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The Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) recently launched a program that will donate a set of soy-based Goodyear tires to each of the 88 county sheriff’s departments across Ohio. The tire donation highlights one of the innovative ways soybeans are used in everyday products and demonstrates OSC’s support for local law enforcement across the state. So far, tires have been donated to Crawford, Darke, Henry, Ross, Van Wert and Wood Counties.

“We see this partnership and donation opportunity as a win-win,” states Steve Reinhard, OSC Board Member from Crawford County. “While it’s a benefit to Ohio farmers whenever we can showcase all the ways soybeans are being used, we really want our local law enforcement officers to have a product with the best technology available to keep them safe on the job.”

Through the OSC Patrol With Soy program, each county will receive a set of Goodyear Eagle® Enforcer All Weather™ tires, engineered with soy-based rubber compounds for year-round, pursuit-rated performance. Replacing petroleum-based materials with soybean oil provides improved cold-weather flexibility with better traction in wet and snowy conditions and is a more cost-effective alternative.

“We greatly appreciate the support from our farmers and are happy to have these tires on one of our patrol cars,” says Sheriff Marc Ruskey from Henry County. “It’s nice being able to use environmentally friendly and cost-effective products.”

Tires made using soybean oil have been on the nationwide market since 2017 through a research partnership between Goodyear and the United Soybean Board. In addition to the performance benefits soybean oil adds to the tires, the bio-based material improves manufacturing efficiency for a more sustainable product overall. Partnerships like this make a positive impact on Ohio soybean farmers by creating demand for their crops.

“Ohio farmers plant almost 5 million acres of soybeans each year. The checkoff is focused on making sure there will always be a market opportunity for the soybeans planted in our state,” OSC Executive Director Kirk Merritt comments. “Through this program, we hope to shine a spotlight on one of the biggest successes of the soybean checkoff and support the communities where our farmers live and work.”

The Patrol With Soy program will be ongoing over the next two to three years, until all 88 counties receive their donation.