22 Oct 2012

Pure Biodiesel Coming to Tractor Pulling

By United Soybean Board

Minnesota soy checkoff board helps drive NTPA's acceptance of B100
ST. LOUIS (October 22, 2012) - U.S. soybean farmers, through their checkoff, support the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) to promote biodiesel among pulling fans. The NTPA plans to return the favor by allowing the use of 100 percent biodiesel fuel, or B100, in all diesel pulling classes beginning next season.

This could increase biodiesel demand by putting its performance benefits on display for the farmers, truck drivers and other diesel users who make up a large portion of the NTPA's fan base.

"The NTPA has been a good partner with the soy checkoff," says United Soybean Board (USB) Director Jim Willers, a soybean farmer from Beaver Creek, Minn. "We are pleased that tractor pullers will be able to use B100 and show off what biodiesel can do for their engines."

A recent study by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) and the United Pullers of Minnesota (UPM) found that using B100 in a pulling tractor can add up to 4 percent more horsepower and torque compared with traditional diesel.

Previously, NTPA fuel regulations limited the use of biodiesel to lower concentrations. This season, the NTPA and UPM allowed the use of B100 on a trial basis. The overwhelming success of the trial led the NTPA to adopt the policy permanently.

"We now have a reliable test to make sure it's B100, so pullers can use it right out of the pump," says Gregg Randall, NTPA office general manager. "The biggest thing is that this will be the ultimate proof that biodiesel performs well, which is what our partnership with the soy checkoff is all about."

The United Soybean Board has partnered with the NTPA for the past six years to help increase biodiesel availability and use among pulling fans. And for the third year in a row, the checkoff sponsored the NTPA's "Powered by Biodiesel" Light Pro Stock class, in which all competitors use biodiesel blends.

Biodiesel offers excellent horsepower, mileage, cetane and lubricity. It's also recognized as America's Advanced Biofuel due to its ability to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. And since biodiesel's an American-made fuel that can be made from U.S. soy oil, it can help Americans declare freedom from foreign oil.

Finding biodiesel has never been easier. The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced it will require the use of 1.28 billion gallons of biodiesel next year under the Renewable Fuel Standard. That's an increase over this year's requirement of 1.1 billion gallons.

The soy checkoff funds biodiesel research and promotion efforts through the National Biodiesel Board to help increase the use of U.S. soy oil. Soy oil remains the dominant feedstock for U.S. biodiesel production.

The 69 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
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19 Oct 2012

Soy Oil Delivers Another Use

By United Soybean Board

New York City's sometimes progressive mindset coupled with its frigid winters also helped make it a big focus for a new soy oil market: Bioheat®. This heat source combines home heating oil with biodiesel, resulting in a renewable, cleaner-burning fuel.

"Biofuels are welcomed in this part of the world and embraced by home heating oil representatives," says Lewis Bainbridge, soybean farmer from Ethan, S.D., and farmer-director for United Soybean Board. "Everyone is working together to promote Bioheat."

The home heating oil industry itself took proactive action to implement biodiesel into their systems, replacing petroleum with the cleaner burning fuel. They resolved to use Bioheat blends of B2 to B5 and proved to be instrumental in passing a New York City law that requires that all home heating oil contain 2 percent Bioheat starting this month.
Watch this video to learn more.

19 Oct 2012

Checkoff-Funded Research Could Boost Soy's Resistance to SCN

By United Soybean Board

Scientists ID Key Genetic Structure, Expect it to Help Fight Biggest Yield Robber

ST. LOUIS (October 18, 2012) - Research funded by the United Soybean Board (USB) and soy checkoff has made a breakthrough that could strengthen the soybean plant's resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). This disease is U.S. soy's biggest yield robber, causing more than $1 billion worth of yield losses annually.

"SCN has been devastating soybeans ever since I've been involved in the industry," says Jim Schriver, chair of USB's production program and a farmer from Indiana. "This is a great use of biotechnology that can help farmers break through yield barriers so we can continue to increase production and meet demand."

For years farmers have been planting soybeans containing a genetic structure called Rhg1, the top defense against SCN. But ways to further improve that resistance have eluded plant scientists.

