For every dollar invested in the soybean checkoff, big returns are coming back to the farm!
“We just finished up a study recently,” explains Susan Watkins, a soybean farmer from Virginia and secretary for the United Soybean Board. “It covered four areas, and our return on investment right now is $12.30.”
We’ve all heard about high oleic soybean oil that’s great for cooking, but high oleic soybeans are increasing domestic demand through nonfood uses as well. Researchers have found tremendous benefits for animal nutrition.
“They have found out that if you roast that soybean and give it to your dairy herd, that it actually increases the milk fat, which will give that dairy farmer a nice return on investment,” says Watkins.
There are also more than 1,000 different soy-based products on the market today, including Goodyear tires. Watkins says the partnership with Goodyear will only grow.
“They’ve committed that by 2040 they want to be 100% the biobased product and replace the petroleum that’s being used currently.”
Other products include firefighting foam, asphalt, and Skechers shoes.
“One of our homeruns too was DeWalt using the high oleic in their bar and chain oil, which the consumers can find in the Home Depot store,” says Watkins. “So, you have it in the bar and chain oil, you have it in hydraulics, some grease that can be used also. We’re very excited about these new uses.”
Learn more about your soy checkoff investments driving value back to the farm at unitedsoybean.org and in the video below!
