Managing for Profit

Soybean grower coaxes farmer colleagues to sustainable practices

Sustainability is different things to different people.  Nancy Kavazanjian works closely with the sustainability initiative among soybean growers and says there’s no reason for discomfort.  The United Soybean Board director from Wisconsin works to get more soybean growers to be sustainable farmers, but even she admits definitions are hard to nail down.

“It’s an uncomfortable word for a lot of farmers, and it shouldn’t be,” Kavazanjian told Brownfield Ag News at Commodity Classic in New Orleans.  “We use the word because that’s what our customers are telling us that they want; they need sustainably grown crops, sustainable soybeans.”

The word was used extensively during Commodity Classic.  Kavazanjian says all of agriculture will be well served by being consistent.

“As farmers, we need to get out in front of this whole sustainability movement,” she said, “so we don’t have different things for different customers.”

Demand for sustainably grown soybeans is being filled and advertised nationally.

“We’re working with Unilever in Iowa to source sustainable soy for Hellmann’s Mayonnaise,” said Kavazanjian.  “There are advertisements on TV that talk about their sustainability effort at Hellmann’s.”

AUDIO: Nancy Kavazanjian (3 min. MP3)