In an effort to get people to spend time watching the vast video wasteland, television programmers have a whole new type of game show. These shows test different aspects of individual people. Some, like Survivor, test their strength and stamina; others, like Fear Factor, test their willingness to degrade themselves. And still more, like Deal or No Deal, test their greed. At least one, called Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader, tests people’s intelligence. Since each time one of these shows becomes a hit there are a dozen spin-offs, I would like to suggest that RFD-TV (the rural satellite channel) produce a show called Are You Smarter than a Soybean.

As I envision it, this program would have a soybean farmer face off against a field of soybeans, to test the farmer’s knowledge of the crop he grows and the industry he supports. You would think that most soybean growers would know a lot about their crop and their industry. Considering that in 2005 producers forked over $82.7 million to fund research and promotion programs through the soybean checkoff, one would think it would be hard to fool a soybean farmer. Yet, there are indications that this is not the case.

Certainly producers know how to grow soybeans. Soybean yields have increased from 30 bushels per acre in 1980 to 42.7 bushels per acre in 2006. Indiana farmers are among the most productive with an average state yield of 50.0 bushels per acre, just behind Iowa which tops the nation at 50.5 bushels per acre. Soybean acreage has also been steadily rising, accounting for 29 percent of crop area planted in 2006. The area where soybean farmers may have trouble beating their leafy legumes is in the area of soybean usage.

According to the American Soybean Association, there is a serious lack of understanding on where those soybeans go after they leave the farm. Livestock represents the largest customer for U.S. soybean growers chewing up 30.5 metric tons of soybeans. Poultry and swine account for the majority of this demand. In Indiana alone, livestock account for 800,000 tons of soybean meal demand.

With the livestock industry facing serious challenges from radical environmentalists, animal rights nutcases, and misinformed neighbors, the soybean farmer’s biggest customer is in danger. In an effort to rally support, the soybean checkoff has launched a campaign called the Animal Agriculture Initiative. This public awareness, educational campaign is designed to educate and motivate soybean producers to support the livestock industry. In addition to radio and print ads, a website has been developed to provide a great deal of information. Located at www.animalag.org, the site is interactive and can be localized with information about your state and industry. This use of checkoff funds is unique and represents a new era in cooperation in agriculture. Soybean leaders should be commended for recognizing the interdependence of agriculture and for being willing to put their money where their mouth is.

This website is also a great place for soybean producers to study before coming on my new game show. After all, the soybean is a very intelligent plant.

It can tell time without a watch, and, unlike some Hoosiers I know, is not confused by daylight savings time. You might want to study up a bit so you can say you are smarter than a soybean.

Readers with questions or comments for Gary Truitt may write to him in care of this publication.

This farm news was published in the June 2, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.