By Andi Anderson
The Soybean Checkoff, funded by U.S. soybean farmers, plays a key role in building both global and domestic demand for soybeans through research, education, and promotion.
The initiative is managed by the United Soybean Board (USB) and is designed to help farmers by driving long-term value for their crops.
“It all starts with a conversation,” says Lucas Lentsch, CEO of the USB. “When one person has a supply and another has a need, that’s the beginning of building markets. For 35 years, the USB has been opening doors internationally thanks to farmer investments.”
Around 60% of all U.S. soybeans are exported, making global trade essential. Lentsch offers a powerful image: six Panamax ships, each nearly 1,000 feet long, leave port every day carrying soybeans—that’s equivalent to 45 truckloads of soybeans per minute. This shows the massive volume of exports and why trade discussions are vital for farmers.
At home, checkoff dollars are fueling innovation in products like high oleic soybeans, which improve frying shelf life, soy-based firefighting foam, and even roasted soybeans that boost milk fat in dairy cattle. These advancements offer new income streams and reduce reliance on traditional markets.
The checkoff program also provides data and research to support policymaking, even though it doesn’t directly engage in politics. Biofuels are a key opportunity, with rail and marine industries pledging to expand biofuel use and sustainable aviation fuel offering a potential 27-billion-gallon market.
Lentsch notes that if exports slow, domestic demand must grow. With animal feed, soy oil, and biobased products already playing big roles, the future looks promising. “Soy oil is a drop-in replacement for petroleum,” he adds. “That’s a good place to be.”
The Soybean Checkoff continues to prove that with farmer involvement and strategic investment, the future of soybeans is full of potential.
Photo Credit: soybeans-for-forage
Categories: Ohio, Crops, Soybeans