The South Carolina Soybean Board (SCSB) is a group of 12 soybean farmers from South Carolina who are responsible for administering the soybean checkoff in the state. Elected by producers in each district, SCSB directors serve up to three-year terms to comply with the Soybean Marketing Act and Order.
Your South Carolina Soybean Board strives to promote South Carolina soybeans through research, marketing and education.
Increase the profit potential of every South Carolina soybean farmer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Like producers of other commodities, such as beef, pork, dairy and eggs, soybean farmers collectively invest a portion of their product revenue to fund research and promotion efforts. This collective investment is called a checkoff.
The soybean checkoff is supported entirely by soybean farmers. The United Soybean Board (USB) directs all national checkoff efforts. USB consists of 69 voulnteer farmer-leaders nominated by their state-level checkoff organizations, called Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs). These nominees are appointed to the board by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
USB and ASA are two different organizations with one focus: the success of U.S. soybean farmers. Each group serves this purpose in a different way. USB administers soybean checkoff activities focusing on research, market development and expansion. ASA focuses on advocating on behalf of farmers on state and national legislative and regulatory policy issues, which, by law, the checkoff can’t.
Success for soybean farmers in today’s market takes more than just a good harvest. By building demand both at home and abroad, the soybean checkoff helps ensure a strong and profitable future for U.S. soybean farmers.
By 2020, China, due to increased demand for protein, could increase its demand for U.S. soy by 37%.
U.S.-raised broiler chickens consume about 40% of the domestic supply of soybean meal. In total, poultry, livestock and fish consume more than 98% of the supply of U.S. soybean meal.