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Building Momentum: Missouri Soybean Leaders Pave the Way for Expanding Markets and New Opportunities

By Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council

While Missouri soybean growers across the state work hard to grow a successful soybean crop, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) staff and farmers work together as thought leaders to create and expand demand for soybeans domestically and internationally.

Matt Amick, director of market development for MSMC, provides a wealth of updates on the latest market development initiatives that are driving demand for Missouri-grown soybeans. Amick is specifically focused on growing and developing new markets for Missouri soybeans in the areas of domestic crush, domestic livestock, international exports, biofuels, industrial uses and more. 

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Domestic crush, domestic livestock and biofuels are three really key areas right now when we are talking about building demand for Missouri soybeans.
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Matt Amick
Director of Market Development

Biofuel is Here to Stay 

The state of Missouri is ranked No. 2 in biodiesel production in the U.S. and has a lot of opportunities to utilization in-state. 

“As demand for soybean oil related to biofuels production has increased, we’ve seen more announcements and expansion of soybean crush capacity in the U.S., and we’ve taken note of that in Missouri over the last several years and continue to look for new opportunities for crush capacity increases in Missouri.” 

Market dynamics are challenging the market right now, but Amick is optimistic about new growth opportunities ahead. 

One of the opportunities Missouri Soybeans is working toward is a grant to enhance storage capacity and dispensing capabilities for biodiesel. 

“The Missouri Biofuels Infrastructure Incentive Program (BIIP) grants are through Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority and are available for entities like fuel retailers, terminals, fuel suppliers and fleets to utilize more biodiesel,” said Amick. 

Biofuels are here to stay.  

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We know the move to decarbonize the transportation sector is not going to go away and is going to continue to grow.
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Matt Amick
Director of Market Development

Our Biggest Customer 

It won’t come as a surprise that livestock is one of the biggest customers of Missouri soybeans, which is why it continues to be an area of priority. 

“We partner with our livestock sector often. Right now, we are working with Missouri Partnership to expand livestock processing through a partnership with Missouri Farmers Care,” Amick shared. 

He explained that Missouri Soybeans, Missouri Farmers Care and MSMC have partnered with Missouri Partnership, a public-private arm of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The goal of the partnership is to expand commodity utilization as new businesses come to the state of Missouri. 

“Missouri Partnership is focused on ways businesses will use more commodities like soybeans in their operations,” Amick added. “As they find new food and ag companies, that helps expand demand for soybeans.” 

“Whether it’s hogs, poultry, dairy or beef, when they’re doing well and expanding, that means more opportunities for soybeans and soybean meal to be used in feed rations for livestock.” 

Driving Domestic Crush 

According to Amick, the economics of soybean crush have changed in the last several years. 

“It used to be that [soybean] oil would drag down soybean prices; it was a smaller portion of the crush margin. Now, with biofuels expansion across the United States, we are seeing that soybean oil takes a bigger piece of that crush margin.” 

To expand their efforts on soybean and soybean meal promotion internationally, MSMC partners with organizations like the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH). 

“USSEC’s goal is to market soybean meal and products through international markets,” Amick explained. “They work in growing and mature markets to expand feed and food utilization and also work on market access issues related to quality, biotech acceptance and can work on the regulatory side to help open markets.” 

On the other hand, “The goal of WISHH is to start in emerging markets, places like sub-Saharan Africa,” he said. Because soy is a lower-cost protein, WISHH works to provide education and information to increase accessibility of soybeans for food and feed. 

At the end of the day, a win for Missouri soybean growers is a win for the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. 

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We continue to work with companies to expand domestic crush, domestic livestock and biofuels utilization. We are thankful to the Missouri soybean farmers who support the soybean checkoff, and we know that soybean farmers rely on us to help build new demand for their products across the world.
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Matt Amick
Director of Market Development

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