Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board Promotes Value and Vision for Soybean Farmers

Tires and sneaker soles. Fuel. PFAS-free foam for fighting fires. The common element is soybeans, and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board helps support and promote these and other uses for the plentiful crop.

“The board is tasked with three basic responsibilities related to soybean checkoff dollars,” says Jonathan Gibbs, a fifth-generation soybean farmer who serves as board president and representative from Wisconsin’s District 4. “Our focus is on research, promotion and education to enhance the value of the soybean and return value back to the farmers.”

The board invests its research dollars close to home through the University of Wisconsin Extension service and other educational institutions. It also works with the North Central Soybean Research Program, a coalition of 13 Upper Midwest states responsible for close to 80% of soybeans produced in the U.S. Beyond the plant science and uses, the research also looks to open up new markets by improving access to waterways and ports.

Biodiesel tops the list of innovative products derived from soybeans.

“This renewable diesel is a drop-in replacement for diesel fuel,” says Tony Mellenthin, who serves on the board and also on the United Soybean Board, which oversees the national soybean checkoff. “Because soybean oil is the primary feedstock for it, our carbon intensity is favorable. We don’t need alternative energy sources or alternative engines.”

Soybeans are incredibly versatile, and developing new uses for them is helping to diversify demand.

“Historically, soybeans were either exported or were crushed to get soybean meal to feed livestock, leaving a question about how to get rid of the oil,” Mellenthin says. “Now, there’s all sorts of demand for the oil, from soy-based adhesives to tires to cosmetics, so really, nothing is wasted.” He says soy-based products even show up in a line of sneakers Goodyear produces with Skechers.

“The checkoff is a long-term commitment, a long-term vision for investing money today to provide tomorrow’s solutions to tomorrow’s problems,” Mellenthin says. “The checkoff returns over $12 for every $1 of farmer investment. All these new uses are raising the benchmark of the pricing structure, which returns value to farmers.”

For instance, he says a new type of high oleic soybean has great applications for both human consumption and dairy cattle feed. For the cattle, “It increases the milk fat components, so it’s a solution Wisconsin soybean farmers can provide to help Wisconsin dairy farmers increase their profitability as well.”

Board president Gibbs says SoyFoam, a tool for fighting fires, brings a similar benefit. “It’s biodegradable, unlike some other products, and it doesn’t contain PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ We have a lot of farmers who are firefighters, and now we support a product that protects them and protects our neighbors and the environment along the way.”

“I call it a whole farm approach,” Gibbs says. “I take a lot of pride in what we’re doing. We pay into this investment and try to be the best stewards of that, not just doing what we do because we’ve always done it. I want to be a part of that.”

To learn more about the product, visit wisoybean.org.