September 1995
In This Issue:
COMING SOON!!!
- As part of the board’s continuing commitment to keeping Arkansas soybean producers
informed about how your checkoff dollars are being used, don’t miss the first issue of
"Soybeans Today". This new tabloid publication, which is being produced by the
Cooperative Extension Service, will provide you with the lastest information on results of
research funded by your checkoff. With plans to be produced annually, the maiden issue
of "Soybeans Today" is due to be mailed to each Arkansas producer in early January,
1996. Watch your mailbox for this informative, easy-to-read publication.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that results of a July 26 nationwide
poll of soybean producers indicate that producers do not want a refund referendum to
decide if refunds should continue.
As a result, producers will not be entitled to refunds on soybeans sold on or after Oct. 1,”
said Lon Hatamiya, administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which
oversees research and promotion programs.
Hatamiya said a refund referendum would only have been held only if at least 20 percent
of the 381,000 producers nationwide signed the poll. Only 48,782 soybean producers
participated in the poll - far short of the 76,200 required to trigger a refund referendum.
Depending on each state’s refund requirements, producers should have at least 30 days
after the date of sale to request refunds on any soybeans sold prior to Oct. 1. Since the
requirements vary, it is important for producers seeking refunds to contact their Qualified
State Soybean Board or the United Soybean Board concerning the deadline for requesting
refunds, Hatamiya said.
AMS conducted the poll in cooperation with the Consolidated Farm Service Agency.
Assessments generated under the program finance promotion, research and consumer
information activities to strengthen the soybean industry’s position in the marketplace.
The results of the producer poll and the Oct. 1 effective date for discontinuing refunds are
scheduled to be published in the Federal Register in September. For copies, contact Ralph
Tapp, Chief, Marketing Programs Branch, Livestock and Seed Division, AMS, USDA, P.
O. Box 96456, Room 2606-S, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; telephone 202/720-1115.
In Arkansas, 743 producers expressed a desire for a refund referendum. Based on the
above announcement, producers in Arkansas will have 45 days after the date of sale to
request refunds on any soybeans sold prior to Oct. 1, 1995. As in the past, all refund
requests must be submitted on a refund request form, which can be obtained from the
Miscellaneous Tax Section, Department of Finance and Administration, and must be
accompanied by supporting documentation such as the settlement sheet.
The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board held their regular summer meeting on August
13-14, 1995, in Fayetteville. A business session of the Board was held Sunday evening,
August 13, and a tour of Board-funded research and research committee sessions with
project leaders was held Monday, August 14.
Highlights of the business session were as follows:
- Authorization of funding advances to the University of Arkansas, Agricultural
Experiment Station, for 1996 research funding once reserves are rebuilt to $100,000;
- FY95 audit recently completed by Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit and no
findings were reported;
- Authorization for reimbursement of travel expenses for Board members attending
Board meetings;
- Progress report on development of a new logo for the Arkansas program;
- No action taken on a project proposal submitted by the National BioDiesel Board for
biodiesel coordination work in Arkansas;
- Election of officers for 1995-96 as follows:
- Stanley Reed, Chairman
- Roger Pohlner, Vice-chairman
- Art Simpson, Secretary-Treasurer
- Status report on a new publication "Soybean Today" to be produced by the
Cooperative Extension Service highlighting checkoff-funded research results;
- Decision to not hold the annual Arkansas Soybean Research Conference in 1995 since
both the Tri-State Soybean Forum and the Southern Soybean Conference are being
held in or near Arkansas next winter;
- Report that Arkansas soybean checkoff information is now available over the Internet
in conjunction with the USB-funded project, "StratSoy" which has a goal of
developing a soybean database that can be accessed through the Internet.
The following dates may be of interest to Arkansas soybean producers:
- Dec. 6, 1995 - Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board Meeting, Farm Bureau Center,
Little Rock, AR
- Jan. 5, 1996 - Tri-State Soybean Forum, Dumas, AR
- Feb. 7-9, 1996 - Southern Soybean Conference, Memphis, TN
Members of the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board for 1995-96 are:
- Stanley Reed, Marianna, Chairman
- Roger Pohlner, Fisher, Vice-Chairman
- Art Simpson, Marked Tree, Secretary-Treasurer
- Jerry Ford, Lake Village
- Joe Kirksey, Mulberry
- Bryan Moery, Wynne
- Paul McCutchen, Parkin
- Mary Ratcliffe, Sweet Home
- David Walt, Dumas
Staffing Provided By:
- Ewell Welch
- Arkansas Farm Bureau
- P.O. Box 31
- Little Rock, AR 72203
Highlights of major actions taken at the last meeting of the United Soybean Board held in
St. Louis, Missouri, July 28-August 1, 1995, are as follows:
- FY96 USB budget totaling $26,100,000 was established to be submitted to USDA-
AMS for approval. International Market Development, $9,525,000; New Uses,
$3,825,000; Domestic Market Development, $5,825,000; Production, $3,825,000;
Producer Communications $1,390,000; USDA Oversight $125,000; Uncommitted
$210,000, Administrative, $1,305,000. Several International, New Uses, Domestic
and Production contractor and subcontractor implementation and direct cost projects
were approved.
- For Trade Analysis, Sparks Companies will do a Trade & Market Barrier Consultancy
to China; John Baize will do a Blair House Agreement and Possible Expansion of
European Union Consultancy; and Fleishmann-Hillard will be monitoring other
Regulatory Actions in the European Union. Paul Fuller will provide implementation
services for FY96.
- Osborn & Barr were selected as USB’s FY96 Producer Communications Contractor.
Fleishmann-Hillard was selected as USB’s FY96 Producer Communications
Leadership Development Contractor. Trent-Jones’ contract/projects will be ending by
September 1 with their remaining expenses for open projects not to exceed $240,000.
- USB will cease national funding for the VSP (Volunteer Soy Promoters) Program, but
encourages the states with active programs to continue.
- For Audit & Evaluation, Abel, Daft, Early & Ward International will provide a Global
MPP Consultancy.
- Per South Dakota QSSB’s request, USB will conduct a compliance audit of their
FY95 activities as soon as possible.
- The Board authorized $220,000 to the Executive Committee to expend for computer
equipment and training recommended by SMRP, Inc. Upon determination by the
Executive Committee that the SMRP, Inc. management study recommendations
related to contract services have been implemented by ASA to a satisfactory level.
$68,000 was allocated to fund a contract for SMRP’s Inc.’s services to assist in the
implementation of the study’s recommendations.
- A $1,305,000 USB FY96 Line Item Administrative budget was also approved (5% of
$26,100,000).