PRINCETON,
KY - Keith Tapp, a
soybean farmer
from Sebree, Ky.,
has been appointed
by U.S.
Agriculture
Secretary Tom
Vilsack to serve
on the United
Soybean Board (USB).
Six U.S. soybean
farmers will be
sworn in as new
USB directors at
the USB annual
meeting in
December.
"I
would like to see
soybean sales
increase
domestically and
abroad to ensure
all U.S. soybean
farmers remain
profitable,"
said Tapp.
The
six new appointees
will join 63
existing or
returning
farmer-leaders in
volunteering their
time to serve as
stewards of all U.S.
soybean farmers'
checkoff
investments,
ensuring the funds
are used effectively
to support global
demand for U.S. soy
and maximize profit
opportunities for
all U.S. soybean
farmers.
Soybean
checkoff
farmer-leaders focus
on investing
checkoff funds in
domestic and
international
marketing,
maintaining and
increasing U.S.
soybean yields,
finding new uses for
soy, ensuring market
access for U.S. soy
and other areas
affecting the U.S.
soy industry.
"I
look forward to
learning more about
USB's specific
project areas,
particularly the
promotion and
distribution of
biodiesel,"
added Tapp.
"Many farmers
in our area would
like to see
increased
accessibility to
biodiesel."Tapp,
nominated by the
Kentucky Soybean
Board, joins
Kentucky farmer
Dennis Clark, from
Sedalia, on the
board.
USB
is made up of 69
farmer-directors who
oversee the
investments of the
soybean checkoff on
behalf of all U.S.
soybean farmers.
Checkoff funds are
invested in the
areas of animal
utilization, human
utilization,
industrial
utilization,
industry relations,
market access and
supply. As
stipulated in the
Soybean Promotion,
Research and
Consumer Information
Act, USDA's
Agricultural
Marketing Service
has oversight
responsibilities for
USB and the soybean
checkoff.
