the harvest, though his tone reflected the hurdles faced along the way. “Usually in ten days, [planting is] all over, but this spring, it took almost two months. We’d get some planted, then rain would stop us. It’s been a challenging year for the crops.”
The prolonged planting window led to noticeable differences in soybean yield and quality. “The early-planted soybeans were very good,” Nigg said. “We thought, ‘This is going to be a great year,’ with beans at or above normal. But as you moved to the later-planted fields, the quality and yield weren’t as strong, largely due to wet conditions early in the summer.”
In another part of the state, Tschetter faced a season of weather whiplash, with excessive early rains giving way to lateseason dryness.
“We started off kind of cold and wet in the early spring,” Tschetter explained. “Then we got big rains in May and June that caused drown-outs and flooding. But by August, we hadn’t had meaningful rain since Dakotafest, and that impacted pod filling for soybeans.”
Despite these challenges, Tschetter managed an average-to-slightly-belowaverage soybean yield, thanks in part to narrow-row planting on 15-inch rows. This method maximized moisture use and reduced weed pressure, helping him salvage a decent harvest.
“The August rain we had kept us from really sliding off into very low yields,” he said. “Where our average is in the forties, I’m just glad to hit that. It wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t a total loss either.”
Beyond the fields, the harvest season offered unique opportunities for local cooperatives. Nigg, who serves on the board of a local elevator, observed how this year’s reduced soybean crop created an unusual situation with railroad logistics.
“Our local elevator books freight 12 to 18 months ahead, ensuring trains come regularly,” Nigg explained. “With lower production this year, we sold surplus railcars on the market, which worked out well for the cooperative.”
South Dakota soybeans largely head to export terminals in the Pacific Northwest
(PNW), making timely transportation essential. “Most of our soybeans go to the PNW, so we need freight ordered in advance,” Nigg said. “This year, selling a few trains we didn’t need was a silver lining.”
Despite the hurdles, both farmers remain optimistic about the lessons learned and future prospects. For Tschetter, farming is as much about adaptation as it is about production.
“Each year is different,” Tschetter said. “We’ve found ways to make the most of the weather and our resources, like narrow-row planting and managing weed pressure. It’s not always perfect, but it’s always worth it.”
Farmers like Nigg and Tschetter exemplify the resilience and resourcefulness of South Dakota agriculture. Their ability to navigate weather extremes, optimize practices, and adapt to market opportunities underscores the strength of the soybean industry, even in challenging years.
As the combines are parked and the fields rest for winter, the reflections of farmers across the state remind us that each harvest, no matter the outcome, builds the foundation for a stronger season ahead.
HELPING FARMERS ROLL INTO THE NEXT SEASON
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If you’re ready to roll, we’re ready to help.
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SOUTH DAKOTA GROWERS HOST SOUTHEAST ASIAN SOYBEAN BUYING TEAM
South Dakota soybean growers hosted ten Southeast Asian soybean buyers this fall during a tour sponsored by Northern Soy Marketing. The delegation, from Vietnam and Indonesia, visited Chad Schooley’s Castlewood, S.D., farm and the South Dakota Soybean Processors Plant at Volga. The tour is an opportunity to show soybean buyers where northern-grown soybeans are raised, according to Katelyn Engquist, market development project manager for Northern Soy Marketing.
“Our goal there is to create relationships with the people that are actually using our product and then let them see firsthand why they should consider northern-grown soy for their livestock,” Engquist told the South Dakota Soybean network.
Prior to their South Dakota tour stops, the visiting buyers saw farms in Wisconsin and Minnesota. They’re planning to follow their Midwest tour with a close look at the Port of Greys Harbor, Washington.
“A lot of our soy and soybean meal is exported from the Pacific Northwest, some as well from the Great Lakes ports,” Engquist said, “but a lot of it comes out of the Pacific Northwest, which is a great location for buyers in Southeast Asia.”
The Northern Soy Marketing coalition exists to represent soybeans grown at higher latitudes, Engquist pointed out, which are easier to store and have specific nutritive attributes for livestock.
