Soybean Business September-October 2025 by Ag Management Solutions

SOYBEAN

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2025 - VOLUME XXII - ISSUE 5 B U S I N E S S

We Like Mike

Mike Skaug presided over MSGA through the tail end of the pandemic with class and bipartisan ethos. The Beltrami farmer reflects on nearly 15 years of soy leadership.

Fun on the Fairway

The 2025 Farmfest kept MN Soybean on the green and engaged with players of all ages.

Research in Solidarity

Checkoff research thrives through collaboration. This summer, MSR&PC co-hosted the 13-state North Central Soybean Research Program.

Budget on Board

MSR&PC set its fiscal year 2026 budget by combining fiscal prudence with ambitious checkoff projects across several priority areas.

MISSION STATEMENT

Tell the compelling stories behind Minnesota’s soybean farmers and their industry, from the field to Capitol Hill to international markets – and everywhere in between.

Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Officers and ASA Directors

President Darin Johnson | Faribault County

Vice President

Ryan Mackenthun | McLeod County

Treasurer

Rose Wendinger | Watonwan County

Secretary

Kyle Jore | Pennington-Red Lake Counties

ASA Directors

Jamie Beyer | Traverse County

George Goblish | Redwood County

Adam Guetter | Redwood County

Jim Kukowski | Roseau-LOW Counties

Jeff Sorenson | Redwood County

Bob Worth | Lincoln County

ASA Young Leaders

EDITORIAL STAFF

MSGA Executive Director

Tim Wolf | Dodge County OFFICERS

Paul Mesner | Murray County

Raymond DeMars | Morrison County

directors

Trevore Brekken | Polk County

Mark Brown | Watonwan County

Steve Brusven | Yellow Medicine County

Chris Bryce | Pope County

Jason Cadieux | Kittson County

Brian Fruechte | Lincoln County

Tom Grundman | Douglas County

Ray Hewitt | Le Sueur-Scott Counties

Brad Hovel | Goodhue County

Jim Jirava | Becker-Mahnomen Counties

Mark Knutson | Marshall County

Bob Lindeman | McLeod County

Bruce Nelsen | Mower County

Keith Nelsen | Cottonwood County

Robert Nelsen | Murray County

Tim Nelson | Waseca County

Dusty Neugebauer | Nobles County

Lucas Peters | Rock County

Andy Pulk | Roseau-LOW Counties

Matt Purfeerst | Dakota-Rice Counties

Tim Rasmussen | Otter Tail-Grant Counties

Justin Remus | Brown County

Parker Revier | Renville County

Gary Schoenfeld | Waseca County

Rebecca Sip* | Norman County

Joel Schreurs | Lincoln County

Cal Spronk | Pipestone County

Jamie Seitzer | Nicollet-Sibley Counties

Lawrence Sukalski | Martin County

Jeremy Tischer | Clay-Wilkin Counties

Doug Toreen | Renville County

directors Cont. *2024-2025ASAYoungLeader

About the Cover

In agriculture, mental health matters – now more than ever. In our cover story, we visit with Ted Matthews, a trailblazing mental health specialist who retired this summer after nearly 30 years helping farmers through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. In his Soybean Business interview, Ted discusses his career and offers advice for professionals in a stressed-out field.

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CIRCULATION

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On our turf LETTER PRESIDENT FROM THE

Well, my fellow farmers, we’ve prevailed through the dog days of summer and things are about to get really busy as we get ready for the grind of fall harvest.

As you well know, the work at the Minnesota Soybean Growers Associatio never stops and our team sure stayed busy this summer. In July we traveled to Washington D.C., for the American Soybean Association summer Hill Visits, where we met our federal policymakers. Then, a few weeks later during Farmfest, we had the chance to reconnect with many of those legislators, but this time on our own “turf” –literally, as we once again rolled out the soy-based SYNLawn artificial turf in our booth this year.

In all my years attending Farmfest, I can’t recall having more participation from our grower leaders than this year, from longtime directors like Bob Nelsen to rising advocates such as Raymond DeMars and Gary Schoenfeld. We had such constructive dialogue with our legislative leaders this summer that we decided to postpone our September MSGA-led Hill Visits to D.C. We believe it’s smart practice to space out our Hill Visits; thus, we hope to instead return to D.C. in early 2026 to deliver our priorities for the year.

Along with visiting with our legislators and fellow farmers at Farmfest, I had the privilege of sitting on a panel alongside new USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg to discuss trade, which – news alert! – is a pretty important topic right now. I am optimistic that Luke is going to get some trade deals done and be actively involved with us farmers in making sure we have a seat at the table. I’m looking forward to working with him more in the future.

Speaking of trade, I want to commend MSGA Vice President Ryan Mackenthun and Director Mike Purfeerst for hosting a trade team from Korea this summer. It’s been a few years since I’ve had the opportunity, but I know how important those trade visits are to building relationships and giving our potential soy buyers a chance to see what life is like on our farms, our commitment to putting out a quality crop and our passion for farming.

As much as we love what we do, farming can be a very stressful occupation, especially when markets are tough and Mother Nature isn’t cooperating. Just remember that you aren’t in this alone and there are people and resources available to us during times of stress or despair. My friend and MSGA colleague Bob Worth has done an amazing job preaching the importance of mental health to our farmers and I hope to do the same. If you are struggling, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has agricultural mental health specialists ready and willing to help. First and foremost, take care of yourself and your mental health and please utilize those resources (Call 833600-2670 or text FARMSTRESS to 898211). Remember, health is wealth!

Lastly, please be safe as we approach the fall harvest. Take your time, try to get some rest when you can and make smart decisions. Enjoy these moments, too, because this is what we look forward to all year and it’s nice to see the fruits of our labor come to fruition. From my operation to yours, have a safe and happy harvest, friends. Let’s roll!

Darin Johnson President, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association

DEPARTMENT DISPATCH

THE FIGHT AGAINST PALMER AMARANTH

This column is a series in Soybean Business featuring leaders from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Controlling weeds to foster healthy crops is always at the forefront of many famers’ minds. This includes being aware of invasive weeds in the field. Although there are many weeds of concern, Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) is a noxious weed that is particularly worrisome to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and farmers alike. This pigweed is known to develop resistance to multiple classes of herbicides and their different modes of action. If left unchecked, Palmer amaranth plants can overtake a soybean or corn field in as little as a year and greatly increase weed management and other production costs while decreasing yields. There are reports that Palmer amaranth has caused severe yield losses in the U.S., up to 79% in soybeans and 91% in corn.

Since the first discovery of Palmer amaranth in 2016 in Minnesota, the MDA has been working closely with farmers, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA), crop consultants, and University of Minnesota Extension educators to eradicate new infestations when discovered. Through these partnerships and early intervention, eradication efforts in Minnesota have been very successful. Out of the 44 infestations confirmed in the state, 15 have been completely

eradicated, with progress being made on the remaining infestations. There are several steps farmers can take to minimize their risk of Palmer amaranth from becoming a major crop pest:

• Learn how to identify Palmer amaranth. Early detection is key. It can be challenging to tell Palmer amaranth apart from other pigweeds, but it is possible to become familiar with the different species. Visit the MDA or U of M websites to learn about the species. Being able to identify Palmer amaranth early on will make management moving forward much easier.

• Understand all the different pathways that can introduce Palmer amaranth into farm fields. There are numerous pathways, including as a contaminant of seed, manure, screenings, and feed. Palmer amaranth can also be inadvertently moved on equipment and by birds and mammals. Agencies and researchers are identifying new pathways every year and looks for solutions to address each pathway.

• Scout fields regularly throughout the growing season. As Palmer amaranth grows, it becomes much easier to identify. If you think Palmer amaranth is present quickly report your find to the MDA using

COMMISSIONER THOM PETERSEN

the Report a Pest online form or email: reportapest@state.mn.us.

• Connect with your local U of M Extension Crop Specialist or your crop consultant to develop a preemptive weed management plan to minimize the likelihood of Palmer amaranth establishment in your fields.

Although Palmer amaranth can severely impact farmers and their crops, great strides have been made in Minnesota to limit spread and minimize infestations. Farmers and landowners will lead our efforts to protect Minnesota’s agricultural economy.

I want to thank MSGA for your continued partnership on fighting Palmer amaranth and other invasive weeds in Minnesota.

Skaug takes a bow

Past MSGA president retires from board

By Drew Lyon

Polk County in northwest Minnesota was hardly a soybean production powerhouse when Beltrami farmer Mike Skaug was appointed to the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) in 2011. Thanks to research developments – including futureminded investments from the soy checkoff – from 2000 to 2023 soybean acreage in Polk County increased from 186,000 acres to 300,000; by 2023, Polk County harvested nearly 12 million bushels of soybeans, the most of any Minnesota county.

“Polk County is a special place and has a lot of advantages, given its location and proximity to rail and its infrastructure,” said Skaug, who’s been farming in the area since the late 1970s.

While Skaug won’t take any credit for his home county’s widespread embrace of the miracle bean, he’s taking a well-deserved victory lap following nearly 15 years representing his local and state farmers on MSGA.

“So many positive things can happen when you’re together and in a setting where you’re all behind a common cause,” Skaug told his MSGA colleagues.

“We’ve led on a

lot of issues over the years, and it’s made a difference in our operation and in our communities.”

Skaug continues to lead through the wisdom of knowing when the time has come to step aside. All things must pass, and the affable farmer, who always arrived to MSGA events with a wide smile and firm handshake, retired from MSGA following its August 2025 board meeting.

He left with no regrets, secure in knowing he far exceeded his primary goal: serving his community and fellow farmers.

“When I first came on the MSGA board, I asked a few of the directors when I started to get to know them. I asked them why they were on the board. A lot of them said they wanted to give back to their community in a different way than they have in the past,” Skaug said. “To bring yourself into this kind of setting is really awesome because not only are you helping your community. You’re being an ambassador for your community and for other growers

Good guys go far

MSGA honored Skaug, who served as president from 20212022, during the meeting. President Darin Johnson presented Skaug with a customized clock recognizing Skaug for always being “ahead of his time.”

