During a recent U.S. Soybean Federation (USSF) board of directors meeting, the board elected new officers and approved a new state affiliate.
Warren Stemme, a soybean farmer from Chesterfield, MO, was elected USSF president. Jerry Slocum, a soybean farmer from Coldwater, MS, is vice president; and Bill Zurn, a soybean farmer from Callaway, MN, is secretary/treasurer.
"I'm proud to be working on behalf of my fellow farmers to ensure our competitiveness in the global marketplace through dedicated policy and advocacy efforts," says Stemme. "Now more than ever soybean farmers need an organization solely focused on representing their voice in our nation's capital."
Also during the USSF board meeting, directors approved a new state affiliate, the Nebraska Soybean Federation.
"Nebraska soybean farmers understand the competitive edge that comes with having a strong policy and advocacy organization and a strong checkoff marketing and promotion program," says Greg Anderson, president of the Nebraska Soybean Federation and a soybean farmer from Newman Grove, NE. "USSF's commitment to soybean farmers and the current soybean checkoff program made affiliating a logical choice for us."
According to Stemme next steps for the organization include approving additional state affiliates and developing a full policy agenda.
"Right now our one stated policy is support of the current soybean checkoff program. USSF does not support any efforts to open or change the legislation that created our soybean checkoff program. Any efforts to open the Act & Order could put the entire program at risk and would not be in the best interest of U.S. soybean farmers," says Stemme.
USSF was created by soybean farmers from Minnesota, Missouri and Mississippi to represent U.S. soybean farmers through policy and advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.
For more information contact: Kiersten Schroeder, (314) 378-2111, kierstenschroeder@hotmail.com
