Accountability matters

Accountability is essential for every business, organization and institution. Unfortunately, it’s waning. This is leading to a crisis of trust throughout society, from media and politics to business, education and associations. The mantra of “The buck stops here” is going the way of the rotary phone, card catalog and DVD. Everyone pays when there’s an absence of trust.

The Iowa Soybean Association prides itself in being accountable to the farmers we serve. I’ve experienced it firsthand since joining Team ISA in 2010. It starts at the top with our 22 farmer directors and CEO and is woven throughout the organization. Budgets and activities are approved by directors. Resources are used judiciously and leveraged to obtain additional public and private support. Expenses are documented and scrutinized. This high level of accountability and trust makes ISA’s operations highly efficient, innovative and effective.

But we must do better, especially as it relates to the collection and administration of the soybean checkoff. Created by farmers in 1991, the checkoff equals one-half percent of the net market value of a bushel of soybeans. Checkoff collections in Iowa are halved between ISA and the United Soybean Board (USB). Total annual collections vary greatly (between $30-40 million) given the checkoff is directly tethered to market prices.

Checkoff support among farmers is strong. Every five years, farmer participation in a referendum on the soybean checkoff falls far, far short of the number needed for a national vote to be held on its continuation. And in ISA’s most recent attitudinal survey of soybean farmers, nearly 3 of 4 respondents expressed satisfaction with the checkoff’s purpose and performance.

These results are encouraging but don’t tell the whole story. Confidence in the soybean checkoff as measured in ISA’s survey is down 10 points from just four years ago. Increasingly, farmers express concerns that ISA is too influenced by industry, not working in the interest of small farmers and lacks transparency about checkoff expenditures. A growing number of farmers also admit to not knowing enough about the checkoff or ISA to even render an opinion.

With the start of a new year, ISA rededicates itself to being more transparent about the checkoff and how it’s used. ISA will:

• Begin publishing an annual summary of Iowa checkoff collections and how they are allocated.

• Frequently connect the dots between checkoff collections and how they are leveraged to benefit farmers. For example, a $200,000 investment of checkoff resources last year by ISA, USB and other state soybean boards generated $26 million in federal funding to expand rail service at a grain export terminal at the Port of Kalama (Washington). The project will enhance the movement of grains and oilseed by up to 30% during key export months, directly benefiting soybean farmers.

• Encourage greater dialogue with soybean farmers in more places so they can ask questions and get answers pertaining to the checkoff.

• Engage first purchasers more directly about the checkoff and provide resources they in turn can share with farmers.

Accountability matters. The start of a new year is a great time for ISA to step up its efforts. Tell me if I’m on the right track or share additional ways we can tell the checkoff story more effectively and earn your trust as a soybean farmer by e-mailing me at aputze@iasoybeans.com.