Chalk one up for a good guy and consummate spokesperson for soy, Johnson said.

“Mike has invested a large amount of time into this organization,” said Johnson, who served as MSGA treasurer under Skaug.

“He’s been a great friend and fantastic mentor, has always been there for me and many others here. We’ve had a lot of fun and laughs together. Thank you, Mike, for your dedication to Minnesota Soybean, and thank you for your dedication to agriculture in general. Your passion truly does just ooze from you, and we’ve been very lucky to have you by our side.”

Skaug vacates his role on the state board with a lengthy list of accomplishments. He was an early

continued on page 8

Mike

advocated with legislators from across the political spectrum, including Rep. Angie

Skaug (right)

Craig (left).

the daily operations of MSGA and the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and became a nationally recognized management group. He also chaired the Ag Innovation Campus for several years. Although market factors prevented the AIC from reaching its potential as a crush and research facility, Skaug is proud of the farmer-led effort.

“It was the right vision at the right place, and we stepped forward and gave it our all,” he said. “We were disappointed that it didn’t quite meet our expectations, but the overall mission of the AIC is still viable today. We all volunteered our time with the best intentions.”

Skaug’s tenure as MSGA president was marked by the sometimesawkward transition from virtual meetings to face-to-face visits.

“When you went back into person, you saw in people’s body language that people were almost shy,” he said. “But it got back to relatively

session, Skaug helped MSGA notch several policy wins, including tax reform, school building bond relief, benefits for beginning farmers and protecting biodiesel. Through steady leadership, Skaug earned the admiration of farmers and staff colleagues alike.

“Mike was a mentor to me and did a wondering job representing MSGA,” said Bob Worth, who served as vice president under Skaug.

MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek also cultivated a close professional and personal bond with Skaug over the past dozen years. When Skaug initially begged off being the cover subject in a 2021 issue of Soybean Business, it was Smentek who called to gently remind he’d earned his place on the front page.

“I loved working with Mike in St. Paul and D.C. on behalf of Minnesota farmers,” Smentek said. “He truly is a great ag advocate and a good friend.”

might harvest a record crop this fall, he’s worried about finding markets for his commodities. Tariffs, stubbornly high input costs and low crop prices are making economic conditions unsustainable for many family farms, he said. Last spring, Skaug articulated those anxieties during an event in Moorhead alongside Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

“In some ways, it’s tougher now than the ’80s,” he said. “If these young guys in the area don’t make it, it’s really a crying shame, because they are really good at doing this, and they’re interested in farming.”

Still, the optimism in Skaug is bound to win out. He sees a level of communication and sophistication in his son’s generation that goes way beyond previous eras in farming.

Skaug has his concerns about the state ag economy. While his

son, Ryan, growing soybeans, corn and spring wheat,

“Ryan’s a way better farmer than I am, and he’s a good manager,” said Skaug, who also has two grandchildren. “I see it with the younger farmers; they’ll share information with each other. And they’ll do trials together in different locations, and they’ll share that. And they just keep in touch with one another, on different things, way more than we did.”

Skaug, who is passing his MSGA board seat to Trevore Brekken, plans to stay involved in the advocacy, just on a smaller scale. He’ll remain on his Polk County board and plans to participate as a county delegate during MSGA’s annual meeting in January 2026 at MN Ag Expo. And stay a member of MSGA, naturally.

He might not have moved mountains, but Mike Skaug moved the policy needle and made friends across the political spectrum.

“Political leaders look to MSGA for guidance and for information on issues,” he said in his farewell remarks. “That’s really a good thing. Thank you, everyone, for letting me be a part of this organization and for the relationships that we’ve had.”

MSGA President Darin Johnson (left) honors Mike Skaug for his timely efforts to support Minnesota farmers.

FRIENDS ON THE FARM

MSGA directors host Korea Commodity Trade Team

By Drew Lyon and Bailey Grubish

Throughout the 2025 growing season, trade – and, more specifically, expanding international markets –stayed top of mind for the half-million soybean farmers across the U.S.

For Brownton grower Ryan Mackenthun and his peer to the east, Faribault farmer Matt Purfeerst, trade relationships start with a smile, firm handshake and mutual respect, with the end goal of growing demand for U.S. Soy. While tariff uncertainty led to China, the largest purchaser of U.S. soybeans, largely sitting on the sidelines prior to the 2025 harvest, Mackenthun and Purfeerst welcomed buyers from South Korean’s crush and feed milling industries to their family farming operations in late August.

“In general, they (South Korea) know the product of U.S. Soy is high,” said Dr. Hyung Suk Lee, Korea Country Director with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), which coordinated the Korea Commodity Trade Team with checkoff support from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.

Farming isn’t just an occupation for Mackenthun, it’s been his passion since he was 12 years old and first began driving the tractor and showing cattle and hogs. He hopes to one day pass his 2,200 acres of farmland onto his three children, including his oldest son, Jackson, who tagged along on a crisp Saturday morning as his dad gave his guests a tour of his bin site.

“Farmers like me rely on trade,” Mackenthun, vice president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA), said. “Hopefully, trade will make it easier for me to pass the farm onto the next generation.”

During his two-hour tour, Mackenthun walked his new friends through his growing practices, including the cost benefits of sharing equipment; how seed treatments are effective pest management tools; technology’s impact on agriculture and why tariffs shied him away from planting more soybeans in 2025.

“As soybean farmers, we’re afraid of tariffs – it’s a complicated situation, but it’s hurting our profitability,” he said. “We value our partnerships with our trading partners, and the trust we’ve built over the years.”

With his bean field a few weeks from maturation, Mackenthun gave buyers an up-close look at his 2025 soybean crop. While he was feeling optimistic about harvest, Mackenthun also explained how a wet growing season contributed to sudden death syndrome on his crop, along with the ways in which Minnesota cold winters and bin fan systems help keep his soybeans largely free of foreign material (well under 1%, he reported).

“Margins are very tight right now, so we have to be very diligent,” he said.

During marketing year 2023/24, Korea and its population of 51.5 million ranked 10th for U.S. whole soybean exports, second for U.S. food soybeans and sixth for U.S. soybean oil exports. Korea annually crushes about 1 million metric tons (MMT) of soybeans, 40% of

which is usually purchased from the U.S. Typical soy foods include tofu, soy sauce and paste, soy milk and soybean sprouts. Soybean oil is a popular vegetable oil, second to palm oil. Soymeal is a major protein source for compound feeds, especially for swine and poultry.

Stepping on an American farm was quite the sight for Gim Jinuk, a manager in the purchasing division of Nonghyup Feed in Seoul.

“Everything is really big here,” he said, pointing to Mackenthun’s combine.

Mackenthun hopped on the bus to join the team at his local elevator, United Farmers Cooperative in Brownton, where his soybeans are typically loaded onto rail and sent to the Pacific Northwest, ultimately destined for Asia.

“This is where I get my grain to you,” Mackenthun said.

Mackenthun sent his new friends off with “Minnesoyta”-branded gifts, a parting handshake and a better grasp of life as a Minnesota family farmer.

“It was a great opportunity to share how the soybeans they import are grown right here on my farm,” he said.

‘Seeing is believing’

Matt Purfeerst is a sixthgeneration soybean farmer who represents Rice County on MSGA. He farms with his father, Jim, and brother, Mark.

This trio has hosted several trade teams, most recently in 2024. Following the Korean team’s Mackenthun visit, they pulled into the Purfeerst farmyard a few days later.

“I think the biggest thing is they’re here to learn, so a lot of it is just showing them how we do things, not trying to hide anything, but just trying to show them how we do it, why we do it,” Purfeerst said. “I think it’s just a lot of proving that we’re just trying to grow a good and sustainable crop and to tell them how we appreciate their business, and hopefully they keep buying from us.”

Through a translator, the Purfeersts explained how work to implement new sustainable practices, including no-till, cover crops and keeping with a corn and soybean rotation.

“I thought the most engaging question was about the sustainability portion of our farm,” Purfeerst said. “We were talking about cover crops and reduced tillage, and they just had some interesting conversations about it.”

The group arrived with questions around yield per acre and sustainability practices adopted by the Purfeersts and how it affects their profitability.

“Seeing is believing,” Hyung Suk Lee said. “They want to know how the U.S. soybeans are

being produced in the state in a sustainable way, and how we can trust the quality and about the supply chain in the U.S. soy industry, so that they can be more competent about the quality and timely delivery from the U.S. soy.”

The tour continued with a stop at a soybean field down the road from the farmyard, where they tasted the soybeans right out of the field and held the pods.

“I think it’s great to host these trade teams,” Purfeerst said. “For us, it just gets your name out there, helps promote U.S. soybeans and even Minnesota soybeans. We’re happy to do it.”

The final stop on the Purfeerst farm tour for the Koren trade team took place down the road at the operation’s grain bin site. They stepped onto the gravel lot and shot their necks back to look at the top of the grain bins. The Purfeersts explained they had empty bins with harvest approaching.

For both buyers and their hosts, memories were made.

“I just want the Korean buyers to understand more about the dedication and effort of U.S. soy farmers for producing good soybeans,” Lee said, “so that whenever they see U.S. soybeans and soybean meal and other soy products, they can remember the effort from the U.S. soybean farmers.”

Matt Purfeerst (far left) speaks to an attentive audience of Korean buyers during a visit to his Faribault farm Aug. 25, 2025.

M in i Soyta Golf Course

Farmfest’s Fairway Fun

Photos by Drew Lyon

In the wide world of soy, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council goes beyond the short term to play the long game.

The local and global impacts of soy checkoffs were on the green again this year at the 2025 Farmfest, as hundreds of attendees, from toddlers to grandparents, played a round on the MiniSoyta Golf Course, interacted with farmer leaders and learned how checkoff projects across the state are bringing value back to Minnesota soybean farming operations. Soy laid the foundation for the course: SYNLawn uses soybean oil to create a natural synthetic turf, using up to 80% soy content.

The point was driven home: The soy checkoff covers the ground.

