ST. LOUIS (April 23, 2012) - The United Soybean Board (USB) and soy checkoff have begun leading an effort to demonstrate the high sustainability performance of U.S. soy to customers who increasingly demand products grown using sustainable practices. USB continues to collaborate with the American Soybean Association, U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and several state soybean checkoff boards to compile specific examples that show how U.S. soy production is sustainable.

The organizations intend to use the information to ensure U.S. soybean farmers' freedom to operate and open market access for U.S. soy across the globe. It will encompass all U.S. soy and all U.S. soybean farmers.

"We're taking an overall view of what's already being done by U.S. soybean farmers to become more sustainable and informing our customers around the world about it," says USB International Marketing program chair Sharon Covert, a soybean farmer from Tiskilwa, Ill. "U.S. soybean farmers have always been sustainable; it's at the heart of what we do. We have a tremendous amount of research to show how sustainable we've become."

As more customers demand sustainably sourced products and ingredients, checkoff-funded research provides facts that show U.S. soy meets those demands. USB's life-cycle analysis of soy production and processing and measurements against key sustainability metrics show U.S. soybean farmers continuously improving their sustainability performance.

"This is a time-sensitive issue, giving us an opportunity to avoid trade interruptions with any of our U.S. soy customers who demand sustainable soy," says USSEC Chairman Roy Bardole, a soybean farmer from Rippey, Iowa. "In fact, this provides an opportunity to open markets in the European Union, where sales of U.S. soy could be seriously inhibited in the future because of sustainability issues. It will be a huge boost to our efforts there."

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.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
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The Fourth Annual Continuing Education Conference will feature nationally recognized lecturers in the field of obesity treatment.

MOUNT LAUREL, NJ – The 2012 Certification Examination for Obesity Medicine Physicians (COMP) will be administered November 3-17, 2012. The examination will test basic knowledge, evaluation and assessment, management and practice issues related to pediatric and adult obesity.

In December 2011, the COMP Steering Committee, composed of 11 professional societies and the American Board of Bariatric Medicine, merged their respective individual exam content, clinical expertise and administrative resources to form the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM). ABOM will administer the certification exam for obesity medicine physicians. The ABOM certification exam is a voluntary certification designed to elevate the professional standard of experience and expertise in the treatment of obesity and influence the future of this vital field. The certification serves as a mark of distinction for physicians treating overweight and obese patients, raising their standing among peers and the public (source: Obesity.org).

Prior to the exam, physicians must have a minimum of sixty (60) credit hours of continuing medical education (CME) recognized by the American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award (AMA PRA) Category 1 Credits on the topic of obesity; at least thirty (30) credit hours must be obtained by participation and attendance at a conference.

The 2012 Weight Conference, "The Science and Business of Weight Management for the New or Experienced Practitioner," will help satisfy 11 CEUs of this requirement. And, during his discussion of Obesity Treatment in Primary Care, Dr. Robert F. Kushner, first chair of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, will be discussing the new certification.

Dr. Kushner joins other distinguished faculty, including, Judith S. Beck, PhD and Deborah Beck Busis, LSW; Thomas Wadden, PhD; John Baker, MD; John Hernried, MD; Susan Baker, MHA; and John Foreyt, MD, to help participants:

• Gain an understanding of the role of obesity care in primary practices and how to establish an effective program
• Learn effective counseling strategies for behavior change to help patients stay on your program longer, achieve successful weight loss results and maintain their goal weight
• Explore the role of the Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) and meal replacements in the clinical management of all overweight individuals, including those with co-morbid conditions especially diabetics

The 4th Annual Continuing Education (CME/CEU) Conference, "The Science and Business of Weight Management for the New or Experienced Practitioner," will focus on the operational and treatment skills, techniques, and strategies healthcare professionals need to successfully open a new weight loss facility or enhance a current weight management program.

For more information about the 4th Annual Continuing Education (CME/CEU) Conference, visit www.WeightConference.com, or call Jennifer Eisenhofer at 888.519.1192, ext. 3012.

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Illinois Energy Now Program Reduces State's Environmental Footprint, Creates Energy Savings, and Helps Amtrak Save $2 Million Per Year

CHICAGO - April 22, 2012. Today on Earth Day, Governor Pat Quinn announced that the state awarded Amtrak a $300,000 energy efficiency grant to assist the passenger rail agency with upgrading its train yard in Chicago. The grant, funded through the Illinois Energy Now (IEN) program, will significantly reduce Amtrak's natural gas consumption and empower them to save millions of dollars annually.

"Illinois is already a leader in energy efficiency and sustainability, and investments in our public facilities will ensure we make the greatest impact," Governor Quinn said. "Programs like Illinois Energy Now continue to strengthen our commitment to creating 21st century jobs and making Illinois the greenest state in America."

The modern energy efficiency project has allowed Amtrak to replace an inefficient steam heat system, and eliminate thousands of feet of steam piping, un-insulated piping, leaks, and defective traps, to much more effectively control and monitor heat sources. The new system is projected to reduce natural gas consumption by more than two million therms each year. At least 30 construction jobs were created over a two-year period as a result of the project.

"We're always looking for ways for energy conservation and environmental management to reduce our carbon footprint and make Amtrak an even more efficient mode of transportation, said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman, who pointed out the Amtrak-Illinois partnership extends for more than 40 years in providing passenger rail service under contract, and Amtrak is a major employer with about 1,500 employees statewide. "We appreciate the state's help with our Chicago facilities."

The IEN grant, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), was crucial to Amtrak obtaining capital funding to perform energy efficiency projects around the country. This $300,000 grant helped Amtrak leverage $5.54 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. As a result, the company will see an estimated savings of $2 million per year in natural gas costs. In addition, the estimated natural gas consumption savings of 2.1 million therms per year make the Chicago rail yard system replacement the largest natural gas project funded through IEN this year.

"The energy efficiency investments we're making today will pay dividends in the future by creating significant energy savings and keeping the cost of doing business low, which will make Illinois even more attractive to investment," said DCEO Acting Director David Vaught. "This is a great example of how sustainability and economic development go hand in hand."

Illinois Energy Now is an energy efficiency program administered by the State of Illinois that provides millions of dollars in rebates to public facilities that make large-scale equipment improvements to their electric and natural gas systems. More than $70 million is available annually to specifically help fund these projects. Funding comes from a utility surcharge included on customers' utility bills that is directed toward energy efficiency projects to work make Illinois more energy efficient.

"Under Governor Quinn's directive to expand green transportation practices, the Illinois Department of Transportation continues to increase passenger rail service in our state, reducing energy consumption and cutting down on harmful emissions," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider. "This investment in the Amtrak's primary Chicago yard means train travel in Illinois will become an option that's even more friendly to the environment."

Ridership on state-supported Amtrak routes in Illinois has doubled in the last five years alone, reaching more than 1.7 million riders in fiscal year 2011, as more and more travelers seek an alternative to the automobile and high gas prices.

For more information on Illinois Energy Now and other sustainability programs, visit www.illinoisenergy.org.  For more information on why Illinois is the right place for any business, visit www.illinoisbiz.biz.