By Dan Corcoran, United Soybean Board Value Task Force Lead and a soybean farmer from Piketon, OhioRaising soybeans looks simple. Farmers plant the seeds and the plants grow, then we harvest the mature soybeans and take them to elevators for processing. But any soybean farmer will tell you that growing this crop is much more difficult than it looks. There's soil health to contend with, as well as pests and diseases. And, of course, there's the weather.

At first glance, the current soybean-pricing system seems easy to understand, too. U.S. soybean farmers get paid by the bushel at the elevator. But it's actually much more complicated. The cash price we receive for our bushels is actually based on the estimated value that processors think they will receive for the meal and oil in the soybeans.

The soy checkoff realized the market isn't as transparent as it could be, and this could mean U.S. soybean farmers are missing an opportunity to improve their profitability simply by improving their soybeans' quality. The checkoff established the Value Task Force to explore ways to increase the overall value that farmers receive from the U.S. soybean crop.

Just as the pricing system is complicated, there isn't a cut-and-dried solution. Adding more value to the industry could mean changing the pricing system, so we're examining strategies used by other commodities, such as canola and wheat, that add value to their products. We are also looking for potential methods to improve the way soybeans are processed through companion technologies. In addition, the task force has funded exploratory research to examine the U.S. soy value chain for any other opportunities.

Just like soybean plants don't spring from the ground the day after you sow the seeds, the U.S. soy industry isn't going to transform overnight. We know that our work to add value to the industry has just begun. But the checkoff and its partners are working toward increasing U.S. soybean farmers' profitability and keeping our industry strong.

So I would suggest that all American soybean farmers take a moment to consider the protein and oil content of the beans they harvest this year. Don't know it? Might be interesting to find out. Making the industry more profitable for all of us will take all of us to make it happen, one step, or bean, at a time.

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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Coon Rapids, IA: CGB-Diversified Crop Insurance Services is pleased to announce that due to growth a new Assistant National Accounts Manager, Dan Bernhardt, has joined the team. Bernhardt will be responsible for maintaining current relationships with agents as well as developing new business in the Western and Upper Midwest regions.

In just under 20 years, Bernhardt has acquired a tremendous amount of crop insurance experience ranging from claims adjusting to sales consulting and mapping processes and development. His passion for technology drives him to pursue new and improved processes to better service his agents and farming customers. Bernhardt's expertise in mapping will provide improved accuracy, quality, and service to our customers with their mapping needs.

"Working with agents to provide them with the information and tools DCIS offers to help them educate their customers and prosper in an ever-changing industry is my passion," stated Bernhardt. "Diversified Crop Insurance Services is a wonderful and growing company with cutting edge and innovative technology. They provide products to make the risk management decisions farmers need to improve their profitability."

"The experience and passion that Dan brings to his customers is a tremendous asset," said Ron Miiller, National Marketing Manager. "With the addition of people like Dan, we continue to provide world class service in all respects to our agents and customers. Showing our expert attention to details to help our customers improve their risk management program and make a profit, is the mission of our agents."

Bernhardt will be working with independent agents throughout his region to ensure that they are able to illustrate to their farmers how to utilize crop insurance to the fullest potential. Diversified Crop Insurance Services goes beyond the policy to ensure that our farmers receive the most accurate and up-to-date information in order to help provide them with solutions to meet their needs. He can be reached by calling 612-812-6211 or email Dan.Bernhardt@cgb.com.

CGB-Diversified Services is headquartered in Jacksonville, Illinois. The company is a part of the Federal Crop Insurance system and services policies in 30 states. They offer a wide range of services which includes crop insurance, risk management, and grain marketing expertise. Diversified Services is an equal opportunity provider.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after House leaders finally allowed the farm bill to go to conference to reconcile the differences with the Senate. Iowa's farmers and rural communities have been operating without a farm bill intact since October 1^st, when the previous farm bill expired and reverted back to the permanent law from 1938 and 1949.

