Courtesy of the ND Soybean Council and the United Soybean Board
FARGO, ND — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced November 18, 2019 the appointments of soybean farmers to serve on the United Soybean Board (USB), including three North Dakota soybean farmers.
Pisek, North Dakota soybean farmer, Darren Kadlec, was re-appointed to serve on USB for another 3-year term. Kadlec sat on the North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) from 2001 to 2008, including serving as chairman. Kadlec has served on USB since 2016.
Matt Gast, a soybean farmer from Valley City, was newly appointed to serve a 3-year term on USB. Gast sat on NDSC from 2016 to 2019, including serving as secretary.
Also newly appointed was soybean farmer Ryan Richard from Horace. Richard sat on the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association board from 2011 to 2018, including serving as vice president.
With the increase in North Dakota soybean production over the last several years, North Dakota now has four soybean farmer-leaders represented on USB. Also representing North Dakota on the USB is Jay Myers, a soybean farmer from Colfax. Myers is currently completing his final 3-year term on USB.
“We congratulate Darren on his re-appointment and Matt and Ryan on their new appointments to USB,” says Stephanie Sinner, executive director of NDSC. “All three bring many years of industry experience and leadership to the board and we know they will represent North Dakota and all U.S. soybean farmers exceptionally well. We respect and admire their dedication to enhancing and strengthening our industry on a state, national and international level.”
The soybean checkoff is supported entirely by soybean growers who contribute one-half of one percent of the market price of each bushel of soybeans sold. NDSC supports USB by submitting 50 percent of collected North Dakota soybean checkoff revenue to USB’s national checkoff program. NDSC oversees the investment of the remaining 50 percent of North Dakota’s soybean-checkoff dollars.
USB’s 73 farmer-directors work on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers to achieve maximum value for their soy checkoff investments. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds in programs and partnerships to drive soybean innovation beyond the bushel and increase preference for U.S. soy. That preference is based on U.S. soybean meal and oil quality and the sustainability of U.S. soybean farmers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff. For more information on USB, visit www.unitedsoybean.org.