USDA Announces 16 USB Farmer-Director Appointments

By CnAgri2012-10-17 22:35:10 Print

Sixteen farmer-leaders will be sworn in as directors of the United Soybean Board (USB) in December, after their recent appointments by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The 16 soybean farmers from across the United States include six new appointees and 10 returning directors. These volunteer farmers invest soy checkoff funds on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers in projects to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil; ensure U.S. farmers and their customers maintain the freedom and infrastructure to operate; and meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers.

"We look forward to welcoming the new and returning directors to our board," says USB Chair Vanessa Kummer, a soybean farmer from Colfax, N.D. "We are confident they, like the others on the board, are committed to leveraging checkoff dollars for projects that maximize the profit potential of all U.S. soybean farmers."

Appointed farmer-leaders include:
-- James H. Carroll III, Arkansas*
-- Todd A. Gibson, Missouri*
-- Walter L. Godwin, Georgia
-- Mark Caspers, Nebraska*
-- David P. Hartke, Illinois*
-- Morris L. Shambley, North Carolina
-- Mark A. Seib, Indiana
-- Jay M. Myers, North Dakota
-- Laura L. Foell, Iowa*
-- John B. Motter, Ohio*
-- Dennis R. Clark, Kentucky*
-- Jim Musser, Pennsylvania*
-- Raymond S. Schexnayder Jr., Louisiana*
-- David G. Iverson, South Dakota
-- James A. Call, Minnesota*
-- Robert W. White Jr., Virginia

* Indicates returning director.

All appointees will serve three-year terms, beginning Dec. 6, when they'll be sworn in at USB's annual meeting in St. Louis. Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs) nominated all of the appointees.

The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.