“Soybeans that are grown in a cooler region tend to have a higher amount of essential amino acids; those are very important just for the general wellbeing and growth for livestock,” she added. “Our beans tend to have a lower amount of crude protein, but we just want nutrition staff to consider why the essential amino acids are important, and not just crude protein.”
Efforts to market northern-grown soybean meal to Southeast Asia are successful and Engquist is confident that demand can be filled.
“Our farmers are always willing and excited to be able to feed the world, so if there’s more demand for a product, they are going to grow it if it works out in their plans. And in Southeast Asia there is a large rise in consumption of meat and protein, so I believe there’s always going to be an opportunity for soy and soybean meal in Southeast Asia,” she said. “Our farmers are willing and up to the task to provide that.”
Financial Incentive
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Technical Advisor
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1 (16-ounce) bag frozen whole-leaf spinach, thawed and drained
1 (12- to 14-ounce) bag frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and drained
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 cups whole or 2% milk
4 ounces cream cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1½ teaspoons garlic powder, divided
1 large kaiser roll, or 2 ounces another hearty white bread, cut into ½-inch cubes (about 2 ½ cups)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Adjust an oven rack to the top third position and heat to 475 F.
2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season generously on both sides with salt and pepper.
3. Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron or oven-safe, deep-sided skillet over medium-high heat
4. Add oil and 1 tablespoon butter.
5. Once the butter has melted, add the chicken and cook until browned and nearly cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. (The chicken will finish cooking in the oven.)
6. Transfer to a plate.
7. Reduce the heat to medium.
8. Add spinach and artichokes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes.
9. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter. Once melted, stir in flour and cook for 30 seconds. Pour in milk, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a simmer. Cook until thickened, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cream cheese, mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, until the cheeses have melted. Taste and season with more salt, if desired.
10. Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, spacing them evenly apart into the spinachartichoke mixture.
11. Turn off the heat.
12. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, about 45 seconds. Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt, then add the cubed bread and toss until well coated. Scatter bread cubes over the skillet. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan.
13. Bake the chicken until browned and bubbling, 6 to 8 minutes. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
CREAMY SPINACH ARTICHOKE CHICKEN
There is a relentless spirit that unites us all in agriculture - a conviction we can dream big and that together, we become unstoppable.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17 NIV
Having open conversations about food and farming with South Dakotans and the farmers who grow it is what we do. In fact, that’s what Hungry for Truth is all about.
HUNGRY FOR TRUTH AMBASSADOR PAIRING:
BROOKE HENDRICKX BRIDGES AGRIBUSINESS AND FAMILY FARMING ON A VISIT TO WALT BONES'S OPERATION
Provided
by Brooke Hendrickx, Agribusiness Manager at Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce
Growing up on a farm, I was mesmerized by the stories from the past my dad could tell. Stories of all the towns he would deliver farm equipment to, the first livestock he ever got, advancements in agriculture, those who didn’t survive the hard times of the 1980s, and those who took the hard times and made it an opportunity for their operation to thrive with a changing world. That is what 4th generation farmer Walt Bones III and his brothers, Jim Bones and Steve Bones, did. Dating back to the 1879 homestead and Bones Hereford Ranch, the history of their operation is as rich as the soil it sets on. In 1985, Hexad Farms emerged as an operation that manages and partners with Bones Hereford Ranch, Bones Feedyard, Bones Elevator Company, MDM Farms, and Turner County Dairy.
Deep into corn harvest, myself and the Hungry for Truth team received a firsthand view from the combine of the 10,000 acres they plant and harvest with Mike VanHove, who is now a part of the 5th generation with MDM Farms. Harvesting 12 rows at a time on a field named “10,000 lakes” for its many low spots, it was easy to see how technology has been able to help them navigate seeding rates and utilize resources, like fertilizer, on this field to get the most bushels per acre.
After our time with Mike, we followed Walt to the Bones Hereford Ranch. While giving us a tour of the elevator offices, Walt showed us pictures and paintings that decorated the walls. Each one holds its own story to their family, friends, and the operations. My favorite was a painting of a Hereford bull, who was an industry changer for Bones Hereford Ranch and played a role in the credibility of their Hereford operation for years to come.
