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URBANDALE, Iowa
- Soybean farmer Curt Raasch of Odebolt was recently elected to serve
as the 2006 chairman of the United Soybean Board (USB), the national
organization that oversees the soybean checkoff. Raasch will chair the
64 farmer-directors on USB, who help build markets for U.S. soybeans
both domestically and internationally.
Raasch and his wife, Carol, grow soybeans and corn and raise hogs and
cattle on their family farm in northwest Iowa. The farm operation includes
three of Raasch’s four sons, as well as three full-time employees.
“It is an honor to be elected by the board of directors I have
served with for the past eight years,” says Raasch. “We
all bring many strengths to the table, and I can’t help but think
that partnership will be the continued focus for the soybean checkoff
in 2006.”
One of the primary goals for the soybean checkoff in 2006 will be to
continue to focus on meeting customer demands overseas. The U.S. exported
1.1 billion bushels of soybeans this year, up 20 percent from the 888
million bushels exported in 2004. Checkoff representatives overseas
are learning how U.S. farmers can continue increasing these numbers
by meeting the needs of their international customers.
Checkoff efforts here in the U.S. will focus on supporting the number
one customer of U.S. soybeans – animal agriculture. USB will also
work with all members of the value chain to produce the best quality
meal for livestock and the best soy oil for food and industry use.
By communicating the potential impact U.S. farmers could have on the
biodiesel industry, the soybean checkoff has helped increase biodiesel
production from 25 million gallons in 2004 to an estimated 75 million
gallons in 2005. U.S. soybean farmers are the third-largest users of
diesel and currently almost four in 10 farmers use biodiesel. The checkoff
will also stay on top of soybean rust in 2006 by continuing to inform
farmers through online seminars, meetings and other means of communication.
“Whether it’s building preference for U.S. soybeans globally,
teaming up with commodity groups to protect animal ag or encouraging
farmers and other consumers to continue using soy biodiesel, I know
our strong partnerships will ensure long-term success for the soybean
checkoff,” Raasch says.
The soybean checkoff was formed as part of the 1990 Farm Bill. It serves
to promote the U.S. soybean industry domestically as well as internationally.
The program is funded through a mandatory 0.5 percent assessment of
the net market price of soybeans. Half of the funds go to state-level
soybean organizations and the rest go to the United Soybean Board.
To learn more about USB, visit www.unitedsoybean.org.
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