March 1995
Next Soybean Board meeting set March 30. If you need additional information, please call 501-228-1265.
The "Soy Connection" newsletter is a major part of the strategy. Mailed to more than 70,000 professional dieticians nationwide, the quarterly newsletter features information on the health benefits of soy products, new research - into soy and health, nutrition informa- tion and recipes.
An offshoot of the newsletter is USB's Soy Connection seminars. Held at 10 metropolitan locations across the country, these one-day seminars give dieticians the opportunity for one-on-one interaction with speakers who have the latest information on the benefits of soy products in the diet.
Sponsored by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the University of Arkansas, the conference is intended to provide a forum for transfer of the latest soybean production technology from UofA soybean research and extension personnel to soybean producers.
During the conference, Stanley Reed, left, of Marianna,
current Arkansas Soybean Promotion
Board chairman, presented a plaque of
appreciation to Joe Kirksey, Mulberry,
immediate past chairman.
Attending were
Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
members Joe Kirksey, left, of Mulberry,
Jack Jones, Pottsville, and Stanley
Reed, Marianna.
The previous record of 33 bushels per acre was set in 1992. According to the service, the 1994 record yield was harvested from 3,400,000 acres and resultred in a total production of 115,600,000 bushels. This was the largest soybean crop produced in Arkansas since 1979, when 144,200,000 bushels were harvested from 5,150,000 acres.
As indicated in the graph, annual soybean yields in Arkansas have been in a steady uptrend
since 1980. Although numerous factors have contributed to the per-acre increase, one obvious
reason is the results accruing to producers from their investment, through the checkoff program,
in the University of Arkansas soybean research program. Improved management practices
that have been developed with producer checkoff funds are just one of the many benefits
producers are receiving from that investment.
Currently, more than 26 million tons of soybean meal are consumed by livestock in the U.S. every year. That represents a 70 percent share of the total of U.S. market for high protein feed. As impressive as that statistic is, it's no reason to rest on your laurels, says David Winkles, a soybean farmer from Sumter, S.C., and chairman of USB's Domestic Marketing Committee.
"Because soybean meal is such an excellent part of feed rations, promoting it is an area that we haven't worked on to any great degree in the past," says Windles. "But competitive meals have started to compare themselves to soybean meal and to advertise more and more in livestock publications. When that happens, you knowit's time to take a closer look at what's going on."
Working on cooperative projects with producer organizations that promote meat (poultry, pork and beef) and fish consumption is one strategy being mulled over by Windkes' committee to keep soybean meal number one. "The idea of using checkoff money to help promote those products might sound far out to some soybean producers," says Winkles.
"But it makes sense taht one of the quickest and best ways to increase sales of soybean meal and farmer profitability is to increase the consumption of meat and fish products. The value-added idea is worth exploring."
Income:
Gross Collections $2,332,624
Less:
Refunds Escrowed 233,266
Refunds Paid 29,277
Transfers to other QSSB's 59,636
United Soybean Board 1,048,277
Revenue and treasury 62,102
Total Income $900,066
Beginning Fund Balance 191,504
Beginning Escrow Fund Balance 39,040
Total Available Revenue $1,091,071
Expenditure
Market Promotion 2,123
Research (Advance on 95-'96 Commitment) 975,000
Producer Communication 16,000
Administration 8,994
Total Expenditures $1,002,117
Accumulated Revenue:
Available Revenue $88,954