We loaded up for a short drive to the feedlot, which houses replacement dairy females for the Turner County Dairy and some beef cattle. Walt described how they are able to take a small tissue sample from the calf’s ear and send it to a lab for testing, and the results can
Walt Bones and Brooke Hendrickx
tell them the future of that specific animal's milking yield! How cool is that to know the future of an animal before it steps foot in the parlor!
The Bones Sale Barn, a nationally recognized Historic Barn on the rolling plains of Turner County, was our next stop. Walt showed us where the original sale ring sat, which brought cattlemen from near and far for the annual production sales. As production sales scaled back, we walked through how they transitioned the barn to house cattle and serve other various uses throughout the year.
On our drive to Turner County Dairy, we talked about stewardship practices they have in place in which the Bones family prides themselves. Walt pointed out the buffer strips that sit on either side of the creeks/rivers, sprouting cover crops, and organic fertilizer utilization. These practices allow them to care for and maintain cropland and pastureland at a rate that will keep it prosperous for years to come. Moreover, these practices allow them to care for wetlands, and other habitats and natural resources encompassing their land.
Our first stop at the dairy, of course, was the calf barn. We walked through the barn, seeing calves in individual pens, and, of course, getting some head scratches in! The next barn calves are penned with other calves and have access to feed and a milk machine. This machine reads the RFID chip in the calves’ ears, which allows them to drink from the machine. With the help of this machine over time, calves can be slowly weaned off milk and ready for the next stage of farm life.
Before heading to the parlor, we stopped in one of the milk cow barns. A continuous breeze runs through the barn, not only for ventilation but also to keep the cows cool. You can rarely hear a pin drop on the farm, yet you could in that barn. As it was a barn full of happy, healthy quiet cows who were relaxing after their time in the parlor.
Once we were inside the parlor, we learned that they milk 24 hours a day, with 56 cows in the parlor at one time and 28 cows on each side. We could see how each cow knew right where to go in the parlor. For me, being in the parlor was like being at home, listening to the hum of the milk pump and the swishing of tails. In the milk house stood two giant bulk tanks that store milk after it has been cooled. The Turner County Dairy produces 105,000 gallons of milk a week, that is 6,562.5 8 oz. glasses of milk!
Five generations of the Bones family history have been marked by many awards and accolades. Just like many other farmers, the greatest award they receive is the humble pride they have in taking care of the land, livestock, and community for the next generation of agriculture!
We had an exciting opportunity to connect Vanguard Hospitality Chief Operating Officer, Tim Meagher, with Bruce Haines, a corn and soybean farmer from Mitchell, S.D., to chat about farming in Mitchell, the importance of farmers, sustainability and much more.
DRY WEATHER PUSHES SOYBEAN CYST NEMATODE POPULATION
Aplant pathology specialist says harvest is the best time to get an accurate population count of soybean cyst nematodes (SCN). Soybean yield losses resulting from SCN have not been measured, but South Dakota State University’s Madalyn Shires told the South Dakota Soybean Network that soil samples tested so far indicate high numbers of the pest.
“I can tell that our populations, again as we’ve suspected over the last few years, they rose due to drought. So, this year, I’m betting and guessing that our populations have probably been able to get in a couple of extra cycles of reproduction due to the drought [and] heat that we have had the last few months,” said Shires. “I’m assuming that we will see losses but I don’t have any numbers so far.”
Shires recommends that SCN testing be done at harvest time.
“It can be done as early as mid-August and it can continue to be done until the ground freezes,” she said. “Once the ground freezes, we recommend not trying to sample again until mid-spring to early summer.”
The South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council – the Soybean Checkoff – foots the bill for counting SCN populations and also covers the more involved HG testing, said Shires, which determines how nematode populations respond to known lines of resistance.
“We pull those plants out and rinse them and count the resulting number of cysts,” said Shires. “That number gives us a percentage and we’re able to determine what levels of resistance may or may not be in that field.”
Other issues this season include scattered reports of soybean sudden death syndrome in northern South Dakota where it stayed a little cooler into the growing season. Brown stem rot has been a minor issue, and because of drought the past couple of years, according to Shires, leaf spot diseases are at a minimum.