Meanwhile, on the booth’s back nine, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) didn’t just accept the challenge to represent the state’s 26,000 soybean producers; it raised the bar. More than 15 farmer leaders from MSGA converged at Farmfest to visit with policy leaders and deliver state and federal priorities that support MSGA members and the state’s farming community.

WISHHing for a better future

MN farmers growing connections in developing nations

By Mark Askelson

If there’s a new or emerging market and a demand for protein in humans or animals, make a WISHH and the dream of growing markets for soy across the globe just might come true.

The Worldwide Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) is a program of the American Soybean Association that works to develop value chains in emerging markets, creating trade and long-term demand for U.S. Soy, meanwhile improving health, nutrition and food security for those emerging markets.

“We’re at that intersection between trade development and food security, which makes us unique from other organizations,” said Gena Perry, executive director for WISHH.

Founded in 2000, WISHH has set itself apart from other organizations by working with countries at the ground level to establish relationships and provide education and technical resources for soy purchasers and users in hopes of them becoming regular importers in the future.

Redwood County farmer and ASA Director George Goblish served on the WISHH governing committee for

almost a decade before terming out in 2024. During his time, he helped WISHH evolve and adapt, breaking into new markets and the results of which are starting to show.

“Initially there was a focus on soy as a health supplement for human, which was good but really wasn’t moving the markets, but now they’re also emphasizing U.S. Soy in aquaculture and poultry industries,” said Goblish. “Almost every country eats fish or poultry, so it gives us more opportunity to push our products into new markets by showing them that our soy is an affordable, high-protein option.”

It’s one thing to just tell someone about the value of U.S. Soy, but WISHH excels in providing the education and technical resources to show them how to use it to the best of its ability. They also often bring in animal nutritionists to work with the farmers and soy purchasers to show them how to ration and use it efficiently.

“A lot of people don’t know to use soy in their diets and livestock diets, so once they see how fast their animals grow on soy, the word spreads pretty quickly around the country,” Goblish said. “It’s a lot of boots on the ground.”

WISSH is celebrating 25 years of growing markets across the world. Several Minnesota farmer leaders, including Patrick O’Leary (pictured here in Ghana), Jamie Beyer and Gene Stoel, have participated in WISHH trade missions this year. Representatives from WISHH countries also visited Minnesota Soybean’s office in summer 2025.

Global groundwork

WISHH works primarily in countries in Latin America, such as Guatemala and Panama; in African countries Ghana and Uganda; and Asia, including Uzbekistan and Myanmar. Jeff Sorenson, who is also from Redwood County, is an ASA director who in spring 2024 traveled to Guatemala to visit with the country’s soy users and see the work WISHH is doing and has been doing in the country for more than two decades.

“Still considered a developing country, Guatemala works with WISHH to use soy primarily for human consumption, so soy milk, soy chops, soy granola bars, etc., because their protein gap is one of the biggest issues down there,” Sorenson said. “Soybeans are such a relatively cheap way to get protein into the diet of low-income individuals down there.”

Sorenson said the visit to Guatemala was an eyeopening experience. Not only did it allow him to see how WISHH’s endeavors are positively impacting trade, but he was moved to see how soy is making a difference across Latin American society.

“Yes, we’re selling beans and it’s good for us, but it was also changing the lives of thousands of individuals by being able to have that protein source,” Sorenson said. “Being in ASA, we talk a lot of WISHH and how it’s laying the groundwork for markets down the road, but it was really cool to see it firsthand, especially in Guatemala, where it’s been going for so many years.”

In conjunction with U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and other sponsors such as the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), WISHH also invites soy users from various countries

to travel to the United States for education about purchasing and using U.S. Soy, as well as to learn more about the farms growing the commodity they use. In June of 2023, the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, N.D., hosted a trade team of about two-dozen participants from three continents for their INTSOY course, which provides an overview of the many aspects of the soybean industry, such as soybean processing, purchasing soy and other logistical hurdles.

Part of the course included a farm visit and tour of the Jeremy Tischer Farm just east of Breckenridge, where they had an opportunity to see the planting and harvesting equipment up close, walk through the nearby soybean fields and learn about farm life in Minnesota and what goes into growing those soybeans.

“Us as soybean farmers, we rely on foreign markets,” said Tischer, a director with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association,” and to have a group of end-users like this on our farm to connect with and show that we can grow a good quality crop that they can use in their products is hugely beneficial.”

Ultimately, WISHH’s end goal is helping emerging markets become regular importers of U.S. Soy and graduate into becoming a “USSEC country,” a longterm process that Goblish says has sped up in recent years thanks to superb resources and education opportunities through WISHH.

“What used to take 20 years now takes maybe 5-10 years, which is relatively quick in this industry,” Goblish said. “Seeing those markets mature or move the needle has been a blessing for me.”

Morgan farmer Jeff Sorenson visits Guatemalan students during a WISHH tour in spring 2024.

A grade above

With checkoff support, SSGA finds its identity

By Sydney Harris

Minnesota-grown soybeans aren’t created equally.

Not only does Minnesota rank fourth (sometimes third) in the nation in commodity soybean production, but it’s also a top U.S. producer of food-grade soy. That’s just one reason why the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) invests valuable soybean checkoff dollars in Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance membership and support of SSGA activities.

“I think a lot of Minnesota farmers aren’t aware of the number of specialty soybeans grown in Minnesota, and that’s something that we should all care about,” said

new MSR&PC Chair Gail Donkers, who represents Minnesota on SSGA’s board of directors. “We’re all trying to move the needle on exporting soybeans from Minnesota and to increase the value of the products that we’re exporting, which SSGA works hard to do.”

SSGA, the business alliance of identity preserved agriculture in the United States, is the premier voice for the industry that delivers traceable, high-quality, varietyspecific field crops to food markets worldwide.

“SSGA brings together producers, processors, suppliers and transportation partners to build, grow and sustain a reliable supply chain for high-quality, traceable

and variety-specific soybeans and grains – an area where Minnesota is a key player,” said Randy Duckworth, who joined SSGA as executive director in early 2025.

“MSR&PC directly supports SSGA and is represented on its board by farmer representatives (including Donkers) ensuring Minnesota’s interests and innovations are at the forefront of national and global specialty soy initiatives.”

On behalf of its members, SSGA builds, grows and sustains a reliable supply chain that ensures integrity of the end product, with a commitment to quality, stewardship and innovation. One key sector this happens is in transportation.

“We do a lot with shipping

and transportation,” said Shane Frederick, SSGA’s manager of strategic programs. “Most of the crops and products from SSGA members are exported by shipping containers directly to their customers. So, they’re in bags, in totes, and they get delivered in containers. And there’re a lot of issues to track throughout the entire intermodal system.”

Each year, SSGA hosts Transportation Go!, the premier conference for soybean and grain transportation and trade issues in the Midwest, which brings in the industry’s top stakeholders, from boots-on-the-ground commodity growers and organizations to traders and shippers of crops.

MSR&PC was the host sponsor of the 2025 conference in Minneapolis. In 2026, the conference is heading to Chicago.

“Transportation Go! is so important because it brings to the forefront all of the transportation issues that we’re facing, not only in Minnesota, but globally,” said Donkers, who attended the Minneapolis meeting. “The conference discusses everything from trains to different types of ships to how do we get the product from Minnesota into containers and exported out of the U.S. in a reasonable fashion.”

The gold standard SSGA developed and oversees

the one-of-a-kind U.S. Identity Preserved (IP) brand, which launched in December 2021 and has since held several global summits, workshops and seminars. Products marked as U.S. Identity Preserved are quality-assured, delivering exclusive varieties with unique attributes and specific traits, such as size, color, flavor and composition, to the end market.

“The U.S. Identity Preserved program really started as an opportunity to signify the United States as a quality origin for identity preserved soybeans and other field crops,” Frederick said. “Ultimately, it means that a customer gets exactly what they order. The customer expects that product to be exactly continued on page 20

what they need to make their high-quality product. So, the identity preserved process ensures that that particular crop is segregated throughout the process, from seed selection through delivery to the end user.”

Traceability is integral to the IP system, with each step of production, processing and delivery documented so products can be traced from the field to the processor to the final production and sale. Furthermore, growers and processors must follow strict

and cleaning of equipment to prevent other varieties and foreign materials from contaminating the IP varieties.

With eight steps in the IP value chain, products bearing the IP mark arrive on customers’ doorsteps exactly as ordered.

“When we created this brand, we made sure that it had some teeth with it, which is an assurance plan that the companies need to qualify,” Frederick said. “We actually use a third-party qualifier, the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association, in the Upper Midwest, and they verify a company’s IP

program, making sure that all the steps are in place and that they’re following the IP process.”

As SSGA continues making waves in the identity preserved agriculture industry, Minnesota soybean farmers will reap the benefits of checkoff investment into the organization.

“SSGA amplifies the impact of MSR&PC’s investments by opening new markets, supporting premium pricing, ensuring supply chain integrity and advocating for Minnesota soy farmers’ interests domestically and abroad,” Duckworth said.

MAKING THEIR MARK

SSGA’s dedication to IP agriculture is ensuring traceable, high-quality, varietyspecific soybeans and grains for global food markets. SSGA stands out by:

Driving innovation and sustainability through industry initiatives and advocacy.

Backed by major state soybean organizations, including MSR&PC, providing strong support and expertise

Learn more about the IP brand mark at usidentitypreserved.org/

Peace of Mind Starts with a Health Savings Account

For farm families and ag business owners, an HSA provides flexibility and peace of mind. From routine checkups and prescriptions to unexpected injuries or future medical expenses in retirement, your HSA is designed to help you plan ahead while saving smart. Open your HSA with Profinium Bank and protect both your health and your hard-earned farm income.

‘World class’

MSR&PC hosts North Central Soybean Research Program summer meeting

By Mark Askelson

The University of Minnesota is leading the way in the soybean research, thanks to their blooming partnership with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the checkoff-funded Soybean Research Center.

“What the UMN has here is amazing,” Council CEO Tom Slunecka said. “The work their research team is doing is nothing short of world class.”

