The farmer leaders of the United Soybean Board convened for its summer board meeting on July 26-27 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to approve a 2023 fiscal year budget of $123 million dollars for program work, starting October 1, 2022.  Spanning eight portfolios, these investments in research, education, and promotion add value to U-S soybeans with the goal to build resilience, differentiation and reputation.  This portfolio ladders up to USB’s new vision of delivering sustainable soy solutions to ever life, every day.  Investment portfolios will continue the board’s work of creating consistent, long-term domestic and global market opportunities further demand for U-S grown soybeans.  Ralph Lott, USB chairman and a farmer from New York says, “Our thinking, planning and work as a board has become a much more deliberate and idea-driven process, challenging our board members to think big.  Each portfolio is farmer-directed and works together to create demand for U-S soybeans across the entire global soy value chain.  We’ve successfully shifted from project takers to portfolio makers, and the end result is more strategic thinking.  The preference for US soybeans grows while farmers continue to see strong ROI on their checkoff dollars.”  Investment portfolios are approved by the full board and consist of programs across Supply and Demand Action Teams driven by the three priority areas of 1) Innovation and Technology, 2) Health and Nutrition, and 3) Infrastructure and Connectivity.  FY23 programs impact everything from improving production on the farm to expanding markets across animal agriculture, soyfoods, and providing a renewable alternative for biofuels and nonfood uses.