A checkoff-centric Q&A with Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) Director Corey Hanson, a Norman County producer who joined the Council in July 2024.  

Read below to find out his thoughts on how the soy checkoff works Behind the Dollar to improve farmer profitability. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.    

Q: Give us a quick background on your farm. 

Corey Hanson:  

I work on my family farm my dad bought in spring 1965, and I’ve been here all my life. We grow soybeans, wheat, corn and alfalfa. We have about 80 beef cows. We are a cow/calf unit. My dad is still a part of the farm, he’s 91 years old. My brother is also part of the farm, and he works off the farm for BASF Chemical.  

Q: What region of the state do you represent on the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council? How long have you been on the board? 

CH: I represent the northwest region, Districts 1, 2 & 3. I’ve been on the Council since this spring and on the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association board since 2011 before retiring from MSGA during the August board meeting. 

Q: Why did you decide to run for the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council? 

CH: I ran for the Council to learn more and do more with Minnesota soybeans to better help farmers and to have a little more working knowledge of Minnesota Soybean. I worked with the Growers’ side for a long time, and then I wanted to move over to the Council.  Kris Folland, the former person who represented this area decided not to run, so I looked at it as an opportunity.  

Q: Why do you feel the checkoff is critical to Minnesota’s soybean farmers? 

CH: I think the checkoff is critical in many aspects. One, I sit on a research team, so research is always exciting to me. I want to show farmers through research projects, how some genetics are better and different trials, whether it’s on soybean cyst nematode or iron deficiency chlorosis or on cover crop usage. I really like the portion of the new uses and new markets of trying to get other countries to buy from us. 

I’m excited to go on the trade mission to Europe to try to convince foreign country buyers that they should buy not only United States soybeans, but northern United States soybeans. We also want to see if we can work through the Port of Duluth, which would really help our soybeans in the northern part of Minnesota. It would give us another place to move soybeans.  

Q: How does the board ensure checkoff dollars are invested responsibly? 

CH: As one of 13 board members, it’s our responsibility when we get elected to the board to make sure we have the best outlook for not only our region, but all of Minnesota, because that’s where all of our checkoff dollars are coming from, to try to make sure that we’re doing the best job for all soybean farmers, not just a select few. 

Q: How has directing checkoff funds raised your awareness of the soy checkoff? 

CH: I’ve become more aware through the publicity, or the good promotion that’s come out of Minnesota Soybean. Working on the different campaigns has made me aware of the various new uses and products that are out there and the trade missions that the Council has gone on.  

Q: What project(s) are you most proud of that you have seen since being on the board? 

CH: The Driving Soy tire campaign was great and before I was on the board, but the one that really touched my heart was the Stepping Up Skechers shoe campaign. When we went into nursing homes and facilities like that and gave them to the not (just) frontline, but second line and third line workers, like our cooks and our housekeeping staff, the comments like, “Are you really giving these to me? Can I take them home? Are they really mine, or do I have leave them here?” Comments like that just touched my heart. 

Q: Many checkoff investments are made to impact our future growers. What are some checkoff-supported projects coming down the pipeline that you’re excited about? 

CH: The new uses, whether it’s through Goodyear soy tires that we’ve had as promotions, or through the soy-based Skechers shoes, the newest thing I’m really excited to bring to our county is going to be the SoyFoam that helps firefighters across America, whether it’s rural America or not, it helps firefighters fight fires more efficiently. So that’s going to be the next big, exciting thing for me.  

Q: What do you think the biggest misconception other farmers have about the soy checkoff program? How would you respond to their concerns? 

CH: The other day someone called me to say that the Minnesota checkoff is around to send people on foreign trips and go places. My answer was, we go on trade missions to promote your soybeans, soymeal and soy oil to get used elsewhere. It’s about trying to spread the word of the good things the checkoff is doing, like research and new uses.  

Q: Where can another farmer go to get more information on how their dollars are being spent? 

CH: They can talk to their local Council representative. They can look us up on the website at mnsoybean.org.