Checkoff offers U.S. farmers opportunity to learn where soybeans go beyond the elevator

Many soybeans have been delivered to the elevator, but where will they go next? The soy checkoff invites farmers to find the answer to this question and learn about the impact that U.S. soy’s biggest customers make on farmers’ bottom lines during this year’s See for Yourself program.

From now until April 4, all U.S. soybean farmers over the age of 18 can apply for the United Soybean Board’s (USB’s) eighth annual See for Yourself program by visiting the USB website, www.UnitedSoybean.org/SeeforYourself. The program is scheduled for July 24-31.

Besides introducing the program participants to their customers and showing them the results of their checkoff investment, See for Yourself also allows the soy checkoff to learn about U.S. soybean farmers’ perspective of checkoff-funded projects.

Each year, the checkoff selects 10 soybean farmers from around the country to see and evaluate the work of the checkoff firsthand. Participants come from diverse backgrounds and farming operations, but all have one thing in common: the desire to learn more about how their checkoff dollars are being invested.

Accompanied by checkoff farmer-leaders, the participants meet a variety of customers, both domestic and international, and see a variety of sites that represent end uses for U.S. soy, such as animal agriculture, the food industry, industrial uses and more.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime oppootunity to see the soybean checkoff first-hand,” said John Motter, Ohio Soybean Council board member from Hancock County who also serves as Treasurer of the United Soybean Board. “I encourage any Ohio soybean farmer interested in learning more about checkoff dollars and the positive impact the dollars have on the soybean industry to consider applying.”