Researchers had the opportunity to show off a sample of their projects while hosting soybean farmers and fellow researchers from 13 states during the North Central Soybean Research Program’s (NCSRP) annual summer meeting this summer in the Twin Cities. As part of that meeting, various state research staff and NCSRP

representatives took part in a field day to learn about the UMN’s latest checkoff-supported soybean research projects.

“This meeting is really important for research in the Upper Midwest and for other states to come in and see what our university professors have been doing for decades and decades,” Slunecka said. “It’s really a great opportunity to showcase Minnesota’s investment in soybean production today and well into the future.”

Collaboration and conversations

Representing roughly 335,000 soybean farmers, NCSRP is a multistate collaborative effort of research and outreach with a mission of supporting soybean farmers and driving the soybean industry forward.

They invest soybean checkoff funds in university research and Extension programs to better understand and manage plant stressors that reduce soybean yield and farmer profitability. Along with Minnesota, other states included in the collaboration include North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

“Research is always a collaborative effort; there’s nothing in research you can do on your own,” said Sergio Cabello Leiva, MSR&PC’s new director of research.

“In this instance with NCSRP, there are 13 states putting their minds together to improve yields and increase disease resistance, so it’s an incredible option to multiply our efforts and reach our goals, network and share our ideas to

make soybean research stronger at a national level.

UMN Professors Aaron Lorenz and Seth Naeve, who also spearhead the UMN Soybean Research Center, led NCSRP staff and directors on a tour of the UMN Ag Experiment Station and gave brief overviews of their current research projects, including:

• Research on soybean stress;

• Breeding and genetics;

• Weed management;

• Unique new cropping systems that can be integrated into soybean rotations;

• Advancements into soybean genomics and biotechnology and more.

For Lorenz, whose expertise is in soybean breeding and genetics, he notes that the interactions with the other researchers and farmers during

the field day helped provide excellent feedback on their research work and new ideas for future projects.

“A lot of questions that they ask are sometimes questions we didn’t think about, and that really helps us stay grounded in terms of what matters to their everyday production and their bottom line,” said Lorenz, who also works on projects funded by NCSRP. “That feedback is very valuable and there always needs to be a strong conversation between researchers, farmers and industry.”

The UMN Ag Experiment Station, which was established in 1885, is a 180-acre farm with more than 90 unique research plots and 22 different crops being studied, plus another 5 acres of crops under glass in their greenhouses. The university also has 10 research outreach

centers spread out across the vast geography across the state such as those in Crookston and Waseca.

From soil types to growing seasons, there are a range of differences between the 13 different states represented through the NCSRP. Yet many of the production issues, such as weed control and pest management, remain the same.

“I might be working on a very similar project as, say my counterparts in Missouri, and we can both make advancements on that project even though my answers may be different,” Lorenz said. “We can still share and learn from another in terms of methods we used and help each other interpret those findings to get more clarification across a wider geographical area.”

continued on page 24

Field day leads downstream

Along with exploring the UMN research plots, the group also took a short trip south to Hastings to explore the Mississippi River and tour Lock and Dam #2 and learn more about how soybeans and other commodities use the nation’s longest river to be transported to other markets. The tour was led in conjunction with the Upper Mississippi Waterway Association, an allied partner of MSR&PC’s, to help participants get a better understanding of how barges of ships carrying grain navigate the river and the challenges that they face.

“For many people here, who’ve come from as far

away as Pennsylvania, they’ve not seen our river system, so now they’re getting an understanding of what it takes to get grain out of the Upper Midwest,” Slunecka said. “Minnesota has a lot of ways to move grain, they can go east, west, north and south, but this river system is underutilized and getting some exposure to what can be done here is really important for the soybean industry as a whole.”

New face to NCSRP

NCSRP’s summer meeting was also the first meeting for Minnesota’s new farmer leader representative Bob Lindeman. Lindeman represents McLeod County director on the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) but also serves on Minnesota Soybean’s research action team and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Agriculture Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC), making him a natural fit for NCSRP’s board. “I enjoy research, and I don’t mind making the tough decisions or providing input on future research projects,” said Lindeman, who farms near Brownton. “There’s been a lot of new names to try to remember with the NCSRP group, but I’ve enjoyed meeting new people, and I look forward to learning and contributing what I can to support soybean research.”

Lindeman replaces Gene Stoel on the NCSRP board of directors. Slunecka says Linderman will be a great fit for the board.

“Minnesota has a long list of great leaders, and Bob Lindemann is one of them as he’s very into research and what it means for soybean production,” Slunecka said. “Gene did great service for the organization and we hate to see him go, but Bob’s going to step in and fill those shoes just perfectly.”

Also attending the summer meeting on behalf of MSR&PC were Directors Corey Hanson and Rochelle Krusemark.

“(NCSRP) couldn’t believe the quality of research the Council funds,” Krusemark said. “It was a proud moment.”

Ted’s talk

Revered rural mental health specialist retires from MDA

By Drew Lyon

Minnesota’s agriculture community might be small, but Ted Matthews’ name looms large, even when it’s flown under the radar. Mental health professionals typically don’t seek the spotlight. While the farm families he’s assisted through tough times goes undocumented, the breadth of farmers Matthews has counseled through free, confidential services is countless.

Farmers trust Ted and his straight-talk approach to discussing depression, PTSD and domestic abuse. He’s earned their confidence.

“Ted’s impact on rural mental health in Minnesota can’t be overstated,” Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Commissioner Thom Petersen said of Matthews, 78, who served as MDA’s rural mental health specialist since the 1990s before retiring in summer 2025. “He has brought hope and healing to many in crisis with humility and heart.”

Following Matthews’ retirement, his former boss and golfing partner, Commissioner Petersen, surprised his friend with a framed plaque from Gov. Tim Walz proclaiming July 8 “Ted Matthews Day” in Minnesota.

The normally stoic Matthews said he was touched by the gesture and caught off guard: Commissioner Petersen even kept the news a secret when the two golfed together earlier that day.

“I’ve gotten a lot of accolades over the years, but that was pretty amazing,” Matthews said. “I mean, how many ag psychologists get that kind of recognition? But it’s because we’re lucky in Minnesota that people here have supported and stood by the program.”

During the retirement ceremony, Matthews was also flanked by a bipartisan group of lawmakers –Senate Ag Committee Chair Aric Putnam and Rep. Paul Anderson, who farms in Starbuck, and former Rep. Jeanne Poppe – who’ve worked across party lines to support the first-of-itskind legislation that created, and continues to fund, MDA’s rural mental health initiatives. Matthews said he holds ag committee leaders in St. Paul in high esteem for generally working in a bipartisan fashion to pass an ag bill that works on multiple levels for farmers.

“There’s no way this program

could continue without bipartisan support,” said Matthews, who worked out of an office in Hutchinson.

While other states have tried to follow suit in recent years, some by offering free vouchers for counseling, Minnesota’s rural mental health program remains the benchmark. And the program continues to grow and evolve while serving as a touchpoint for farmers coping with stress and depression: In 2019, MDA hired a second rural mental health professional, Monica McConkey, and two part-time staff have been hired to replace Matthews.

“I doubt if it will ever be totally replicated,” Matthews said. “(Legislators) had the foresight to understand that this is a really helpful thing for farmers, that it’s worth doing. … I’ve had calls from most farming states, you know, saying, ‘How do we do it?’”

In the 2025-2027 biennial budget, lawmakers approved $200,000 in new funding toward MDA’s farm safety and wellness program. The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association has been a longtime supporter of the initiative through testifying, sharing mental health resources, media outreach and continued on page 28

holding panels at MN Ag expo.

“What Ted and MDA are doing is so critical to lending a lifeline when farmers are in need of someone to talk to, someone who understands them,” said MSGA Director Bob Worth, a national rural mental health advocate. “And Ted understands what farmers are going through.”

Support from the broader ag community has been crucial to the program’s success.

“I’ve talked to every one of those groups at one time or another,” Matthews said. “Agriculture is so unique; you can’t categorize it with anything else.”

‘In this together’

Matthews wasn’t raised on a farm, but his Minnesota blue collar bona fides run deep; he even had a stint playing professional hockey. His father was a maintenance worker in Silver Bay, and Matthews understood at a young age the mental and physical toll miners experienced, along with the

pressure felt from labor strikes.

“The stress would be huge,” Matthews said. “It would be just like in farming: You’d have years where everything went great and good for you, and then the next year you wouldn’t be employed for a month or three weeks or whatever. In most places, if your company goes on strike, maybe you can get a parttime job someplace, or a full-time job while you’re waiting. Well, you couldn’t do that up there. And so, everybody was in the same boat. And that’s just like farming – the emotional swings and so on are quite similar.”

Matthews graduated from South Dakota State University and later served four years in the Air Force before working in FEMA’s mental health services. That role led to a similar position as an agricultural mental health counselor with Farm Business Management, which then became a pilot program with funding from the Minnesota Legislature.

When a farmer needs counseling but may be wary of meeting with a

traditional psychologist, Matthews is an empathic ear to call upon.

“They don’t look at me as a psychologist. They looked at me as ‘Ted’,” he said. “I want them to feel comfortable and safe when they’re talking to me.”

Matthews has watched farming change over the years, from technology to shifting family dynamics. Producers are working longer hours for more years, and more women have taken on greater roles in farming operations. But the rigors of securing financial backing, putting a crop in the ground, and watching the forecasts and markets while enduring the ups and downs of the growing season bring inherent mental health challenges.

“There are things we can do to lower it, but there is zero chance that (farmer suicide) is ever going to be on average with other occupations ever, because farming is stressful 12 months a year,” Matthews said. “I tell people all the time: first you have to plant, and you worry about that because it’s

For nearly 30 years, Ted Matthews’ ear was just a phone call away.

