|
|
Soybean checkoff selects USSEC as international marketing contractorFarmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff selected the U.S. Soybean Export Council as its primary contractor to implement its 2011 International Marketing program. For more than a day, the board heard presentations from three finalists who had been chosen by a task force of farmer-leaders. The full board then examined and deliberated the merits of the three proposals before coming to a decision. "We were very pleased with each of the respondents to our international marketing request for proposals, said USB Chairman Phil Bradshaw, a soybean farmer from Griggsville, Ill. "We want to thank the three finalists who participated in our full-board review. I want to thank them for their interest in the U.S. soybean industry. The board decided that USSEC, under a proposed new board structure and within the parameters of the chosen business model, could carry forth our efforts to export more U.S. soy." In December 2009, the board selected a model for international marketing. It seeks to build and utilize farmer-leader relationships with more of the U.S. soy value chain, specifically exporters both large and small, in contributing to U.S. soy market building efforts across our borders and overseas. These relationships will then enable the international marketing program to develop more targeted marketing opportunities. Those efforts will move more U.S. soybeans into export markets which will benefit all U.S. soybean farmers by creating additional profit opportunities. One of the biggest challenges for checkoff farmer-leaders in 2010 will be to build on last year's international marketing efforts. More than 1.56 billion bushels of U.S. soy were exported in 2009, which set a record for the third consecutive year. Bradshaw says building and expanding overseas markets remain important not only to the success of U.S. soybean farmers today, but to future generations as well. The selection of USSEC and the export model chosen by checkoff farmer-leaders will continue to capitalize on the unparalleled value of U.S. farmer credibility and provide sufficient flexibility to meet the demands of a changing world. It will also create a more optimal balance between costs for conducting programs versus other operational costs including administration, overhead and physical infrastructure. The chosen marketing model can enable USB to have maximum impact on reacting to and influencing growing global competition for the benefit of U.S. soybean farmer profitability, while also having an increased focus on market access issues. "USSEC is excited for the opportunity to conduct international marketing on behalf of the U.S. soybean industry, says Ike Boudreaux, chairman of USSEC and Lebeau, La., soybean farmer. "We look forward to the opportunity to work with all soybean organizations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. soybean value chain partners and international customers to provide the best profit opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers." USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2012. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