In a study recently published in the journal Science, however, researchers reveal that Rhg1 is actually three genes located next to each other on the chromosome, that work together to make a plant more resistant to SCN. Even more intriguing, SCN-resistant varieties carry multiple copies of this multi-gene block. This discovery allows researchers to quickly find soybean varieties that include these repeated three-gene blocks. It also allows researchers to work with those genes to develop new SCN-resistant varieties.

Andrew Bent, professor of plant pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the finding "opens the gate for us to walk in" and take SCN resistance to the next level.

"It's been a goal of biologists for nearly 20 years to identify this Rhg1 gene," says Bent, who has been working on the project for about six years. "The United Soybean Board knew it was important work, and they were very supportive. The real value of the work will be seen in the next few years."

Bent, who collaborated on the study with several other researchers, including Matthew Hudson of the University of Illinois, said funding from the soy checkoff was vital to the research.

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10 Oct 2012

Soy Checkoff Partners with Goodyear to Develop New Tire

By United Soybean Board

The United Soybean Board (USB) continues to drive demand for U.S. soy, thanks to a partnership with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Goodyear recently announced field tests for a new tire featuring U.S. soy that the company says may offer consumers increased tread life and a greener alternative to those manufactured solely with petrochemicals."The soy checkoff welcomes the opportunity to partner with Goodyear in bringing this tire to the market," says Russ Carpenter, a soybean farmer from Trumansburg, N.Y. and chair of the USB New Uses program.

Click here to watch.

02 Oct 2012

Soy Checkoff Connects Soybean, Livestock Farmers at Soybean Processor Event

By United Soybean Board

This summer, the United Soybean Board (USB) and soy checkoff partnered with South Dakota Soybean Processors and the South Dakota Pork Producers Council to host an event to connect soybean farmers with their No. 1 customer - animal ag. Chickens, pigs, cattle and fish consume 98 percent of U.S. soybean meal. It's important for soybean farmers to have these customers in mind throughout the stages of producing soybeans. Attendees at this event had the opportunity to meet with farmer-leaders of the soy checkoff and pork council and tour the processing facilities in Volga, S.D.

Watch the video to hear from checkoff farmer leader Lewis Bainbridge and others about this event and its importance to soybean farmers.

10 Sep 2012

U.S. Soy Trade Relationships Grow In September

By United Soybean Board

International customers meet with soy checkoff farmer-leaders to discuss U.S. soy

ST. LOUIS (September 10, 2012) - Relationships are important to building markets for U.S. soy and the farmer-leaders of the soy checkoff recognize that importance. In fact, the United Soybean Board (USB), along with its international marketing arm, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), will host customers from more than 20 countries in September.

"Face-to-face meetings mean a lot to businesses throughout the world," says Marc Curtis, a soybean farmer from Leland, Miss., and a member of USB's international marketing program. "This year, especially, it gets them out in the field to alleviate fears of not having a crop and also highlights our sustainability."

Teams from Europe, Asia, and South and Central America will visit a wide variety of stops in multiple states. They will tour farms, export facilities, modern livestock and poultry facilities and even the Chicago Board of Trade, learning more about U.S. agriculture and, specifically, U.S. soy.

"The end goal is to increase demand for soybeans," adds Curtis, who also serves as past chair of USB. "You increase demand by making foreign buyers more comfortable with the United States, the reliable supply we have and the quality of our product."

By focusing on the needs of the individual teams, USB and USSEC hope to continue to grow the personal relationships needed to sell U.S. soy globally and maintain soy's rank as one of the top U.S. agricultural exports.

The 69 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
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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07 Sep 2012

Soy Checkoff Partners with Goodyear to Develop New Tire

By United Soybean Board

Soy-based tire adds another to use to soy's growing list

ST. LOUIS (August 31, 2012) - The United Soybean Board (USB) continues to drive demand for U.S. soy, thanks to a partnership with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Goodyear recently announced field tests for a new tire featuring U.S. soy that the company says may offer consumers increased tread life and a greener alternative to those manufactured solely with petrochemicals.

Goodyear's announcement marked the public unveiling of a two-year, ongoing collaboration between the soy checkoff and the Akron, Ohio-based company.