Helping hands

Mental health assistance is just a phone call away, thanks to free services from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline

Phone: 833-600-2670

Text: FARMSTRESS to 898211

Email: farmstress@state.mn.us

Calls are answered by trained counselors. Ideal for those experiencing business, financial or legal problems

Minnesota Agricultural Mental Health Specialists

Monica: 218-280-7785

Jennifer: 218-820-6626

Tracie: 507-514-7057

MDA hired Tracie Rutherford Self and Jennifer Vaughn to replace Matthews in the central and southern portions of Minnesota. Rural mental health specialist Monica McConkey continues to represent northern Minnesota. No cost; no red tape, thanks to funding from the Minnesota Legislature.

going to be too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry. After you do that, if we’re going to get too much rain, like this year, or not enough like last year. And so, you worry about that. And then are you going to have aphids after we spray, is it going to rain? So, there’s always threats. And then you get the crop in, and are you going to have a good price? Are you going to have good yields? And then you find out whether you did or didn’t. And let’s say you had a great year. Well, you stressed it the whole year, even if it was a good year.”

The margins for error in farming are tightening, while the technical and financial sophistication needed to succeed has only increased. Matthews said comparisons to the 1980s farm crisis no longer hold true; the 2020s are even tougher. Mistakes are magnified more than ever. Bundle all the stress factors together, and it can be a powder keg.

“Back in the day, if things weren’t going well, if you made a mistake or two, you just had to work harder,” Matthews said. “So, if you normally

worked nine hours a day, you’d work 11 or 12 hours a day. You got caught up. And that’s how farming was. Now, if you make a couple of big mistakes, I don’t care if you work 24/7, you can lose the farm. … You have to make good decisions, and you have to have people that you trust to help you make those decisions. And that’s a huge change in farming.”

While the high-stress requirements in farming are here to stay, farmers have more tools to change their approach to the daily grind. Stay in touch with family and friends. Look out for each other. Take advantage of free mental health services.

“I always tell people, we’re all in this together and friends need to talk to friends,” Matthews said. “When they see that they’re changing somehow, they’re not talking as much or they stop going to church or whatever. We are all a part of trying to help people get through the tough times. And because we’re all different people, we react differently.”

Ted’s tips

While he’s stepping away from day-to-day farm counseling, Matthews will continue to bring difficult mental health conversations out in the open. It’s not quite a retirement; more like a transition. Between rounds of golf, he’ll hit the conferencespeaking circuit and conduct trainings (he’s already appeared at seminars in nearly 20 states) and plans to participate in a Netflix documentary on mental health.

For the farmers he’s served for 30 years, Matthews offered parting words of advice.

“Make sure you are nice to yourself. Stop thinking of it as, if you’re nice to other people, they’ll be nice to you. Think of it as, ‘If I’m nice to myself, I have the ability to be nice to other people,’” Matthews said. “Take care of yourself and then you can take care of other people. Why wouldn’t you want to be happier and in more control of your life? Be happy.”

Mobile Crisis Teams

Available in every Minnesota county, mobile crisis team counselors can respond quickly and provide in-person, short-term counseling or mental health services during a crisis or emergency. Calls are answered immediately 24 hours/day. Responders travel in private vehicles and generally arrive within 2 hours.

NAMI Minnesota

NAMI Minnesota is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. They offer information, classes, support groups and suicide prevention training.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Phone: 988

Crisis Text Line

Text: MN to 741 741

Surprise! MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen (right) presents Ted Matthews with a proclamation from Gov. Tim Walz during a retirement party honoring the retiring mental health specialist.

STARTING THE CONVERSATION

Rural Minds meets ag’s elephant in the room head on

By Drew Lyon

Jeff Winton has traveled across the country on a personal mission to prevent suicides in rural communities. He knows the grief all too well: In 2012, Winton, who was raised on a dairy farm in upstate New York, lost his nephew, Brooks Winton, to suicide just a few hours after celebrating a family wedding.

“He was the last person in our family who we’d ever thought was struggling,” Winton said. “We had no idea he was struggling with mental illness or substance use disorder, or that he was contemplating suicide.”

In his role as founder and chairman of Rural Minds, Winton has shared the story of his nephew’s death countless times during meetings with advocacy groups, including the American Soybean Association (ASA). More than a dozen years since Brooks’ suicide, Jeff still chokes up recalling his final hug with his nephew and the grim moment he learned of Brooks’ decision to take his own life.

The shock reverberated throughout Winton’s family and farming community.

“It’s the worst thing that can ever happen to someone,” he said. “At that point, our world changed, our entire family changed. The dynamics in our family changed.”

Rallying around a cause

With support from ASA, Rural Minds in 2024 introduced the Rural Mental Health Resilience Program, toolkit with free mental health information, resources and training to assist rural residents in improving mental health in their communities.

The Rural Mental Health Resilience Program acknowledges the selfreliance and do-it-yourself mindset that are common among farmers and others living in rural areas by providing online access to free educational content that can be printed for distribution, links to mental health support services, and a toolkit for planning, promoting and leading community conversations about rural mental health.

“We are grateful to the American Soybean Association for their partnership with Rural Minds to introduce the Rural Mental Health Resilience Program,” Winton said.. “(Their support is) an important opportunity to provide potentially life-saving information to confront the mental health challenges in rural America and the stigma that surrounds mental illness.”

The initiative builds on ASA’s commitment to addressing rural mental health through its #SoyHelp program, which serves as a resource for national and state-specific mental health

information in states with soy farmers. The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) has also supported the program through social media posts and media engagement.

“MSGA has been an advocate of mental health over the years,” MSGA President Darin Johnson said. “We know how important mental health is and we want to make sure people know what’s out there for resources.”

Removing the stigma around mental illness in rural America means addressing the crisis, not ignoring it. When Brooks died, community members were reluctant to discuss why and how he chose to end his life. Brooks family was advised to consider saying he instead perished in an accident or from a heart attack.

“They don’t want to talk about this epidemic,” Winton said.

Instead, the Wintons, led by Jeff’s late mother, Elaine, decided to lift the veil on rural mental health and confront some hard truths in rural communities, which encompass about 46 million Americans. Of those 46 million, about 25% of rural residents live with a behavioral health issue. In Winton’s small town, seemingly everyone had a story to tell about depression and addiction, either directly or through a loved one’s experiences.

Elaine Winton helped bring the topic out of the shadows. No more hiding.

“We’re not only going to talk about it, we are going to talk about it in detail,” Winton said. “This has been going on in this farming community for far too long. I can count on both hands and feet and other appendages how many families have gone through this, and now we’re going to talk about it.”

Rural Minds was created three years ago with a focus on the agricultural community. Since its inception, the group is looking to work with indigenous and Amish population, the latter of which has a prominent farming presence in New York.

“We’re really focused on ensuring that the stigma gets addressed and that people are starting to feel comfortable to talk about this without being ashamed or embarrassed,” Winton said. “Mental illness is an illness like cancer or heart disease, and we’ve got to start treating it as such.”

Resources to save lives

Part of the issue with confronting mental wellness in rural America is a lack of resources, Winton said. About 75% of rural counties don’t support a psychiatrist, and rural health care facilities have 20% fewer physicians than

in urban counties, while 80% of rural Americans lack access to a psychiatric nurse. And telemedicine can also be a barrier: about 30% of rural residents can’t access the internet. In addition, millions of rural Americans are either uninsured or under-insured. However, many insurance companies offer patient assistance programs and community partners have also increased engagements. To complicate matters further, the opioid epidemic – which can lead to mental illness – has disproportionately affected rural communities.

“If a person has to decide between paying for their insulin or paying for an antipsychotic medication, they’re going to choose their insulin,” Winton said. “But there are a lot of programs that can help.”

The stereotypical strong, silent type in agriculture is outdated, Winton said. The culture has changed, and agriculture must continue bringing mental wellness to the forefront.

“We are in a race against time,” he said. “We’re striving to end the suffering, stigma and silence that surrounds mental illness in rural America.

To learn more about free mental health resources and receive Rural Minds’ monthly newsletter, visit ruralminds.org.

You are not alone

Winton urges growers to remember a three-digit number – 988 – which is a national network of local crisis centers providing free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“Besides helping you in a crisis, they will also help you find local resources,” Winton said. “It’s a starting point.”

More mental health resources are available at soygrowers.com.

Conservation efforts pay off in higher profits for Minnesota farmers

Farmers enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) saw nearly double the profits of non-certified farms, according to recent data from the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence.

The 2025 “Influence of Intensified Environmental Practices on Farm Profitability” study examined financial and crop and livestock production information from farmers enrolled in the Minnesota State Farm Business Management education program. The 153 MAWQCP farms in the study saw more gross cash farm income and net farm income in 2024 than non-certified farms.

Looking at 2024 data, the average net cash income for MAWQCP farms was over $134,800, nearly double the $67,700 for non-MAWQCP farms. The median net income was also nearly double for certified farms compared to non-certified farms. Debt-to-asset ratios were also better for those enrolled in the MAWQCP.

“We’ve seen time and time again that the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program provides better

economic outcomes on top of the benefits to our water and soil resources,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “Farmers that make conservation investments continue to turn a profit, even in an uncertain farm economy. I encourage all farmers and landowners to contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District to get more information about certifying their land.”

This is the sixth year the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence has compared MAWQCP and nonMAWQCP farms. Every year has shown a positive return on investment for whole-farm conservation management that farmers implement to become certified.

“2024 brought economic challenges for farmers, especially for those in the cropping sectors,” said Keith Olander, executive director of AgCentric and Agricultural Partnerships. “The MAWQCP farmers continued to show strong financial resilience during this recent period compared to their peers. The six-year history of strong economic performance indicates that MAWQCP farmers mitigate risk at a greater level than their peers. The water quality parameters have farmers focus on environmental risks, but those management skills transfer to/from their finances, weather adversity and market strategies to avert economic devastation.”

Details on the economic study are available at agcentric.org.

The MAWQCP puts farmers in touch with local conservation district experts to identify and mitigate any risks their farm poses to water quality on a field-by-field basis. Producers going through the certification process have priority access to financial assistance. After being certified, each farm is deemed in compliance with new water quality laws and regulations for 10 years.

Since the program’s statewide launch in 2016, 1.2 million acres have been enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. The 1,600-plus certified farms have added over 7,800 new conservation practices that protect Minnesota’s waters. These new practices have kept over 68,800 tons of sediment out of Minnesota rivers while saving over 89,800 pounds of phosphorous on farms each year. The conservation practices have also reduced nitrogen loss by up to 45%.

