When farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board (USB) wrote the organization’s current long-range strategic plan, they included their vision that U.S. soybeans will be the leader of the global oilseed industry. This summer, USB will join the American Soybean Association and the U.S. Soybean Export Council in leading the global oilseed industry during the 18th International Oilseed Producers Dialogue (IOPD), to be held here in the United States for the first time since 2006. “This event brings together oilseed industries from all over the world – Asia, Australia, Europe and South and North America,” says Bob Haselwood, soybean farmer from Berryton, Kansas, and USB chairman. “It really highlights that we all have the same goals, and it helps us to find ways to work together to achieve these goals. We’re looking forward to hosting our oilseed colleagues and leading the way to a successful IOPD 2015.”
In addition to hosting the IOPD event, a gathering of representatives of both North and South American soybean farmers will come together as part of the International Soy Growers Alliance (ISGA). ISGA, which represents 90 percent of the world’s soybean production, works to advance issues important to soybean farmers in North and South America, such as approval of biotech events. “ISGA is all about showing a united front,” says Jared Hagert, soybean farmer from Emerado, North Dakota, and USB vice chairman. “USB has been involved in several ISGA missions to meet with governments of major soy-importing countries, such as China, and talk about the importance of science-based approval systems for biotech varieties. There is not a stronger signal we could send than standing together with farmers from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay with a common view on an issue.”
Exact dates and locations will be announced in the coming months.
The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy’s customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.