Starbuck farmer Paul Freeman, a veteran of agriculture leadership, is serving his second term as a director with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC). In his role on MSR&PC, Freeman is embracing the responsibility of directing checkoff funds and learning more about how the checkoff goes Behind the Dollar to improve his operation and those of his fellow farmers.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Can you give us a quick background on your farm?
Paul Freeman: I farm a soybean and corn rotation in west central Minnesota.
Q: What region of the state do you represent on the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council? How long have you been on the board?
PF: This is my fourth year on the Council, and I represent District 4, which encompasses the middle-western side of the state.
Q: Why did you decide to run for the Council?
PF: I had spent a fair amount of time on the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, from 2008 to 2021, and served as president. I felt it was time to focus my efforts on the research side of things because finding new uses and new markets is really important to the farmers.
Q: Why do you feel the checkoff is critical to Minnesota’s soybean farmers?
PF: We’re investing in a lot of things the typical farmer doesn’t always think about, such as putting soy oil in tires and shoes and now using soy flour for firefighting foam. The checkoff plays a critical role in bringing those new products to market.
Q: How does the board ensure checkoff dollars are invested responsibly?
PF: We have self-auditing programs such as See For Yourself, which gives Council members a chance to see how their checkoff investments are being spent. We also make our researchers available during events such as MN Ag Expo so that farmers can visit with them and learn about the checkoff funded research projects they are conducting.
Q: How has directing checkoff funds raised your awareness of the soy checkoff?
PF: We have a very large board of 15 directors, each with their own specialized background, which helps because I learned just how diverse the Council needs to be because we don’t put all their focus on one thing. It’s usually multiple things at one time such as transportation or new uses or pest research. There’s a lot more going on than meets the eye.
Q: What project(s) are you most proud of that you have seen since being on the board?
PF: My specialty has been transportation. I’ve been involved with the Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA) for a number of years as well because as a soybean farmer I want to keep my product moving. We’ve supported projects to improve transportation on the Mississippi River because it’s the most efficient way to move our soybeans.
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?
PF: Right now, we’re trying to leverage our market footprint in Europe. We have a direct corridor to get to the EU in less than 20 days via the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Port of Duluth.
Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception other farmers have about the soy checkoff program? How would you respond to their concerns?
PF: Farmers are always concerned about financials. They see the checkoff money coming out of their check and want to know it’s being spent wisely, but the rate of return they get from that half of a percentage is huge. For every dollar that gets spent they get $12.34 in return from those investments. And if the farmer isn’t investing in their product, then who is going to? That’s what makes the soy checkoff program so important.
Q: Where can another farmer go to receive more information on how their checkoff dollars are being spent?
PF: I’d tell them to get to know who is representing them on the Council and have a conversation with them. We always have time to talk about what we’re doing in regards to the checkoff. There is also lots of information on our website, mnsoybean.org.