“I’m happy to tell people that I’m certified,” said Vesta farmer George Goblish, who recently became a director with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council. “It’s the right thing to do to ensure I’m employing best management practices on my operation for years to come.”

Farmers and landowners interested in becoming water quality certified can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District or visit MyLandMyLegacy.com.

In his role on the United Soybean Board, Lawrence Sukalski (right) works on numerous USB committees, including infrastructure and the supply action team.

Gene Stoel (right) attends his final budget meeting as a USB director before retiring in December 2025.

Dumont farmer Tom Frisch (middle) serves on USB’s Executive Committee.

Moving the pile

With eye on the future, USB farmer leaders lock arms, set FY26 budget

By Sydney Harris

In the months ahead, and well into the future, the United Soybean Board (USB) is aiming to deliver demand for U.S. Soy, drive on-farm resilience and bring value to the nearly half- million U.S. soybean farmers.

Led by its 77 farmer-leaders, including four Minnesotans, USB has approved a $121.3 million budget for the 2026 fiscal year, strategically allocating funds across vital research, promotion and education investments. The budget spans the food, feed, fuel, industry, exports and sustainable production market segments.

USB continues taking the long view on the checkoff pathway toward improving farmer profitability while balancing farmers’ immediate economic needs.

“Just like we have done on our farms across the country, USB’s farmer-leaders have sharpened their pencils, identifying high-impact opportunities that provide return to America’s soybean farmers,” said Philip Good, USB chair from Macon, Miss. “As soybean farmers navigate the trade and input uncertainty, along with unpredictable weather, the soy checkoff aims to be the long-term, steady hand on the rudder. We’re looking 5-10 years out to ensure that U.S. farmers have viable markets and innovation to protect against weather, weed and disease pressures.”

Minnesota soybean farmers have a strong representation on USB, with Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) Directors Patrick O’Leary, Gene Stoel and Tom Frisch, along with Lawrence Sukalski, sitting on USB.

“We’re all collectively working for what’s best for the U.S. soybean farmer,” says Frisch, who sits on USB’s Executive Committee. “Improving the outlook at the national level is only going to help us on the state level.”

Minnesota’s representatives on USB provide valuable input to the national checkoff conversation, a dialogue that starts in Minnesota’s farming communities, USB Lucas Lentsch says.

“Every farmer, regardless of where they farm, helps shape the Soy Checkoff, which begins with local input. With Minnesota leaders like Thomas

Frisch, Patrick O’Leary, Gene Stoel and Lawrence Sukalski serving on the United Soybean Board, we’re ensuring that the voices and priorities of Minnesota soybean farmers are reflected in our national strategy,” Lentsch said. “Their leadership highlights how farmers are advancing the soybean industry while staying rooted in their communities. Strong representation from states like Minnesota is essential to the continued success of the checkoff.”

Stoel, who terms off USB in December 2025, said he and his colleagues are on the same page.

“We reviewed the funding for FY26 and heard where those checkoff investments will be going, with emphasis on finding uses of soy more than how to produce more,” said Stoel, who farms near Lake Wilson. “For example, we focused on exports, biofuels and new uses. And the whole board was together, so everyone was able to hear what was going on in all of the different work groups. In my nine years on the board, this is the first time that 100% of the board members that were present voted in favor of all expenses.”

A clear focus

The board approved the budget during the USB’s July meeting in Norfolk, Va., prioritizing strategic investment in several areas, including animal health and nutrition, infrastructure, production research and international trade. In addition, the board focuses its communication and education efforts on strengthening the reputation of U.S. Soy with domestic and international customers, amplifying checkoff investments to inform U.S. soybean farmers and partnering with the over 30 state soybean boards on research and outreach.

“This year, USB’s focus was, ‘move the pile,’” said Sukalski, who farms in Martin County. “So, we put a lot of emphasis on demand. Another big word we use is ‘differentiate.’ We want to differentiate our crop from the rest of the crop around the world.”

Minnesota supports more than 25,000 soybean farmers, and for each dollar Minnesota farmers pay into the checkoff, growers earn $12.34 in return value. In the past five years, checkoff investments have led to an 18% increase in U.S. Soy exports and a 9% increase in domestic demand.

“When a Minnesota farmer sells soybeans, those checkoff dollars don’t just disappear into the abyss,” said Frisch, who farms near Dumont and is a past MSR&PC chair. “Those dollars are invested back into the soybean industry, bringing value to the farm gate.”

Key investments USB is prioritizing in the coming fiscal year include:

Food: Expanding high oleic soybeans as a strategic ingredient for the food industry. By leveraging gene editing for faster innovation, this strengthens the domestic supply chain and meets the growing demand from food manufacturers for functional oils that provide heart-health benefits.

Feed: Advancing and deploying research and marketing to enhance demand of U.S. soymeal by supporting health, productivity and profitability of livestock and poultry production.

Fuel: Positioning U.S. soybean oil as the preferred feedstock to meet the renewable volume obligation of 5.6 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel in 2026. USB aims to expand soy’s biofuel footprint through research demonstrating soy’s low carbon intensity and lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, investments will increase the overall renewable fuels market through new market development, with soy-based biofuels

playing an important role in biodiesel, renewable diesel, Bioheat, and the marine, air and rail markets.

Industrial Uses: Furthering the commercialization of new soy-based technologies with the greatest potential to drive soybean demand. This includes expansion of soy oil-based lubricant and surfactant product lines, development of new uses for soy in tires, commercialization of soymeal wood adhesives, and certification of soy-based firefighting foam to replace PFAS, aka “forever chemicals.”

Exports: Growing U.S. Soy exports into more than 80 established markets while diversifying into new markets through the promotion of U.S. Soy’s quality attributes. U.S. Soy provides value through its sustainability, consistency and reliability to downstream customers while demonstrating lower moisture content, superior amino acid profile and greater energy content. Ultimately, this increases animal performance and efficiency, maximizing economic return. Export partnerships also aim to raise consumption of U.S. meat, poultry, and eggs around the globe, which increases the demand for U.S. soybean meal in domestic animal diets.

Sustainable Production: Addressing major yield threats and exploring on-farm cost-saving opportunities. Specific priorities include: mitigating soybean yield loss due to drought and soybean cyst nematode, measures to reduce fertilizer inputs, management systems leading to enhanced productivity and profitability, and advancing weed and slug management strategies in partnership with national extension programs. Investments in sustainable production also further greenhouse gas research and carbon modeling updates to ensure U.S. Soy receives the credit and financial opportunities it’s earned in global markets.

“Minnesota soybean growers and the checkoff program are infinitely stronger with USB on our team,” said O’Leary, who farms near Benson. “Investments are not made lightly, and USB spends a lot of time discussing how checkoff dollars are spent.”

Patrick O’Leary, pictured here while hosting a Southeast Asian trade team at his Danvers farm in 2024, was reappointed to USB in 2024.

BUDGET ON BOARD

MSR&PC approves FY26 budget

By Sydney Harris

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council holds its duties as checkoff stewards in the highest esteem.

“We’re here to invest these resources carefully, not just sit on them,” Director Ron Obermoller said to his colleagues during MSR&PC’s August meeting.

By directing Minnesota soybean checkoff dollars, MSR&PC dedicates countless hours to ensuring sound investments are made that will ultimately increase farmer profitability.

“It’s super important that we make sure that we are spending farmers’ dollars very wisely,” MSR&PC Chair Gail Donkers said. “We give priority to things that we feel will return dollars to the farmers.”

During the Council’s August board meeting at its Mankato headquarters, the elected board of 15 soybean farmers representing nine districts across Minnesota examined and identified the projects that will earn checkoff funding in FY26.

“With so many different projects going on, we divide them all out into eight different priority areas,” said Donkers, who farms near Faribault and represents District 8. “Setting the budget is important because we need to make sure that we have buckets of money that apply to each different area with emphasis on research, promotion and education.”

In total, the Council’s budget comprised these core areas:

• Product Development

• Promotion

• Marketing/Communications

• Influencer Education

• Production Research (note: research projects are typically approved for funding during the April board meeting)

• High Impact

• Management & Compliance

• Leadership Development

Minnesota is home to more than 25,000 soybean farmers who grow more than 7 million acres and roughly 350 million bushels of soybeans. With one half of one percent of the market price ‘checked off’ anytime a farmer sells soybeans, growers earn $12.30 in return value for every dollar

Director Ron Obermoller discusses the Council’s FY26 budget priorities with his fellow directors and staff leads.

Research Review

The Council also approved first-time funding for a special research report to be published in the November-December 2025 issue of Soybean Business. The special publication will include highlights and key takeaways from the Council’s 2024 research projects, including studies on pest and weed management, agronomy and genetics.

they pay into the checkoff.

“After the budget was set and the meeting ended, it was clear that the Council is poised to have a great year,” said MSR&PC Vice Chair Ben Storm, who farms near Dover and represents District 9. “It’s always fun to learn about the proposed projects and talk about which will move the needle for soybean farmers in Minnesota.”

Dialogue and debate

With soybean harvest on the docket, growers are on the edges of their seats, ready and waiting to see what this fall will deliver. Will commodity prices be up or down? What will be the yield? Will Mother Nature cooperate? Will the murky tariff situation bring clarity? MSR&PC has the same questions, especially since its FY26 budget depends on the answers. Directors and staff leaders take the conservative route.

“We’re extremely concerned with what soybean prices may be through fall,” said Tom Slunecka, MSR&PC CEO. “But the Council took great pains to analyze today’s market prices and future market prices to assure that they were budgeting accordingly, with as much accuracy as possible.”

Despite the uncertainty, the Council is excited for the year ahead.

“We’re always doing new, exciting things,” Donkers

said. “We have a couple of new projects this year that I’m looking forward to, including a project with an agricultural day care (Ruby Ranch) to teach the kids more about soybeans.”

Donkers is also looking forward to a soybean research revival in FY26, including the planned return of the Future of Soy Summit.

