The global marketplace is changing every day, and U.S. soybean farmers must stay ahead with marketing strategies that will build international demand and preference for U.S. soy. Currently, soy exports represent 46 percent of U.S. soybean production. Recently farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board’s (USB) International Marketing Committee and American Soybean Association’s (ASA) Trade, Policy and International Affairs Committee met at the 2008 U.S. Soy Industry Strategic Planning Conference

To continue propelling soybeans and the soy industry forward with the soybean checkoff, secretary of agriculture Ed Schafer recently announced 19 appointments to the United Soybean Board (USB). Twelve of these directors are returning to serve an additional term, with seven new members coming on board. Each of these appointees represents soybean farmers from their state or region.

A delegation of Chinese soybean buyers agreed to purchase more than $4.5 billion worth of U.S. soybeans during a trade ceremony in St. Louis today. Representatives from 14 Chinese import companies signed contracts with eight U.S. soybean export companies, including ADM, Cargill and Bunge, accounting for nearly 10 percent of U.S. soybean production.

This summer the United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff will rev up its partnership with the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) to demonstrate the great engine performance soy biodiesel provides and to provide pull attendees with the facts about soy biodiesel.

Soybean meal has increasingly become a key ingredient in fish feeds as the aquaculture industry strives to meet global demand for its products thanks in part to checkoff research and marketing efforts.

In a continuing effort to help U.S. soybean farmers remain informed of competitive international markets and risk-management practices, the United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff will be sponsoring two upcoming webinars. The first webinar will be presented in partnership with DTN on September 4 at 1 p.m. CDT. On September 10 at 2 p.m. CDT, the checkoff will be hosting the webinar with EHedger, an introductory brokerage and market speculation firm that focuses on agricultural markets.

Survey Shows Consumers Back Farmers and Biodiesel

The United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff promote the inclusion of soy in construction materials, creating a solid foundation of soy-based products for use in this exciting segment of the industry.

The verdict is out on what factors will weave the fabric of the soybean industry over the next few years. More than a year of visioning and research by a diverse group of industry leaders points to sustainable technologies existing both for soy and other crops.