South Dakota soybean farmers has announced a partnership with Goodyear to provide soy-based tires to sheriff departments across the state and part of the state fleet. South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council Chair Tim Ostrem says they are excited about this new use for soybean oil,, which replaces 45 percent of the petroleum in the Goodyear all weather tires.
United Soybean Board Secretary David Iverson says the Goodyear tire innovation came from research underwritten by the soybean checkoff.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem says the tires are a new use that will add value to the soybean crop and improve profitability for the state’s farmers.
Noem says the donation also sends a strong message about agriculture’s support of law enforcement in South Dakota.
The soybean industry contribute $2.5 billion to South Dakota’s economy but through new uses like soy based tires soybean farmers hope to push that value to $25 billion in the next decade.
