Indiana Soybean Alliance is accepting applications for United Soybean Board, the national soybean checkoff organization, through Feb. 27, 2015.
While the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture appoints directors to the USB board, ISA selects and submits director candidate names to the USDA for the Secretary's consideration.
Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Freedom to Operate and Customer are the four strategic areas USB have identified as central to success of the U.S. soy industry.
USB is comprised of 70 volunteer farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the national soybean checkoff on behalf of all US soybean farmers. Indiana has four directors on the USB board, and one seat is up for re-appointment this year.
"The USB Board is vital to the expansion and stability of the United States soybean industry," said Dave Lowe, ISA president and farmer from Dunkirk, Ind. "Indiana is consistently one of the nation's top soybean producing states, and we need our farmers represented at the national level."
Any Indiana farmer engaged in the growing of soybeans in the United States who owns, or who shares the ownership and risk of loss of soybeans is eligible to apply. USB directors serve a three-year term.
The soybean chaff program is the means by which farmers contribute to the promotion, market development, production and utilization for soybeans. USB farmer-directors are charged with enduring the investment of these funds in sound and appropriate programs that create value for soybean farmers. USB directors are asked to commit to attending three board meetings each year, usually in February, June and December.
To be considered as ISA's nominee to the USB board, Indiana soybean farmers need to complete a background information form and a candidate questionnaire.
Visit indiansoybean.com/USBdirectorapplication or call 317-644-2791.