Niemann looks forward to busy year as USB chairman

By Doug Rich

Eric Niemann will be traveling the country this year promotingSoybeansas chairman of the United Soybean Board.

The Nortonville, Kan., farmer received his introduction to agricultural leadership in 1984 as part of the very first DuPont Young Leader class. That first class included Bill Hawks, Steve Yoder and Jay Franklin.

Niemann went on to be president of the Kansas Soybean Association and was appointed to the USB Board of Directors in 1998.

"I started out on the Communications committee and went on to the New Uses Committee," Niemann said. He served on that committee for five years and was chairman for two years. Niemann has served on the executive committee for the last four years.

The soybean industry has changed significantly since Eric Niemann began serving on the United Soybean Board nine years ago.

"At that time South America was coming on strong and we saw them as a huge threat," Niemann said. "We thought they would take over soybean production worldwide. That has slowed down due to problems with infrastructure, soybean rust, and financing for farmers in South America."

"We have proven that the U.S. can compete worldwide and that U.S. soybean production is sustainable," Niemann said.

Times have changed so much that recently USB announced it was partnering with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to marketSoybeansin India. A potentially huge market forSoybeansand soybean meal. "It is a form of reverse marketing that worked well for us in China," Niemann said.

Nine years ago oil fromSoybeanswas a drag on the market. It was all about soybean meal, now that has changed thanks to the emergence of biofuels. Biodiesel is widely accepted and the demand is growing fast. Niemann said industry leaders like Dodge, Case IH and John Deere have embraced biodiesel.

Niemann said USB will be working with industry partners to maintain the quality of biodiesel fuel products. USB will be working to improve handling and storage of biodiesel.

"We want to keep a good fuel good," Niemann said.

Soybean growers may even break into the ethanol market very soon. Niemann said in laboratory tests an enzyme has been introduced into the non-digestible cellulose in soybean meal which transforms it into fermentable sugars.

"Out of a ton of soybean meal we are getting 40 gallons of ethanol," Niemann said.

The emphasis on biofuels will not take away from USB efforts to find new uses for soybeans.

"Through technology the functionality of the soybean has been improved greatly over the last three years," Niemann said. "It will become the feedstock of choice because of its availability, price, and environmental benefits. The environmental footprint of soy oil is so attractive when compared to petroleum."

"One thing I have seen with new uses in the last five years is that now we almost always have industry partners with our research projects," Niemann said. "This enables us to take the research and apply it to a product and get it out on the marketplace. It is good to have an industry partner right along with the research."

Nine years ago Niemann said aquaculture was not even on the their radar and now it is a major user of soybean meal worldwide. Aquaculture represents a 150 million bushel market for soybeans.

"If that growth continues, in ten years we will use 20 percent of all the meal we produce for aquaculture," Niemann said. One of his goals this year is to go to China or Indonesia and see the ocean cages used to raise fish.

Niemann made 20 to 25 trips last year as USB vice-chairman. This year he expects to be on the road 120 to 130 days visiting industry partners and state associations.

This past year was the busiest and most profitable year in the history of the United Soybean Board. Niemann said he looks forward to the potential of what can be accomplished in 2007.

Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304 or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com.

Date: 1/11/07

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