Consumers Support Soybean Farmers and Biodiesel

The “National Agriculture Image Survey” indicated 82 per cent of consumers agree foreign oil-producing countries and the high cost of fuel impacting farming and processing, packaging, storing and shipping food are to blame for food price increases, not U.S. farmers.

Other key findings show 77 per cent of consumers favor the use of biodiesel as a source of energy that can meet our needs in the next 5 to 10 years; 74 per cent of consumers were more favorable toward biodiesel after hearing it benefits the environment; and 70 per cent of consumers were more favorable toward biodiesel after hearing it’s a new green industry that creates jobs.

USB Vice Chairman and Nebraska soybean farmer Chuck Myers says that many consumers may not understand how soybean prices affect food costs. “Demand for soy biodiesel has very little impact on the price of food,” said Mr Myers.

“A soybean consists mostly of protein-rich meal, and 98 per cent of that meal is used to feed animals that produce food such as poultry, pork, beef and fish.” In addition to providing animal feed, US soy is also a source for global food products such as soymilk, tofu and other primary sources of human protein.

Biodiesel production, Myers explains, does not have an impact on the production of soy-based foods.

“A soybean checkoff study found that demand for biodiesel made from soybean oil increases the supply of soybean meal, which will be largely used to produce more food ‑ not less,” Mr Myers said.

“US soybean farmers are estimated to have sown 74.5 million acres this year to help meet global food demand.”

The survey was conducted by Foley & Lardner LLP and Wilson Research Strategies. Respondents completed an online survey and were drawn from a representative Internet panel. Interviews were completed in late May. The study had a sample size of 800 people, with a margin of error of +/-3.46 per cent. The surveyed participants range in age from 18 to 75 and were split 50/50 in gender and political party affiliation. They also varied greatly in geographic region.

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