“White mold is a persistent issue,” she said. “I didn’t receive a ton of reports of it this year, but I do know that it was seen in isolated areas in the eastern half of the state.”
THREE-STATE COLLABORATION PROMOTES SOYBEANS WELL SUITED FOR SWINE, POULTRY
South Dakota Soybean Checkoff board member Mike McCranie has his hands full farming with his family in the northeastern corner of the state as well as serving on a couple of boards with a wider scope. McCranie, from Claremont, S.D., is part of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the more narrowly focused Northern Soy Marketing.
“Northern Soy Marketing is a group of three states right now— in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin,” said McCranie. “We joined together with funds to help increase the more bang for our buck when there’s three states working together to work on exports, whether it be to Southeast Asia. And we’re working on some things trying to go out of the Great Lakes.”
The reason for Northern Soy Marketing’s existence is because of the history of soybean export purchases based on crude protein content. Soybeans grown at the latitude of South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin don’t have the oil and protein concentration of soybeans produced in more southerly climates. But McCranie cites multiple pieces of research showing that northern-grown soybeans have their own unique attributes.
“We have proven that the northern-grown soybeans are as good, and in some cases, they’re superior, with their energy level and some of the essential amino acids that they contain for feeding to poultry and swine,” he said.
That’s not all. U.S. soybeans in general are popular globally because of consistently good quality, according to McCranie. South Dakota soybeans exported through the Pacific Northwest go to China and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, which gets most of its soybean meal from U.S. suppliers. McCranie just hosted a group of buyers from there on his farm.
“The Philippines is a real success story for us. They buy the majority of all U.S. meal and beans,” said McCranie. “Even when we’re out of season, they still try to source U.S. soybeans and meal out of the Pacific Northwest.”
As the name implies, Northern Soy Marketing puts boots on the ground to promote soybeans from a specific region.
“We provide the personnel and the different regions that we can concentrate on, like South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, that actually puts the farmers into those roles of meeting with those customers,” he said.
There’s more conversation about Northern Soy Marketing on The Soybean Pod wherever you get your podcasts, brought to you by South Dakota Soybean farmers and their checkoff.
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SOYBEAN CHECKOFF ORGANIZATIONS PUSH DEMAND DRIVERS FOR THE CROP
The United Soybean Board (USB) is focused on ways to maximize profit opportunities for soybean growers. The organization, made up of soybean farmers, oversees the collection and distribution of the Soybean Checkoff. The USB looks at the soybean as both food and fuel, including animal feeds, soy-based fuels and ever-expanding industrial uses, according to Steve Reinhard, USB chairman.
“We’re looking at basically 80 percent of [the soybean] as composed of the meal, the other 20 percent as composed of oil,” said Reinhard, who farms in Ohio, adding that the primary drivers of soybean meal demand are poultry, livestock, and fish. “Our number one customer is still animal agriculture. They consume about 97 percent of that meal. That’s the way that we’re going to add value to the soybean; we produce the meal for the animals to consume and it creates a greater value for us.”
Reinhard was part of a webinar in October sponsored by AgriPulse Communications, examining ways to drive more global demand for soybeans.
“You know, it could be the asphalt that goes into the streets, it could be the shoes that we wear,” said Reinhard during the webinar, referring to some of the newer industrial uses for soybean oil. “We have two companies: Skechers, who licenses the technology from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. A lot of the tire lines now use soybean oil, and they hope to get away from petroleum oil in
the year 2040 and they continue to work for a more sustainable future. Also, Okabashi sandals, so those are two ways that we can [support soy biobased products] as well as putting biofuels in the tank.”
U.S. soybean growers rely heavily on demand for their crop around the world. Lance Rezac, a farmer from Onega, Kansas and chairman of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) was also part of the Agri-Pulse webinar and pointed out that Soybean Checkoff-supported initiatives bolster U.S. soybean sales internationally.
