Yesterday we talked with United Soybean Board (USB) Executive Committee Member Rob Ewoldt, an Iowa producer. We talked about some of the challenges and opportunities that the USB is looking at in 2025. We know that the current situation is going to make it tough for producers to find a lot of wiggle room in their budgets. The crop looks like it is going to have to come out perfect to ride the fine line between lower commodity prices and ever-increasing input costs. We also know that the success of the American soybean industry is reliant on making sure we expand global demand for our products.
Increasing demand is not just a matter of going overseas to talk with our global customers. It is also about finding more uses for them here at home. While innovation is a large part of what the USB does to drive demand, it is a front-burner issue this year.
When profit margins are stretched this thin, farmers may wonder what good they see from doing the Soybean Checkoff. That is another dollar coming out of their revenue, and there’s no crime in wanting to ensure that your investment is working for your operation. Ewoldt talks about the latest study that was just released on the ROI from the checkoff.
Ewoldt says that the industry has come a long way since the Soybean Checkoff was implemented, and it has experienced exponential growth. He adds that this is a testament to what happens when we advocate for ourselves.
Ewoldt says that the USB is looking forward to, and wishes farmers a safe and productive 2025 growing season.
