ST. LOUIS (April 4, 2012) - U.S. biodiesel production reached an all-time record in 2011, and the United Soybean Board (USB) and soy checkoff want to help it repeat that feat in 2012.

As part of a larger strategy to promote soy biodiesel's benefits among diesel users, the checkoff will once again co-sponsor the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) season of approximately 80 tractor pulls across the United States. The checkoff partners with the NTPA to increase biodiesel availability and use among pulling fans, many of whom work in the agricultural and trucking sectors.

"Pulling tractors perform so well on biodiesel, it's a perfect way to show farmers biodiesel's benefits," says USB Communications Chair Jimmy Sneed, a soybean farmer from Hernando, Miss. "It's important to remind farmers that using soybean oil for biodiesel is one of the components that determines the value of each bushel we grow. It makes sense for soybean farmers to use their own products and promote biodiesel."

Under the co-sponsorship, tractors in the NTPA's Light Pro Stock division will run on biodiesel. So these pullers will put biodiesel to the test all season long.

According to millions of miles of checkoff-funded testing, biodiesel can stand up to those tests. It offers excellent horsepower, mileage, cetane and lubricity. And, since it can be made from U.S. soybean oil, it's the only diesel fuel that can help declare freedom from foreign oil.

Check the NTPA schedule to find out if Light Pro Stock "Powered by Biodiesel" hooks will be in your area.

The soy checkoff also established other partnerships to promote biodiesel. Later this year, the checkoff will sponsor the National Truck Driving Championships, a trucking competition that attracts tens of thousands of representatives from that industry. Additionally, the checkoff partners with Clean Cities coalitions; assorted state, county and regional fairs; and the tractor pulls at the National Farm Machinery Show to promote the use of biodiesel, Bioheat® and other soy-based products.

The soy checkoff funds most of the biodiesel research and promotion efforts through the National Biodiesel Board to help increase the use of U.S. soybean oil. Soybean oil remains the dominant feedstock for U.S. biodiesel production.

These efforts helped push production of America's Advanced Biofuel to a record of nearly 1.1 million gallons in 2011. This exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency's 800-million-gallon requirement and surpassed the industry's previous record of 690 million gallons set in 2008.

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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WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - March 29, 2012 - Since 1962, Geater Machining & Manufacturing Co. has been a leader in precision machined and fabricated parts for aerospace, electronics and high tech industries, while maintaining its small-town Iowa roots. This month, the Independence-based company is honored with the Iowa Farm Bureau Renew Rural Iowa entrepreneur of the month award.

Geater Manufacturing & Machining (GMM) is a true "one-stop-shop" for companies needing specialized parts built in short time frames. GMM can build single parts or components that require complex assembly using precision machining and sheet metal fabrication.

The company isn't only focused on its clients. Geater is also active in the Independence community.

"We think it's very important, especially being in the rural community that we're in, to have programs where we go out and teach the students and the parents what manufacturing is all about," said Joe Meier, vice president of Geater operations. He said manufacturing technology has evolved to include high-dollar equipment; creating a challenge for high schools to offer opportunities for students to be exposed to and gain experience in the industry. Through outreach programs, Geater works with area schools to educate students and parents about careers available in manufacturing.

Greg Alber, president of the Buchanan County Farm Bureau, said, "They're just giving back to the community and schools and wanting to make manufacturing even more important to this area." He added that it's important for rural communities to have successful non-agriculture businesses such as Geater.

Renew Rural Iowa (RRI) is an Iowa Farm Bureau Federation initiative supporting new and existing businesses through education, mentoring and financial resources. For more information about RRI, visit www.renewruraliowa.com.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online Newsroom page at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

Lowe and his fellow USB farmer-directors selected the 13 fairs as part of a competitive application process. Through the Green Ribbon Fairs reimbursement program, now in its second year, the checkoff works with fairs across the country to promote the use of soy-based products such as biodiesel, paint, cleaners, hand sanitizers and more. The following fairs will use soy-based products and help educate fairgoers by participating in the 2012 Green Ribbon Fair Reimbursement Program:

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By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

On March 22nd, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) introduced legislation to tighten payment limits on federal farm programs and close loopholes mega-farms use to evade payment limits. This is the most important step Congress can take to strengthen family farms.

The Grassley-Johnson bill has a hard cap on marketing loan gains of $75,000 ($150,000 for a couple). The remainder of the payment limit would cap the total amount a farmer can receive in safety-net payments generally. For instance, if the Congress were to adopt a shallow loss program, the Grassley-Johnson bill would set a limit of $50,000 ($100,000 for a couple) that an individual could receive.

Moreover, the bill would limit payments to active farmers who work the land and their landlords. It sets a measurable standard for someone to qualify as actively engaged in farming by providing true management for the operation. Weaker current law allows investors who participate in one or two conference calls to be considered active farmers, allowing mega-farms to get around payment limitations by claiming uninvolved investors as active partners.

Americans, rural and urban, want to support family farmers. However, Congress has allowed rhetoric to take the place of reform, allowing the nation's largest farms to receive virtually unlimited subsidies, drive up land costs and drive their smaller neighbors off the land.  During tight budgetary times, there is no excuse for not saving taxpayer dollars and protecting small and mid-sized family farms by enacting the Grassley-Johnson farm payment limits.