Soybean Checkoff Programs Expand Possibilities for South Dakota Farmers

There's a popular adage that goes something like this: If you're not at the table, then you're on the menu. That tends to be a pretty fair summation of the value of the soybean checkoff program, which offers farmers a proverbial seat at the table in advancing the prospects of one of our nation's top agricultural commodities.

How does the checkoff work?

Through their checkoff, farmers direct funds toward research and promotion activities designed to increase demand for soybeans and secure a brighter future for the industry as a whole.

"The checkoff does a lot of things behind the scenes, and most people don't realize that," says David Struck, chairman of the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. If Struck speaks highly of the work South Dakota Soybean has done to boost soybean value, it's because he's been able to see so much of it firsthand. "Until I got involved with the checkoff, I didn't realize just how much goes on to create market demand for our soybeans."

Let's take a closer look at some of the research and promotion efforts farmers direct through their checkoff.

Biobased Fuels

As market forces and environmental regulations seek to find more sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, preference for biobased fuels — including biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — has increased demand for soybean oil dramatically over the past several years. Struck identifies renewable, biobased fuels as the main driver of domestic demand. To that end, farmers have worked through their checkoff to promote the use of biobased fuels and educate the public about their benefits.

Animal Agriculture

Soybean meal used in animal agriculture has long been the primary factor on the demand side of the equation. And while the balance has shifted in recent years as demand for biobased fuels has grown, soybean meal has become an increasingly critical component of rations within the pork, poultry, beef, dairy, and aquaculture industries because it is a quality, cost-effective source of nutrition.

With their checkoff dollars, farmers fund key research on soybean meal in animal nutrition plans. "We do a lot of research with SDSU Extension and with the Northern Crops Institute to develop feed rations that are as efficient and as nutritious as possible," says Struck. This research provides strong rationale for livestock producers to maintain and, in some cases, increase the amount of soybean meal in nutrition programs.

Consumer Education & Outreach

It's worth noting that South Dakota Soybean has also helped consumers learn more about where their food comes from and how soybean meal plays a significant role in safe, sustainable food systems through its Hungry for Truth initiative. "Everybody's gotten so disconnected from the farm," explains Struck. "You go back 50, 60 years, and everybody had a direct relationship to agriculture, where now some of the people are two or three generations removed. Your checkoff groups help bridge that gap between the end user and the farmer."

Exports

Today's economy is more globalized than ever before. Ensuring that soybeans grown in the U.S. are competitive in the international marketplace is imperative to our future success. Checkoff-sponsored initiatives have given local farmers the opportunity to host international buyers right here in South Dakota and build the trust that is so essential to trade relationships.

"We bring buyers, millers, and nutritionists here to South Dakota, and we take them out to our farms," says Struck. "They see how our soybeans are raised and how we farm, and that's important to them."

The soybean checkoff has also organized trade missions to new and emerging markets, sending delegations of farmer leaders abroad to meet with key players in the global soybean trade apparatus.

New Uses

Farmers have invested through their checkoff in the development of new uses for soybean meal and oil. "We're constantly looking for new uses," explains Struck. "We're trying to open up new markets because, in South Dakota, we raise more soybeans than we use in-state." This focus has resulted in new soy-based products that have come to market in recent years, including the following:

• asphalt and concrete sealants

• tires

• shoe soles

• athletic field turf

• flame suppressants

• paint and ink

To accelerate the development of new soy-based products, South Dakota Soybean was one of the leading partners in opening the new POET Bioproducts Center in Brookings, SD. The state-of-the-art facility is home to Dakota BioWorx, a unique public-private partnership that encourages business ventures to bring new products to market.

Stay connected to the work of South Dakota Soybean

Want to know more? The best way to explore the research and promotion activities of South Dakota Soybean is to visit sdsoybean.org or talk to your local district director.