“I’m super excited to have Sergio Cabello Leiva, our director of research, on staff and what he’s going to be doing in the research area,” Donkers said. “He’s very excited about research and he’ll bring different projects to the table which will be really fun to see.”

Farmers may daydream about sitting in the cab of a tractor rather than in a budgeting meeting, but it’s critical to ensuring that Minnesota’s soybean farmers receive a valuable return on their investment.

“The budget meeting is one of the most important meetings of the year, as it sets the tone for the work ahead,” Slunecka said. “Collaboration amongst the directors was as high as I’ve ever seen it under Chair Gail Donkers’ direction, allowing for much discussion and assuring that everyone’s point of view from northern Minnesota to southern Minnesota was expressed.”

Following harvest, the Council will gather again in December for its final 2025 board meeting.

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A SOYFOAM SUMMER

Organized soy counties generate goodwill through donations, community outreach

By Soybean Business Staff

Summer 2025 was the season of SoyFoam for Minnesota’s organized county soybean program. The more than 40 counties across Minnesota participated in the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council’s (MSR&PC) checkoff-supported SoyFoam campaign, “Planting to Protect: From Farm to Flame.” The Council provided Minnesota counties opportunities to donate SoyFoam to area fire departments, and communities from Marshall to Martin counties joined the action by donating SoyFoam pails to area first responders. By late August, about 250 SoyFoam pails had been distributed across Minnesota.

“The SoyFoam campaign checked a lot of boxes for the Council by promoting soy’s sustainability and its many value-added uses, supporting our community partners and giving our county boards the resources to make an impact at the local level,” said Gail Donkers, MSR&PC chair and member of the Dakota-Rice Corn & Soybean Growers. “It’s just a great way to share our story with our neighbors.”

Southern Minnesota

Renville County hosted its annual golf event and participated with area fire departments in a SoyFoam demonstration during the county fair. The demo, held during the popular demolition derby, was attended by MSR&PC Secretary Pat Sullivan and SoyFoam developer Dave Garlie.

“It was a great event for the fire departments to get to test out SoyFoam and learn more about its functionality,” said Sullivan, who also serves as a volunteer firefighter.

McLeod County, in conjunction with local fire departments, also hosted a SoyFoam demonstration at their Ag Safety Day event July 30 at the McLeod County Fairgrounds. Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) Vice President Ryan Mackenthun and Director Bob Lindeman attended on behalf of the county board.

The Ag Safety Day included a SoyFoam demonstration to see the soy-based firefighting foam in action; on-site emergency personnel to answer questions and other safety education opportunities. The board also donated SoyFoam to local fire departments.

The Blue Earth and Le Sueur-Scott County boards sponsored their county’s joint Breakfast on the Farm in August. The free pancake breakfast served 1,800 people with proceeds benefiting local FFA chapters.

Murray County planted to protect by donating two SoyFoam pails to the Currie, Dovray, Fulda, Iona, Lake Wilson and Slayton fire departments. To the northwest in Lincoln County, farmer leaders hosted an Ag Awareness Breakfast, only charging the more than 500 attendees the “farmer’s share” (40 cents) of the meal’s cost. The board then paid the full cost of the meal to the local 4-H.

In Martin County, farmer leaders held their annual meeting and also sponsored the 2025 Salute to Agriculture event at the Fairmont Raceway.

Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson and Watonwan counties also sponsored. Local farmers promoted high oleic soybean oil through its use in the deep fryer at the raceway concession stands.

Giving back is a year-round tradition for Nicollet Sibley County. Local growers once again demonstrated their commitment to the community by donating to the St. Peter Area Food Shelf and Sibley County Food Shelf. The board’s annual contribution helps support local families facing food insecurity while also promoting the benefits of soybased products.

"Our board looks forward to our annual food shelf shopping trip,” Board Chair Brett Annexstad said. "By selecting soy-based products and labeling them with our county logo, we’re not only providing nutritious food but also raising awareness about the benefits of soy among the very people we’re helping.”

The Rock County board held a drawing contest for area fourth and fifth graders. A drawing by Greyson Mundt, depicting a red tractor in the field with the caption “Farmers Feed America,” earned the winning entry and is now displayed along a county highway.

Faribault County, home of MSGA President Darin Johnson, hosted multiple events this summer. The board held a Grower Appreciation Night and raised funds with a silent auction during its annual meeting. Johnson, who has served as county board president for 20 years, passed the gavel to Kalyn Kalis. The board also participated in the FestAg and Kernel Day parades, the Faribault County Fair and brought in over 40 sponsors to support the board’s annual golf tournament. Prior to harvest, the board hosted its plot day.

In Freeborn County, the board held an annual membership appreciation event, which also functioned as a member-recruiting event.

Continued on page 42

Above: Greyson Mundt’s winning entry in Rock County’s agriculture drawing contest is displayed on Minnesota State Highway 23.

West-Central Minnesota

Clay-Wilkin County kicked off the summer at the annual Hawley Breakfast on the Farm, where they teamed up with the Hawley Fire Department to showcase SoyFoam. They also once again promoted Goodyear’s soy-based tires by giving away a set of Goodyear Assurance Comfort Drive tires to a lucky attendee of the event. A special shoutout to county board member Kari Olson, whose farm was recognized as Farm Family of the Year for Clay County during Farmfest.

Chippewa County held its most successful annual meeting in county history as they welcomed over 100 people to their Aug. 12 event in Maynard. Part of the big draw this year was the addition of comedian and farmer Jerry Carroll, who traveled from North Carolina to headline the event. The group made SoyFoam donations to local fire departments and raised money for the local FFA group, which is planning a trip to Ireland to study local agriculture, at the board’s annual meeting. The board also made donations of several fans to the Chippewa County Fair to keep livestock cool during the hot summer event.

In Lac qui Parle County , the board hosted a fuel event in Dawson, where they promoted homegrown biofuels, including biodiesel, at the new coop. Another fuel promotion event took place in late August in Bellingham.

Pope County Soybean & Corn Growers Vice President Paul Freeman, who also serves as a director

on the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, traveled to the Northern Crops Institute in July to tour their recently renovated Feed Production Center. Freeman is also a director with the Northern Crop Council, NCI’s governing body. Freeman and fellow board Director Bruce Zavadil attended a Pope County fire department meeting in June, where they discussed SoyFoam and made donations of the soybased firefighting foam to each of their departments. Additionally, the Pope County group attended a local Home and Garden show with the 3-D printed Soy House on display, which demonstrated the many household products and components containing soy.

Todd County hosted another well-attended fuel event in Long Prairie this spring. In addition to biodiesel discounts, the board promoted the many uses of soy by giving out free bottles of soy-based degreaser to drivers as they came through the line. The county board also welcomed the developer of SoyFoam, Dave Garlie, of Cross Plains Solutions, to its annual meeting.

Kandiyohi County swung for the fences this summer to promote soy. They teamed up with the Willmar Stingers baseball team in July for their annual Ag Night. They gave out 100 Team Soy and 100 Team Corn shirts to the first 200 fans through the gate. Along with staying busy handing out candy and soy-based lip balm at the area parades this summer, the group also hosted an annual meeting and meet and greet on Aug. 13 at the Foxhole Brewhouse in Willmar.

The Todd County board promoted the miracle bean’s many uses by donating soy-based degreaser to drivers at their fuel discount event.

Northwest Minnesota

Kittson County has been busy promoting farm safety, sponsoring its county fair and serving a farmer’s share supper to 435 people, where they hosted a soybean display and distributed Minnesoyta sunglasses. They are working on the SoyFoam campaign, planning delivery to their five fire departments. In August, the board supported Ribfest with a donation to purchase ribs.

Marshall County supported National Ag month with a print ad in the Northern Watch, had food shelf donations for the Easter season and supported the regional FFA meeting held in July at University of Minnesota Crookston. They advertised in the Marshall County Fair premium book with a livestock message. They also donated a picnic table and had a drawing for a pedal tractor at their county fair. They have completed the SoyFoam campaign and have purchased an extra four pails, so all their fire departments received a pail.

Norman County contributed to the Feed the Farmer Campaign through soybeans and farm safety promotion. The county contributed ham during the Easter season to REACH and hosted a Farmer Share supper during the county fair. The county has delivered SoyFoam to all the county fire departments and purchased extra pails so all seven fire departments

can participate. Director Rebecca Sip made SoyFoam bears, which were distributed during the county fair and National Night Out.

Polk County contributed to the Triple B PRCA Rodeo event at the Polk County Fair. In April, the county board directors went shopping and donated $1,600 in meat to their four county food shelves located in Fosston, Fertile, Crookston and East Grand Forks. They have also donated to the regional FFA Leadership Retreat that was held in late July at the University of Minnesota Crookston. They promoted Ag Month through radio ads with the Fosston and Crookston radio stations.

Pennington-Red Lake County growers supported their local fire departments, food shelves, county fairs and promoted soybeans through signage at the county hockey rinks. The county offers two scholarships each year, and in 2024, expanded to award four qualified students. They have also donated to the regional FFA Leadership Retreat that was held this summer at the University of Minnesota Crookston.

Roseau-Lake of the Woods County supported two county fairs with a livestock message for the tractor pulls. They contributed $600 for the purchase of WOWBUTTER, a soy-based peanut alternative, to Northwest Community Action, to distribute to the Back-to-School and Head Start programs.

Left: Roseau-Lake of the Woods County and MSGA Director Jim Kukowski donates Soy Foam to the Greenbush Fire Department. Right: Mike Enright donates hams to the New Hope Food Shelf in Crookston on behalf of the Polk County Soybean Growers.

A HOME-GROWN LEGACY

A legacy of faith. A tradition of farming. A future rooted in both.

Expo Expansion

Latest farm equipment arriving to MN Ag Expo

By Sydney Harris

Minnesota’s premier indoor ag show is growing in 2026.

The MN Ag Expo trade show floor will expand into Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center’s hockey arena, adding 100 booths to the show. The large equipment exhibitors will showcase their products in the Grand Hall, where the trade show floor was previously, and the trade show floor will move to the hockey arena.