"The soy checkoff welcomes the opportunity to partner with Goodyear in bringing this tire to the market," says Russ Carpenter, a soybean farmer from Trumansburg, N.Y. and chair of the USB New Uses program. "The checkoff constantly looks for ways to improve the value of soy oil to U.S. soybean farmers and this new tire highlights soy's versatility in the marketplace."

The partnership began two years ago, after the 2008 spike in crude oil prices prompted Goodyear to evaluate petrochemical alternatives and propose research exploring soy oil's potential in its products. In full production, Goodyear estimates that it could use 7 million gallons of soy oil annually.

Goodyear's testing found that using soy not only lowered petrochemical amounts from the tire's manufacturing process, but also increased its efficiency by reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, soy oil's increased performance may yield up to 10 percent longer tread life.

"Goodyear is committed to caring for the environment and communities, and use of soy oil proves to be another way to accomplish this goal," said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear's chief technical officer. "Consumers benefit through improved tread life, Goodyear gains with increased efficiency and energy savings and we all win whenever there is a positive impact on the environment."

If real-world testing runs smoothly, Goodyear expects the new soy-based tires to be available for purchase as early as 2015.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs approximately 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
For specific information on soy's new uses, visit www.soynewuses.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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28 Aug 2012

Chinese Officials Complimentary, Optimistic About Future with U.S. Soy

By United Soybean Board

U.S. soybean farmers praised for success of checkoff-funded programs in China

ST. LOUIS (August 28, 2012) - When a group of U.S. soybean farmers stepped off a plane in China last month, they anticipated a celebration of 30 years of partnership. What they got, however, was a whole lot more. The work of the soy checkoff through the United Soybean Board (USB) and its international marketing arm, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), has paid dividends in China and the officials wanted to make sure these farmers knew it.

"We're more than just a supplier of soybeans, but that is part of it," says Vanessa Kummer, a soybean farmer from Colfax, N.D., and chair of USB. "We've helped them improve their food safety and, during this visit, we heard how much they appreciate it."

The Chinese aquaculture industry is a big part of this partnership. The soy checkoff funds projects that help increase the food safety and growth rates for fish farmers, and the group of U.S. soy farmers heard about the positive success of these programs.

"Fish are a big part of the Chinese diet, so the aquaculture industry is a major player in their economy," adds Kummer. "The checkoff has helped these fish farmers achieve the right rations and populations, which lessens negative effects."

Through checkoff-funded demonstrations, USSEC helps show the Chinese aquaculture industry how to lessen disease and pollution in their production systems. Soy-based diets play a role in these improved practices. As the Chinese increase their protein consumption, soy meal use in animal feed continues to increase. Kummer notes the checkoff also works in other animal sectors, including China's fast-growing poultry sector.

"The people we met with in China recognize the investment U.S. soybean farmers have made in their food security," says Kummer. "They appreciate our partnerships and look forward to the future of our business relationships together."

The relationship continues to grow demand for U.S. soy, as well. In 2011, the United States exported a record 895 million bushels of soybeans to China.

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17 Aug 2012

Checkoff Farmer-Leaders Commit to Maintaining Sustainability of U.S. Soy

By United Soybean Board

Pledge states 'We are sustainable' on behalf of U.S. soybean farmers

ST. LOUIS (August 16, 2012) - When it comes to buzzwords, sustainability is one that U.S. soybean farmers believe has staying power. It's so important, in fact, that the United Soybean Board (USB) and soy checkoff recently joined other U.S. soybean organizations in supporting a pledge and set of data that demonstrate U.S. soybean farmers continue to improve their sustainability performance. These organizations will use this pledge and data to help increase sales of U.S. soy among customers that demand sustainably sourced ingredients.

"Instead of a certification process for individual U.S. soybean farmers, we are recommending an aggregate approach, in which the data show the environmental, economic and societal benefits of U.S. soybean production," says Jim Call, soybean farmer from Madison, Minn. and USB secretary. "This pledge will be the commitment by the entire U.S. soy industry that we, as farmers, are sustainable."

