‘See for Yourself Participants’ Will See Checkoff in Action
HARRISBURG, PA (May 22, 2012) – What happens to U.S. soybeans after farmers unload their trucks at local grain elevators or processors? A group of U.S. soybean farmers, including Andrew Fabin of Indiana, Pa. are about to find out.
Fabin is one of 10 farmer‐participants selected by the United Soybean Board (USB) for the 2012 “See for Yourself” program, which will give attendees a firsthand look at how and where their soybeans are being used both domestically and internationally. The program, which also offers farmer participants an opportunity to evaluate specific, checkoff-funded research and promotional activities, will be held August 5‐11 in St. Louis and Guanajuato, Mexico.
The soy checkoff selected 10 farmers who applied to take part in the fifth annual “See for Yourself” program. These farmer‐participants will see their checkoff dollars in action by visiting a number of sites related to the national soy checkoff objectives to improve the value of U.S. soybean meal and oil, ensure the industry and soy customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and meet the needs of U.S. soy customers. The locations will also demonstrate USB’s work to protect and support animal agriculture and increase public and private investment in transportation infrastructure.
For example, participants will learn about the use of soy biodiesel at Lambert‐St. Louis International Airport, tour a barge‐loading facility and visit a laboratory to see soy research taking place, all before heading to the number one market for U.S. soybean meal ‐ Mexico. While south of the U.S. border, participants will get a firsthand look at a large user of U.S. soy in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato.
The following U.S. soybean farmers will participate in the 2012 “See for Yourself” program:
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The 69 farmer‐directors of the United Soybean Board 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.
About the Pennsylvania Soybean Board
The Pennsylvania Soybean Board is a farmer-controlled Board responsible for managing Pennsylvania’s share of funds received from the nationwide Soybean Checkoff program. The funding is available under an assessment program, approved by Congress in 1990, under which soybean farmers contribute 50 cents of every $100 they receive for their beans at the first point of sale. Funds are used to develop markets, educate consumers, and research new ways to utilize and produce soybeans more efficiently.
For more information, go to pasoybean.org.
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