"Today's action further demonstrates Congress' dysfunction. Our farmers and rural communities are currently facing the double whammy of the closure of USDA resources because of the shutdown on top of an expired farm bill. The current situation is unacceptable.

"Moving the farm bill to conference is the least that should happen to go forward and finally help our farmers and rural communities, Iowa's economy, and those who rely on nutrition assistance. The fact that our farmers and rural communities have been operating without a farm bill is inexcusable. House leadership should have taken action months ago. Now that the House and Senate will finally be able to meet to work out the differences between the two bills, they must act without further delay to develop a long-term, comprehensive farm bill that can be signed into law."

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Hundreds of protestors, many who've never been on an Iowa farm, are heading to our state next week to protest progress in farming.  They don't believe in genetically modified crops and no amount of peer-reviewed science or speeches from Nobel laureates will convince them otherwise.  Just as they have the right to voice their opinions and be heard, the Iowa men and women who spend years in the field growing your food also hope you will hear their stories, and let common sense prevail.

That's because for decades, these thousands of Iowa farmers have seen what progress in farming can do.

Paul Vaassen has been growing corn and beans on his Dubuque county farm since 1962.  Although he'll proudly admit being 'old fashioned,' he says there are some things that nostalgia can't cure, like hunger.

"I don't 'think there's any doubt in my mind that the genetic improvements that seed companies have developed have given us the opportunity to see greater yields, despite what Mother Nature can dish out.  We can't forget that feeding people is really what this is all about.  Last year, for example, we were very dry and even though yields were not up to what we considered 'normal', they were much better than, say, 10 to 15 years ago when we had the same drought conditions, but didn't have these great seeds that were more resistant to drought or pests.

Years ago we used planters with seeds in one box and insecticide in another, which meant we were using a lot more insecticide.  I'm happy that old planter sits idle on my farm now, because our GMO seeds help us defeat pests like rootworm and corn borer," says Vassen.

Roger Zylstra...a longtime corn, soybeans and hog farmer from Jasper County, has seen a lot of changes, too.  If he can be more productive and more sustainable, he can also keep farming in the family, and that's why he favors GMO crops.  "The reality is we're trying to build and grow for the future. My youngest son just came back full time to the farm.   I work hard to build a sustainable farm for his return and only innovation helps us do that."

Innovation has brought incredible progress to Iowa farms.  Between 1980 and 2010, U.S. farmers nearly doubled corn production, yet thanks to better seeds, better equipment and conservation practices, are using less fertilizer than they put on the ground, back with Zylstra and Vassen first got started farming all those years ago.  According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), farmers grew 6.64 billion bushels of corn using 3.9 pounds of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) for each bushel in 1980.  Just a couple years ago, that yield busted the bins at 12.45 billion bushels, using 1.6 pounds of nutrients per bushel produced.   I'm no math genius, but by any assessment, that's more than an 87 percent increase.  How many other industries can claim that?

When you look at the science, the numbers, the sustainability that GM crops bring and meet the men and women who grow your food, it's hard to swallow the hysteria that the 'anti' crowd is selling.  Young farmers just getting started believe it's the 'disconnect' that folks may have today with farmers; they just haven't met one.  Colin Johnson is a young family farmer from Wapello county who grows corn, soybeans and hay.  He says the farmers growing food today have more in common with folks asking the questions than many realize.  Knowledge-seeking is a good thing, so long as both sides are sought out.  "Of course GMO is safe.  Of course it's all about feeding more people, but the bottom line for me is that as a family farmer with young kids, I'm not going to put anything in the ground that's not safe for us, or our environment.   We're eating this food, too," says Johnson.

Progress has brought us safer cars, cell phone coverage in the country, the internet, and countless improvements in the fields of health care and fitness.  Progress has also brought consumers more choices at the grocery store and that includes healthier choices from GMO food: fortified with calcium, vitamin A, and other vitamins and minerals.  Providing choices is what keeps farmers moving forward. "The farming practices we've used, the no-till and everything, it's a great advance from where we were. I have no doubt we will continue to move forward. That's what we do," says Zylstra.