YOUR KBA Agricultural Law Section
Sept. 2, 2022
Your Partner in the Profession
Soybean Organizations Work Together to Help Farmers Soybean production is a critical component of Kansas agriculture. In this edition of the Ag Law Section’s newsletter, we talk with Kaleb Little, CEO of the Kansas Soybean Association and a commission administrator of the Kansas Soybean Commission. — Michael Fielding, Chair
Q: For those who aren’t very familiar with it, can you briefly describe what the Kansas Soybean Association is, what it does and its relationship with the Kansas Soybean Commission? A: The Kansas Soybean Commission and the Kansas Soybean Association are two distinct organizations that work together for Kansas soybean farmers. They aim to expand existing markets; develop new uses; facilitate agronomic research; and communicate goals and successes to farmers, industry partners and consumers. The Kansas Soybean Commission works to improve the profit potential for all soybean farmers in Kansas and across the United States. It is a board of nine volunteer farmers, elected by their peers, who are responsible for managing Kansas’ share of the funds collected under the national soybean checkoff program. Through it, each farmer contributes 0.5% (for example, $5 of $1,000) of the selling price of soybeans, which grain elevators and processors collect at the first point of sale. These funds are then invested in projects and programs that drive value back to all soybean producers in the state. The Kansas Soybean Association is the voice and advocate for soybean farmers on local, state, national and international issues of importance. Founded in 1973, its advocacy efforts are made possible by farmers’ voluntary memberships and industry partners’ sponsorships. Paying into the soybean checkoff does not automatically make a farmer an association member. By law, the soybean checkoff cannot do the critical policy and regulatory lobbying work that directly affects farmers’ bottom lines, but KSA can and does so with voluntary dues and sponsorship dollars. Q: Can you briefly describe your role and responsibilities as the association CEO and as a commission administrator? A: My primary responsibilities as the administrator of the soybean checkoff and CEO of KSA are to establish and guide current and long-range objectives, plans, policies, and finances at the direction of our board of directors. Our volunteer farmer leaders set the strategic direction for our two separate, but complimentary organizations and our staff team executes the programs and tactics to achieve our goals. Q: What are the biggest challenges that the Kansas Soybean Commission faces today? A: One of the biggest challenges we face as an organization is the increasing complexity of today’s farming operations. Gone
are the days of the simple storybook farm that people often picture. Today’s farmers must be international commodity market experts, understand plant and soil science, be skilled in advanced technology and data management, work through complex financial and tax systems, follow national politics and world affairs, and so many other challenges. While farmers become increasingly sophisticated, their attention is divided further and further — which provides a challenge to volunteer-led organizations like the KSA and KSC. Q: From your perspective, what are the top legislative needs that Kansas needs to address soon? A: The top story in soybean policy is development of the 2023 Farm Bill. Kansas farmers have helped lead the charge through our national affiliate, the American Soybean Association, to develop industry priorities. With Sen. Roger Marshall and Reps. Sharice Davids and Tracey Mann on the respective agricultural committees in Washington, the voices of Kansas farmers will certainly be heard during the development process. Our specific work in the development of the next farm bill will be focused on: improving the farm safety net for soybeans; protecting crop insurance; enhancing accessibility of conservation programs and maintaining the voluntary, incentive-based approach; growing investments in the promotion of U.S. commodities globally; building opportunities for biofuels and biobased products; and more. Q: Soybean producers face several challenges, including rising input costs, sustainable farming, hot and dry weather, inflation, rising interest rates, etc. In the next six to 12 months, which of these or other factors do you think will be of greatest import for farmers? A: All those challenges will remain top of mind for farmers in Kansas in the near term, the most immediate being Continued on next page
YOUR KBA Agricultural Law Section Your Partner in the Profession Continued from previous page the weather and if it will hold up late in the growing season through the 2022 harvest this fall. Once this crop is out of the field, they will immediately turn their focus to next year. What does their crop rotation look like for next year, what varieties of each crop performed the best in the past, what conditions do they expect in the next growing season, what fertilizer and crop protection products will be available, and how much will input costs go up? All these and more will play into planting decisions for the 2023 crop year. Longer-term, the challenge we hear the most concern about is the availability of needed crop protection tools. As sustainability and soil health practices like no-till, strip-tillage, and cover crops become more widely adopted, maintaining the availability of chemical herbicide and pesticides to control bugs and weeds only grows more important. At the same time, the companies that produce these products face greater scrutiny — and liability — as juries in civil suits make non-science-based judgments against them. The EPA must continue to regulate these products based on scientific evidence and not consumer perception or the fear of lawsuits. We’ve been reminded this year that food security is an international issue. Feeding a growing world will require us to use every tool in our toolbox.
Q: From your perspective as the Association’s CEO, what do you see as key items Kansas ag attorneys should have in mind as they advise their clients who do soybean production? A: While farming operations continue to get bigger and more sophisticated — they remain largely family owned and operated. This presents a unique challenge when it comes to business, estate, and transition planning. I strongly encourage those who farm to get a transition plan on paper as soon as possible. Don’t assume your children know what the plan is if something were to happen to you. Have the difficult conversations now, with your attorney, so that your family isn’t left making decisions they don’t have the information to make on your behalf. And lastly, stay up to date on tax implications. Small changes can make a huge difference when dealing with an extremely asset-heavy business like farming. Q: Are there any other questions that I failed to ask but which you think are relevant? A: I would just add that if anyone in the ag law space is interested in learning more about the soybean industry, the policy work of KSA, or the work of the soybean checkoff, I would encourage them to contact me at little@kansassoybeans.org or check out our website at kansassoybeans.org. I love sharing the work of these two great organizations with others.
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