United Soybean Board
Salutes Animal Agriculture

USB-funded analysis shows animal agriculture's benefits extend far beyond U.S. soybean industry.

The farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff take pride in supporting their partners in the U.S. poultry and livestock industries, particularly during the month of May for Beef and Egg Month. This partnership helps provide the world a safe, affordable and abundant food supply, and generates benefits for the U.S. economy.

U.S. animal agriculture represents the single largest user of U.S. soybeans, consuming nearly 98% of the domestic supply of U.S. soybean meal. The soybean checkoff supports the long-term interests of U.S. poultry and livestock producers in order to improve the stability and success of the U.S. soybean industry.

The Nationwide Economic Impact of Animal Agriculture study, funded by the soybean checkoff, shows the economic value of animal agriculture to communities. Figures from the most recent analysis show the U.S. animal agriculture industry directly employs nearly 230,000 Americans. Other key findings of the study include:

• U.S. poultry and livestock producers spent more than $100 billion on supplies and services that support local jobs.

• Every animal agriculture job supports more than 11 jobs somewhere else in the U.S. economy.

• The overwhelming majority of animal agriculture jobs cannot be easily exported overseas.

• Finally, U.S. animal agriculture paid more than $10 billion in income and sales taxes and more than $6 billion in property taxes.

"Small-town communities rely heavily on local poultry and livestock operations," said Chuck Myers, a Lyons, Neb., soybean producer and member of the USB Domestic Marketing program. "Animal producers support other local producers, manufacturers and service providers, whether it's soybean and corn farmers or the local markets that sell the meat, to transportation companies to veterinarians. It all feeds off itself and creates a lot of opportunities throughout the community."

According to research contained in the latest edition of the USB Market View Database, poultry alone consumed more than 15 million tons of soybean meal, or the equivalent of more than 500 million bushels (bu.) of soybeans. Beef cattle consumed more than 3.9 million tons of soybean meal, which equates to more than 130 million bu. of soybeans.

"With all of the pressures animal producers currently face, it is now more important than ever to support them," Myers said. "As a U.S. soybean farmer, I would much rather feed our product to animals here at home and then export the meat, which contributes to the world food supply and adds value to our soybeans. We definitely want to help make sure the U.S. animal ag industry can stay here. The closer our animal operations are to our farms, the more profitable we are as soybean producers."

USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.

 

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