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United Soybean Board long-term plan prepares for leaner times

With continued lower commodity prices, the United Soybean Board’s long-term strategic plan aims at getting the biggest return on Check Off dollars.

While attending the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Minneapolis Thursday, USB director Larry Marek of Iowa said the five year strategic plan takes into account the potential for leaner conditions.

“We’re changing our structure just a little bit to make us more efficient (and) make sure we don’t have overlap in projects and that sort of thing.  We’re trying to pinpoint where we might want to spend these dollars and figuring out what things get us the biggest return.”

Marek tells Brownfield high-oleic soybeans have great potential and will be part of the plan.

“We’re increasing acres all the time; we want by 2022 to have lots of acres, maybe as many as 14 to 20 million acres.  It will be the fourth-largest commodity when we get there.”

He says exports will continue to be emphasized as part of the plan, with 62 percent of U.S. soybeans produced going to other countries.