Third generation Potomac area farmer Bryan Severs will be serving as Chairman of the Illinois Soybean Association for the next year. And like so many other farmers in this number one soybean producing state, innovation for new uses for soybeans, especially the 20% part of the bean that produces soybean oil, is quite high on his priority list.
Severs cited an example of one product that he feels is ready to take off; and that’s a grease gun lubricant, made from soybeans, that farmers will be able to use themselves.
AUDIO: It’s getting to the point where we passed all the tests that we have to test with it. And hopefully, we’ll be able to soon get that on the market. That’ll help.
As for the 80% part of the bean that produces soybean meal, it’s always a matter of getting the product where it’s needed. He says there’s plenty of a market worldwide for animal protein made from soybeans; so exports are a big part of the story. And that means constantly watching what other soybean producing countries are doing, what other countries need import wise; and of course big time issues affecting the whole picture, like tariffs. Severs says the big key is to just keep communicating with everyone.
AUDIO: Where we go talk to people in foreign countries across the ocean; trying to get them to buy our meal, or buy whole beans if they have processing plants. They want protein. They need our soybean meal for the fish, for chickens, and things like that.
As well as being the top soybean state, Illinois is known for being the number two corn producing state behind Iowa. Severs himself grows about 50% corn and 50% soybeans annually. And during his year leading the Illinois Soybean Association, he’d love to see even more working together with the Illinois Corn Growers Association, when it comes to going to bat for the Illinois farmer.
AUDIO: That’s part of what I want to see happen is collaboration. When we go into an office in Springfield or Washington, DC; going together always gives you a better chance of getting your message across. “Better together,” is something that I feel very strongly about.
Bryan Severs’ term as Chairman of the Illinois Soybean Association runs from July of this year through July of next year.
