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Ludwig Named NAMA's 2007 Agribusiness Leader of the Year For Immediate Release: March 5, 2007 OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has named Dale R. Ludwig, executive director/CEO of the Missouri Soybean Association and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, the 2007 Agribusiness Leader of the Year. This award, which is NAMA's highest honor, will be presented at the Opening General Session of the 2007 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Think Big!,” April 12, 2007 in Dallas, TX. The award honors outstanding leaders in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas who exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry. Ludwig is a visionary leader with a proven record of building coalitions to improve Missouri agriculture. He helped forge producer/agribusiness partnerships that have positioned Missouri as a leader in biodiesel production. In addition, he pioneered the effort to identify new traits in soybeans through biotechnology and helped re-position the U.S. soybean commodity with competitive advantages over global competitors. Ludwig’s understanding of two changes in agriculture – renewable fuels and biotechnology – created unique approaches to agribusiness research and development as well as farmer involvement in business formation and execution. Ludwig assisted producers and the industry in raising $100 million to finance 10 value-added, new-generation businesses, ranging from biodiesel joint ventures to functional food companies and from identity-preserved grains to dairy. His vision of independent producers funding research and development and investing in farmer-owned businesses led to strategic positions and implementation of new opportunities for producers such as the development of the QUALISOY™ board. QUALISOY is an industry-wide initiative to transform the commodity with better traits in an effort to combat the trans fat issue associated with hydrogenated soybean oil. Ludwig is encouraged to look beyond the stated address. “The emphasis
on biofuels was not surprising to me as Governor Blunt has been a longtime
supporter and visionary in this area. Such clear state support of biofuels
makes me confident of MSA’s work in trying to get the B5 standard
passed.” The legislation for that standard (SB 204) is sponsored
by Senator Bill Stouffer (R-Napton) and would require all diesel fuel
sold in the state of Missouri on or after January 1, 2009, to contain
a minimum of five percent biodiesel. The standard would be waived in
the event that the price of biodiesel exceeds the price of petroleum-based
diesel fuel. The Missouri Soybean Association and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising
Council are located in Jefferson City, Mo. The MSA is an organization
of members whose purpose is to positively impact legislative and
policy issues affecting Missouri soybean producers. The MSMC is comprised
of 13 farmer-volunteers who were elected to oversee the investment
of soybean checkoff dollars. # # # |
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