At their most recent meeting, the soy checkoff recently joined the American Soybean Association and state checkoff boards in further committing the U.S. soy industry to sustainability. The United Soybean Export Council Board is expected to take similar formal action in the next few weeks.

"Our customers, the end-users, want to use products that are sustainable, and it is our responsibility to provide them," adds Call. "Within the pledge, we share data that shows our decreasing use of inputs and the increasing use of conservation practices by U.S. soybean farmers."

Also during the meeting, checkoff farmer-leaders adopted a series of recommendations to finish implementing USB's new operating structure. As part of one of these recommendations, USB Chair Vanessa Kummer appointed a Strategic Management Committee, which will ensure all checkoff-funded projects contribute toward meeting the checkoff's long-range strategic plan.

Kummer appointed farmer-leaders Dwain Ford, Kinmundy, Ill.; Richard Fordyce, Bethany, Mo.; and Nancy Kavazanjian, Beaver Dam, Wis., to join USB Vice Chair Jim Stillman, Emmetsburg, Iowa; and immediate past chair Marc Curtis, Leland, Miss., to the committee.

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10 Aug 2012

Use Biodiesel and Improve the Air Quality on Your Farm

By United Soybean Board

By Jim Willers, United Soybean Board director and a soybean farmer from Beaver Creek, Minn.

I know how much time I spend around diesel-powered vehicles, equipment and machinery, and I'd bet that most farmers around the United States spend similar amounts. That's why I'm so alarmed at the recent news from the World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer, which now considers diesel fuel exhaust to be a carcinogen as dangerous as secondhand smoke.

Farmers and ranchers make up the third-largest category of diesel fuel users behind truck drivers and heating oil users.

Thankfully, recent clean-diesel technology has cleaned up our emissions immensely, including significantly reducing some of the elements of diesel exhaust that prove to be so damaging to our health.

For example, in 2007, engine manufacturers began adding filters to trap soot. They added technology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions starting in 2010.

You can reduce these harmful emissions even more by using biodiesel.

Petroleum diesel exhaust contains toxic fumes that you don't get from biodiesel. Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel that's made from U.S.-grown, renewable and biodegradable sources, and doesn't have those toxins.

Soybean oil remains the primary feedstock for U.S. biodiesel production and our soy checkoff continues to support the U.S. biodiesel industry. For example, the checkoff funds research into biodiesel's performance, environmental and health benefits.

According to the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, using 100 percent biodiesel significantly reduces some of the emissions that prove harmful to our health, including:

A 67 percent drop in hydrocarbon emissions.
A 48 percent decrease in poisonous carbon monoxide.
A 47 percent reduction in particulate matter.

Additionally, the National Renewable Energy Lab says a B20 blend of biodiesel (20 percent biodiesel mixed with 80 percent petroleum diesel) drops particulate matter emissions by 25 percent in engines without clean-diesel technology and by 67 percent in engines with the new cleaner-burning attributes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes biodiesel's clean-air qualities in its regulation that requires the use of at least 1 billion gallons of biodiesel this year. Under this regulation, biodiesel remains the only commercially available fuel that qualifies as an Advanced Biofuel. It earned that distinction from the EPA because it reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 50 percent compared with petroleum diesel.

That regulation continues to improve biodiesel availability, which could make it easier for U.S. farmers to find and use the fuel.

To find biodiesel distributors or retailers in your area, visit www.biodiesel.org. To learn more about the soy checkoff's efforts to promote biodiesel as a way of increasing demand for U.S. soybean oil, click here.

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Pure Biodiesel Coming to Tractor Pulling

Soy Oil Delivers Another Use

Checkoff-Funded Research Could Boost Soy's Resistance to SCN

Soy Checkoff Partners with Goodyear to Develop New Tire

Soy Checkoff Connects Soybean, Livestock Farmers at Soybean Processor Event

U.S. Soy Trade Relationships Grow In September

Soy Checkoff Partners with Goodyear to Develop New Tire

Chinese Officials Complimentary, Optimistic About Future with U.S. Soy

Checkoff Farmer-Leaders Commit to Maintaining Sustainability of U.S. Soy

Use Biodiesel and Improve the Air Quality on Your Farm

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