South Dakota Farmer Leader Elected Vice Chair of Northern Soy Marketing

Jul 10, 2024

It’s a new era of growth for Northern Soy Marketing (NSM).

During its June board meeting in Bloomington, Minn., the NSM board elected officers for Fiscal Year 25, which began July 1. South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (SDSRPC) Chairman David Struck was appointed as NSM vice chair.

“NSM represents the northern tier of soybean states,” Struck said, “so I’m eager to serve as vice chair and continue giving soybean growers in our member states their own voice.”

As a member of NSM, SDSRPC is investing checkoff dollars toward strengthening export market opportunities for soybeans leaving the U.S. via the Pacific Northwest through education.

“Investing South Dakota soybean checkoff dollars in NSM membership means that our soybean growers have a partner that works around the clock to educate international purchasers about the nutritional and financial advantages of northern-grown soy,” Struck said.

Minnesota farmer Glen Groth (pronounced Growth) was elected as chair, replacing Benson, Minn., farmer Patrick O’Leary, who remains on the board as a director.

“I’m excited to represent NSM and continue promoting our soy quality message to our international customers,” said Groth, who farms near Ridgeway.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.