Northern Soy Marketing continues to expand its horizons, adding a new investor state and three new board members during its December board meeting.
The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) joined the soy checkoff boards of Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota as the newest member of the farmer-led board.
“Soybeans are an important crop for Wisconsin and provide a great protein source for our livestock industry,” said WSMB and United Soybean Board director Nancy Kavazanjian, who will also represent Wisconsin on the NSM board. “Everything we can do to showcase the great nutritional value of our soybeans helps grow demand for our farm products and increases the profitability of Wisconsin agriculture. Working together with our neighboring states is the best way to multiply our efficiencies and strengthens our efforts.”
NSM invests soy checkoff dollars to conduct research on soybean quality and Critical Amino Acid Value (CAAV) levels in northern-grown soybeans and funds outreach to buyers and nutritionists around the world.
The mission and purpose of the board is to encourage the international soybean marketplace, especially those in Southeast Asia, to recognize essential amino acids concentration, rather than crude protein as the most complete and best indicator of soybean quality and feeding value.
“When it comes to changing the language around soybean quality, there is always strength in numbers,” said Patrick O’Leary, NSM chairman and Benson, Minn., farmer. “Wisconsin will be a great addition to our board.”
Along with Kavazanjian, the North Dakota Soybean Council appointed Wimbledon soybean farmer Rob Rose and the Nebraska Soybean Board appointed Columbus soybean farmer Eugene Goering to the board.
“With the expansion of crush facilities in North Dakota and the opportunities that follow, it is critical we continue to find ways to move our soybean meal,” Rose said. “I am excited to represent North Dakota soybean farmers on the NSM board and carry out their mission to ultimately create more of a demand for our northern-grown soybeans.”
Georing says even though this is his first year being a part of the NSM board, he has been aware of the effort around differentiating soy quality based on the balance of essential amino acids.
“I have been submitting soybean samples to the University of Minnesota for their soy quality report for almost 15 years,” Georing said. “I look forward to being more involved in the marketing of our high quality beans to overseas buyers through promotion of buying from Pacific Northwest ports.”
The full NSM board include:
Patrick O’Leary – Minnesota
Mike McCranie – South Dakota
Dan Spiekermeier – North Dakota
David Struck – South Dakota
Glen Groth – Minnesota
Rob Rose – North Dakota
Nancy Kavazanjian – Wisconsin
Eugene Goering – Nebraska
Soybeans grown in NSM member states are typically lower in crude protein but higher in critical essential amino acids. Because whole soybeans and meal have historically been valued largely on crude protein quantity, soybeans with lower crude protein are often overlooked. A higher crude protein content does not necessarily equate to higher protein quality or better nutritional value in feeding monogastric animals.
“True protein quality is based on the presence and balance of essential amino acids. The goal of NSM is to promote northern-grown, high-quality soy and create more of a demand for our beans,” O’Leary said. “It is great to see NSM continue to grow by finding new partnerships and adding new board members to carry out our mission.”
About Northern Soy Marketing
Northern Soy Marketing, LLC is the farmer-leader board formed by the soybean checkoff boards of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The board invests grower checkoff funds to conduct research on soybean quality and Critical Amino Acid Value (CAAV) levels in northern-grown soybeans and funds outreach to buyers around the world.