“With exhibitors knocking down our door every year, we decided that this was the year to expand the show,” said Bob Worth, chair of the MN Ag Expo planning committee. “Over the past couple of years,

the trade show floor has overflowed into the hallway, which is a great problem to have. Now, we have even more room to accommodate the wide array of agriculture-related exhibitors itching to get in front of Minnesota farmers.”

And make sure to mark your calendars – new show dates are accompanying the expansion, with the 2026 MN Ag Expo taking place Tuesday, Jan. 20 and Wednesday, Jan. 21. A welcome reception for attendees and exhibitors on Jan. 19 is also in the works.

“We know that everyone is accustomed to Expo happening on a Wednesday and Thursday but by switching to a Tuesday and Wednesday format, we’re able to expand our show and make it better than ever,” said Worth, who farms near Lake Benton.

New Date. Expanded venue.

The agenda is still being finalized, but rest assured, this year’s Expo will once again host inspirational keynote speakers and breakout sessions that cover everything farmers need to know to keep their operations prosperous. Attendees will also have the chance to attend and participate in MSGA and MCGA’s annual meetings, during which each organization’s policy resolutions are determined for the coming year. The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council will also continue showcasing the value of soy checkoff investments in research, new uses and growing markets.

“Our team is working hard behind the scenes to secure dynamic speakers and plan engaging breakout sessions,” said Johnson, who farms near Wells. “We spend a lot of time creating a robust agenda that is sure to have something for everyone.”

Several sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities remain available. For general exhibitor and sponsorship information, visit mnagexpo.com. For specific exhibitor and sponsorship questions, contact Erin Rossow at 507-902-9191 or at erin.rossow@ agmgmtsolutions.com.

“MN Ag Expo really is the one-stop shop for farmers and industry leaders to network, learn and grow,” Worth said. “We can’t wait to see everyone in January!”

This summer, MSR&PC CEO Tom Slunecka passed the baton, handing his seat on the a board member for two terms,” Slunecka said. “Over that time the board has helped to keep the SROC relevant in this ever-changing industry. MSR&PC is a very important contributor to much of the research that occurs at the SROC – from soybean cyst nematode research to biodiesel. This research center and its board remain an effective investment of Minnesota soybean farmer checkoff investments.”

The SROC board comprises advisors across the agriculture industry from banking to education, acting as a sounding board for SROC management. The board helps with direction on choosing methods of promoting the work done at SROC and assists with keeping SROC fiscally solidified so the research can continue in the future.

In 2024, SROC supported 90 field research projects on site with 22 research and support staff members. The site grew 30 crops for research with nearly 1,000 acres for research and production.

“I’m excited to collaborate and to help with research ideas that help farmers and their cropping systems to improve their yield and quality,” Cabello Leiva said. “I look forward to the opportunity to know farmer challenges and issues and to support SROC with my background and expertise to share a second opinion on research projects.”

Council director terms off AMS board

Cole Trebesch, a Brown County farmer and MSR&PC director, termed off the board of Ag Management Solutions, the group that oversees Minnesota Soybean, after six years of leadership. The Council elected Director and past Chair Tom Frisch to replace Trebesch. The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association also has two directors – President Darin Johnson and Director Lawrence Sukalski –serving on AMS, which was founded in 2017 and is owned by MSR&PC and MSGA.

Minnesota Soybean marks 20 years of biodiesel implementation

In 2022, Minnesota Soybean celebrated the state’s historic passage of the B2 (2% biodiesel) bill becoming law. Three biodiesel plants were built in Minnesota between 2002-2004, enough to meet the 8-million-gallon production requirement. But it wasn’t until Sept. 29, 2005, that the blending requirement was fully implemented. Minnesota moved to B5 in 2009 and B10 in 2014 before becoming the first state in 2018 to move to B20 in the summer months.

Two decades later, Minnesota continues to be a national biodiesel leader. This homegrown fuel adds nearly 5,400 jobs statewide, contributing nearly $1.7 billion toward the state’s economy.

At the farm level, biodiesel adds more than $1 in value to the bushel of soybeans, increasing demand by 13%. A recent study shows that the U.S. clean fuels industry boosted the U.S. economy by $42.4 billion in economic activity in 2024.

Darin Johnson said the two-decade successes of biodiesel in Minnesota is a collaborative accomplishment, citing farmer leadership, education from the soy checkoff and fuel consultants at MEG Corp, along with support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

“It’s a huge achievement to see how far we’ve come from basically starting an industry from scratch to growing it into a real economic engine for our entire state,” he said. “Biodiesel is a proven economic and environmental winner, and we’re proud to continue sharing that story.”

Farmer leaders recognized as UMN Farm Families of the Year

MSGA Director Brian Fruechte and his wife, Kim, were honored at the 2025 Farmfest as the University of Minnesota’s Lincoln County Farm Family of the Year. Brian, who also serves on MSGA’s governing board and his county board, grows soybeans and corn on the same land that his great-grandfather once bought to keep bees.

Other county-level farmer leaders were also recognized, including Kari Olson, who sits on the Clay-Wilkin Corn & Soybean Board, and D.J. Van Klompenburg’s family of Chippewa.

FACES OF MSGA

Harold Stanislawski

Harold Stanislawski has been a staple on the checkoff side of Minnesota Soybean for years. This year, he stepped into the advocacy world by joining MSGA at the 2025 Farmfest.

“There’s a lot of good reasons to join,” Stanislawski said. “I’ve had an opportunity as a county agent, in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), AURI (Agricultural Utilization Research Institute) and even in my economic development years to always work with growers to stimulate economic development activity across the state. It was logical to join the soybean growers that have given so much back to the state.”

Stanislawski has a lengthy agricultural resume. His family had a grain and dairy farm in Roseau County. He majored in Agriculture Education and Extension in college before becoming an Extension agent in Roseau and Otter Tail counties for 13 years. He then joined MDA as a business advisor, working on livestock issues across 10 years and three administrations. He was one of four founders of the Fergus Falls ethanol plant and worked as the city’s economic development executive director before joining AURI 12 years ago.

Stanislawski is also part of SNI Global, sits on the board of the local power co-op, the Minnesota Food Council and MN State College Advisory Committee.

“AURI is very grateful for the great partnership we’ve had with the soy industry,” Stanislawski said. “We want to continue doing our best for the industry and working with the growers and their leaders.”

Hunter Pederson

Growing up on a farm near Amboy, farming is in Hunter Pederson’s blood. The family farm is a century farm, and Pederson is the fifth generation to work the land. In 2024, he began his first year on his own, raising soybeans, corn and cattle.

Pederson decided to join MSGA while visiting the organization’s Farmfest booth. Joining farm advocacy groups means Pederson is supporting his fellow farmers and rural economies.

“I figured it’s part of a farmer to join the Corn Growers and the Soybean Growers due to the fact that I am actively involved in raising both crops,” Pederson said, “and I do serve on the Blue Earth County Corn and Soybean Growers Board as well.”

Like most farmers, Pederson stays busy in many ways, not just on the farm. Besides being on his county board, he is involved with Minnesota Pheasants, Inc. and works alongside growers as an ag lender at Profinium Bank, a longtime supporter of MSGA’s.

“Profinium Bank, we are really rooted in agriculture,” Pederson said. “We are owned by farmers, and we’ve always had a strong belief that farming is the backbone of every community we’re located in, and that’s always something we’ve always strived to be as involved in as possible and support the farmers, even through the hardest times.”

MSGA Members Meet the Moment!

The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) salutes the 20 new members who joined MSGA during summer 2025. We also extend our gratitude to the nearly 120 producers, agribusinesses and supporters who renewed their membership since June. Special kudos to past MSGA President Kristin Duncanson and Highland Family Farms: Kristin recently renewed her membership into 2028, which will mark 40 years since she first joined MSGA.

With farmers battling a persistent downturn in the ag economy this harvest, our advocacy continues throughout the fall. Our advocates and lobbying team are pounding the pavement in St. Paul and Washington, D.C., to promote

Member

Anne Schwagerl

Hunter Pederson

Josh More

Mike Donohoe

Shane Frederick

Matthew Peters

Tyler Fransen

Evan Hegland

Trent Tumbleson

Ryan Zimmerman

our policy priorities, with one united objective in mind: protecting Minnesota soybean farmers’ markets and, ultimately, their profitability.

Visit us Sept. 9-11 at Big Iron in West Fargo, N.D., in booth #C9-C10 to meet our team and receive exclusive swag when you become a 3-year member. We’re also returning to the Prairie Grains Conference Dec. 10-11, 2025, in Grand Forks, N.D.

To support your industry by becoming a member of the nation’s premier state soybean association, visit mnsoybean.org/msga/invest. Membership levels start at just $20 for students, and a 3-year membership costs mere pocket change per day.

Member

Amy DeMars

Oakleigh DeMars

Perry Aasness

Casey Knabe

Nicolai Bennett

Eric Lanove

Matthew Sandgren

Matthew Holt

Jane Vangsness Frisch

Kaitlyn Schoenfeld

County

Morrison

Morrison Otter Tail Pope

Ramsey

Redwood

Renville

Todd

Traverse Waseca

3 Year Membership: $250 (includes Minnesota Soybean jacket and $100 biodiesel rebate)

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Minnesota Soybean Growers Association 1020 Innovation Lane Mankato, MN 56001 507-388-1635

Online applications also available at mnsoybean.org/msga/invest

What a Catch!

2024 8x17V Mille Lacs Vacation Series

Features include:

• Sleeps: 5 | 5,800 lbs

• Push-button hydraulic frame

• Full RV water package

• AC and furnace

• Arctic insulation comfort in every season

Ticket cost: $100

Buy your ticket from an MSGA director or by calling MSGA’s oﬃce at 507-388-1635

Winner to be announced Jan. 21, 2026, during MN

Ag Expo

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• Hydraulic frame

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• Full water package

• 2 - Jackknife sofas

• Bunks in front

Need

not be present to win

Must be 18 or older to purchase ticket or win prize Winner responsible for any applicable fees or tax

Proceeds from the raﬄe support MSGA’s advocacy eﬀorts in St. Paul and Washington, D.C.