“Global demand has been picking up and global supply is picking up, but hopefully we can balance these together,” said Rezac. “In fact, here in the U.S., 60 percent of our soybeans are exported. China buys 60 percent in the world, but we also export 60 percent of our soybeans. USSEC is devoted to differentiating our soy, elevating preference and attaining market access for our soy.”
Although U.S. soybeans are promoted in all parts of the world, Rezac steers the subject back to the world’s largest customer.
“You can’t not talk about soy exports and not talk about China,” he said. “They’ll import 109 million metric tons this year in ’24/’25. In the U.S., we’re predicted to grow 124 million metric tons, so China would almost use the entire crop of the U.S., just to put it in perspective as to how much they use.”
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FUELING LIVESTOCK GROWTH: THE POWER OF SOUTH DAKOTA SOYBEAN MEAL
The South Dakota livestock industry consumed more than 347,000 tons of soybean meal in 2021—enough to fill nearly 9,000 semis. However, pigs, cattle, and poultry aren’t dependent on corn or soybeans; they require a specific nutrient profile that soybean meal delivers, thanks to checkoff-backed research and innovation. The result? Significant gains in animal health, productivity, and economic value for local producers.
AN EVOLUTION IN FEED FORMULATIONS
Dr. Bob Thaler, a prominent livestock nutrition researcher, began his career in the 1980s when synthetic amino acids were only starting to emerge. Today, he serves as the Farm Credit Services of America Endowed Chair in Swine Production at South Dakota State University, where he serves as Distinguished Professor and SDSU Extension Swine Specialist. In his four decades advising the livestock industry, he’s seen a shift in the perceptions of soybean meal.
REVISED ENERGY VALUES AND HEALTH ADVANTAGES
"In swine, poultry, and even aquaculture diets, soybean meal has always been valued for its well-balanced profile of essential amino acids. However, as synthetic amino acids became more affordable throughout the 1990s and 2000s, they began to replace soybean meal in many feed formulas,” Dr. Thaler explains.
Recognizing this trend, the soybean industry joined forces with researchers like Dr. Thaler and Dr. Eric Weaver at SDSU to study the effects of increasing soybean meal levels in feed. Beyond Amino Acids: New Benefits in Livestock Diets “We’re seeing remarkable results in both breeding sows and finishing pigs, suggesting that soybean meal’s impact goes beyond just amino acid content," shares Dr. Thaler. “The pig we had 12 or 13 years ago is not the pig we have today…we have a much higherproducing animal.” This progress, he notes, is partly due to refined nutritional formulations.
“Soybean meal is more than just a source of protein; it’s rich in a variety of essential nutrients,” he adds. Amino acids, especially lysine, act as building blocks for proteins essential for muscle and tissue development, directly affecting growth, production, and reproduction, ultimately boosting farm productivity and profitability.
In the past, nutritionists viewed soybean meal as having a lower energy value than corn. “As a nutritionist or feed formulator, these values play a key role in developing animal feed formulas due to their economic impact,” Dr. Thaler explains. “Recent research in the commercial sector shows that soybean meal actually has a much higher energy value than previously thought.” This updated research, driven by checkoff funding, makes soybean meal more economically appealing, offering enhanced energy value in livestock feeds. Dr. Thaler also highlights the advantages of soybean meal over synthetic amino acids in managing livestock health: “Studies have shown that in disease-challenging situations, animals—especially finishing and nursery pigs—fed higher levels of soybean meal recover faster and manage disease better than those fed synthetic amino acids.”This makes soybean meal a valuable addition for animal health, offering benefits beyond basic nutrition.
CONCLUSION: A FUTURE BUILT ON SUSTAINABLE, PRODUCTIVE LIVESTOCK
As the South Dakota livestock industry evolves, soybean meal remains a cornerstone of effective, science-backed nutrition. Checkoff-supported research continues to drive its value forward, ensuring that soybean meal not only supports livestock growth but also fortifies animal health, enhances productivity, and strengthens the agricultural economy across the state.
Did you know that 97 percent of all soy meal produced in the U.S. goes toward animal ag? Learn how farmers fund key research through their checkoff to increase feed efficiencies, improve product quality and demonstrate soy meal’s nutritional advantages in livestock rations to help grow soybean demand.
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