See for Yourself the Checkoff’s Role in the Global Soy Industry

See for Yourself the Checkoff’s Role in the Global Soy Industry

Farmers can apply now to see results of checkoff investment

ST. LOUIS (January 6, 2016) – Meet domestic and international customers, see where soybeans go beyond the elevator and evaluate the work of the soy checkoff. That’s what farmers will experience during the United Soybean Board’s See for Yourself program.

See for Yourself offers 10 soybean farmers from around the country the opportunity to see and evaluate the work of the checkoff firsthand. From the use of U.S. soy by domestic companies to the export of U.S. soy to customers around the world, See for Yourself shows program participants the checkoff’s role in maximizing U.S. soybean farmer profitability.

“The See for Yourself program showed me that the soy industry is so much more than what we do on each of our farms – it’s a global industry,” says Nathan Brown, a Hillsboro, Ohio, soybean farmer and 2015 See for Yourself program participant. “The program also allowed me to see how USB invests our checkoff dollars.”

Accompanied by checkoff farmer-leaders, participants will meet a diverse set of customers, both domestic and international, and see a variety of sites that represent end uses for U.S. soy, such as animal agriculture, the food industry, industrial users and more. Along the way, USB farmer-leaders will share greater insight into the process and rationale behind checkoff investments.

“The See for Yourself program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Keith Tapp, chair of the USB Audit and Evaluation Committee, which sponsors See for Yourself. “Participants get the opportunity to see the checkoff up close and the work it does to improve the bottom line for U.S. soybean farmers across the country.”

All U.S. soybean farmers over the age of 18 can apply through April 1 by visiting the USB website, www.UnitedSoybean.org. The program is tentatively scheduled for July 24-31, 2016.

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.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.UnitedSoybean.org

Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard

View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

###