"The sustainability of U.S. soy is an important factor to customers both at home and abroad," says Bill Beam, chair of the United Soybean Board's Freedom to Operate Action Team and a soybean farmer from Elverson, Pennsylvania. "Managing the land, air and water to make sure we have the inputs needed to grow a quality crop each year while simultaneously planning for the future is a delicate balance."
Protecting water is important, and a variety of farm-management techniques, including conservation tillage, nutrient management and technology improvements in seed and equipment, can improve water quality and conserve water use.
Managing water has economic benefits, too. Tools such as precision-agriculture applications and soil tests help farmers apply the right amount of nutrients and chemicals for each field. This helps them reduce applications, improve water quality and boost profitability.
Realizing that water quality is a localized issue, the soy checkoff is recognizing four soybean farmers for outstanding water stewardship in their own communities. These farmers include :
Terry McClure, Ohio Soybean Council vice president and soybean farmer from Grover Hill, Ohio: McClure is committed to community involvement and proactive water management. He is an Ohio Nature Conservancy board member and volunteers his farm for research conducted to ensure he is maintaining the lowest levels of nutrient runoff on his operation.
Mike Starkey, Indiana Soil and Water Conservation District president and soybean farmer from Brownsburg, Indiana: Starkey continually searches for ways to fine-tune his cropping system and has implemented conservation tillage for 15 years. He farms near Indianapolis and works to prevent erosion and sediment in the urban water supply.
Jimmy Thomas and family, soybean farmers from Timberlake, North Carolina: The Thomas family focuses on soil health and waterway maintenance. They use a variety of structures on the farm to direct water flow and filter runoff, including terraces, grass waterways, field borders and filter strips. The Thomases also keep an eye on the earthworm populations to monitor soil health on the operation.
Hans Schmidt, Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts president, Maryland Soybean Board chairman and soybean farmer from Sudlersville, Maryland: Schmidt is an advocate for water quality among consumers. Schmidt hosts farm tours and invites key influencers, such as legislators and government delegates, to his farm so they can learn about the practices that many farmers employ to improve water quality.
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
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