Dear U.S. soybean community,

For U.S. soybean farmers, the decision to come together 35 years ago and form the national Soy Checkoff was a defining moment that would reshape American agriculture for generations.

Through collective investments into food, feed, fuel, industrial uses, exports and sustainable production, U.S. soybean production has grown from 1.8 billion bushels in 1990 to more than 4 billion today. Because of what farmers have built together over the last 35 years, we’ve been able to create entirely new markets from the ground up, like biodiesel, expand exports around the world to 90 countries, and develop tools that protect yield on the farm.

The partnership between farmers and the Soy Checkoff traces back to a pivotal moment in American agriculture. For many soybean farmers, the drought of 1988 exposed the need for a national checkoff. Soon after, farmer leaders in the American Soybean Association voted overwhelmingly to pursue one, making investments available for international and domestic marketing as well as dedicated research into new uses.

USB Secretary and Minnesota soybean farmer Tom Frisch believes the opportunity for every soybean farmer in the country to pool their resources and make a collective impact remains just as important 35 years later.

“We need to continue to work together as U.S. soybean farmers and not isolate ourselves. We, as U.S. soybean farmers, need to champion our industry every day, every month, every year,” says Frisch.

Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs) have been there every step of the way, serving as the connective tissue between national strategy and on-the-ground reality.

“When I view QSSBs, they are at the grassroots level navigating concerns and opportunities with their farmers across the state. They are in touch with their local agriculture community about what’s happening in their backyard,” says USB Past Chair and Mississippi soybean farmer Philip Good.

As the Soy Checkoff thinks about the next 35 years, every investment made aims to grow demand, improve resiliency of the soybean crop and bring additional revenue back to the farm.

“The Soy Checkoff isn’t just about dollars invested from the half-million U.S. soybean farmers. It’s about giving them the power to shape their own future and deliver lasting impact,” says Indiana farmer and USB Treasurer Don Wyss.

One example of how powerful this partnership has proven to be is the advancement of high oleic soybean research and farmer adoption. More than a million acres of high oleic soybeans have been planted across states such as Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and the Delmarva region, with QSSBs helping promote premiums of $0.75 to $1.25 per bushel. There is potential to reach 5 to 7 million acres within the next decade.

High oleic soybeans have returned nearly $400 million in premium payments to farmers, representing a direct return on the $130 million checkoff investment through 2025.

Another example of partnership is the Lower Mississippi River dredging project, which added an estimated $461 million in revenue to U.S. soybean farmers. Through checkoff investment in research, analysis and design, the project helped deepen the Lower Mississippi River from 45 to 50 feet. This allows an increase of approximately 500,000 bushels per ocean vessel and saves 13 cents per bushel in freight costs.

This investment involved collaboration among USB, the Soy Transportation Coalition, U.S. Soybean Export Council, the American Soybean Association and multiple QSSBs.

“Investing in the research and engineering side of that project was a new venture for us, but it encouraged strategic thinking of how we can use checkoff funds in unique ways to improve all soybean farmers’ bottom line,” says Good.

As the United Soybean Board celebrates its 35th anniversary, we are proud of the work we’ve accomplished for every U.S. soybean farmer. With our continued partnerships with the QSSBs, we look forward to what this next chapter brings for the U.S. soybean industry.

Together, we can continue to deliver sustainable soy solutions to every life, every day.

Here’s to the next 35 years of the U.S. soybean industry!

Brent Gatton

USB Chair

Kentucky