USDA appoints 16 directors

to United Soybean Board

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

The 16 soybean farmers from across the United States include six new appointees and 10 returning directors.

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.

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 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.

For more information, visit www.unitedsoybean.org.