United Soybean Board Members Appointed; Leader Leaves

Illinois soybean farmer Rob Shaffer recently completed his term on the American Soybean Association board and has now been appointed by the US Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, to serve on the United Soybean Board.

“I am one of 77 directors across the country when money comes off of the soybean farmers check. So like, I'm gonna use mine. For example, when I sell beans in Illinois, there's a certain check off amount that comes off my check. That check gets in, gets sent to the State of Illinois and the Illinois Soybean Association, and then they split that in half, and then the other half goes to the United States Soybean Board. We invest those dollars and check off and try to make the farmer more profitable and and move trade, whether that's, you know, going to the Middle East to sell soybeans and that kind of stuff. That's what they do for the whole United States, instead of, just like Illinois, a soy so that's a collective group of 77 farmers from all over.”

In total, there are 19 new members and 21 returning farm leaders appointed by the US State Secretary of Agriculture, 40 USB directors and four alternates will begin three year terms. These soybean farmers represent 24 states and two regions. For a full listing of the board members, log on to United soybean.org One other note here, without a lot of information and details to date, Agri-pulse is reporting that Lucas Lentsch, chief executive officer of The United Soybean Board for the past two years, has left the organization.