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MSMC - About Us

The mission of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) is to improve the profitability of the Missouri soybean producer.
The MSMC is truly a producer-run organization, with 13 farmer-directors overseeing the investment of 50 percent of Missouri’s checkoff dollars. Every farmer serves voluntarily without pay. The directors are elected in a state-wide election to serve three-year terms with a maximum of four terms. Each director represents his or her geographic region. MSMC activities are coordinated through an efficient full-time staff in Jefferson City, Missouri.

The soybean checkoff’s purpose is to give U.S. soybean producers a well-defined marketing, research and commercialization program. It helps to develop additional international markets for soybeans and increase domestic soybean usage. By accomplishing these goals, the soybean checkoff will help to increase the soybean producers’ profitability.

Every U.S. soybean producer participates in the checkoff, contributing at a rate of 0.5 percent of the market price per bushel, when the crop is first sold. Half of all checkoff dollars collected in Missouri remain in Missouri and are controlled by the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. The other half of the checkoff funds is forwarded to the United Soybean Board (USB) where it is combined with funds from across the nation.

Missouri’s share of the checkoff dollars are invested by the MSMC. The USB directs the other 50 percent of Missouri’s soybean checkoff dollars. The USB is run by farmer-directors from throughout the nation. Every producer serves voluntarily without pay. The USB directors are nominated by the state soybean boards (in Missouri, the MSMC) and then appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Three Missouri producers sit on the USB board of directors. USB activities are coordinated through a paid staff in St. Louis.

As a part of the 1990 Farm Bill, a national soybean checkoff began in 1991. The U.S. Congress passed an act to form the soybean checkoff at the request of soybean farmers throughout the nation. In 1994 a vote of U.S. soybean producers was held to determine if the checkoff program should continue. In this referendum, producers voted to continue the program. Refunds to the soybean checkoff were discontinued in 1995 after a poll of producers.

By law, there are only certain areas where soybean checkoff dollars may be spent. Under no circumstance can funds be used for lobbying purposes.

© Missouri Soybean Programs
PO Box 104778
3337 Emerald Lane
Jefferson City, MO 65110
Phone: (573) 635-3819
Fax: (573) 635-5122
email: mosoy@mosoy.org