U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns selected 19 U.S. soybean farmers to help increase demand for U.S. soybeans by serving on the United Soybean Board (USB).

“The soybean checkoff is farmer-driven, and I welcome these fellow soybean farmers who will help us develop and expand markets for our soybeans,” says USB Chairman Greg Anderson, a soybean farmer from Newman Grove, Nebraska.

“Each of these farmers will represent the best interests of all U.S. soybean farmers on our effective board.” Johanns announced seven newly appointed soybean farmers to USB. They include:

• Aubrey Beckham, Mississippi;
• Cecil Bozard Eaddy, South Carolina;
• Larry Lewis, Illinois; Eugene Lowe, Maryland;
• Robert Moore, Michigan;
• Richard Raun, Texas; and
• Jim Stillman, Iowa.

The newly appointed soybean farmers will join 12 veteran board members reappointed by Johanns. They include:

• Todd Allen, Arkansas;
• Greg Anderson, Nebraska;
• Roy Bardole, Iowa;
• Jason Bean, Missouri;
• Gerald Caldwell, Tennessee;
• Bill Coppess, Ohio;
• Chuck Friedrich, South Dakota;
• George Martin, Kentucky;
• Mark Pietz, Minnesota;
• Jack Reed, Indiana;
• David Wilson, Alabama; and
• John Wray, Kansas.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) appointees will unite with the other 45 previously appointed soybean farmers who currently serve on USB. They create and oversee programs to increase domestic and international utilization of U.S. soybeans, create new uses for U.S. soybeans and conduct research to improve soybean production for U.S. soybean farmers.

“Our leading domestic customer for our soybeans, the U.S. animal agriculture industry, faces a number of challenges,” says Anderson. “We must also meet the competition from our global competitors, capitalize on market opportunities such as expanding the use of soy-based products like soy biodiesel and continue to address new production challenges such as soybean rust. These soybean farmers will help us design and carry out efficient soybean checkoff programs that will help U.S. soybean farmers succeed in this changing soybean marketplace.”

All of the new appointees received nominations from their state soybean checkoff boards. Each USB Director volunteers their time and expertise and serves a three-year term. They will attend an orientation session this fall at USB headquarters and officially become farmer-directors at USB’s Annual Meeting, Dec. 6-8, in St. Louis.
USB is made up of 64 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Customer Information Act, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.