By ANN ALLEN
Indiana Correspondent

CLAYPOOL, Ind. — Kip Tom, president of Tom Farms of Leesburg and a member of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., hailed the opening of Louis Dreyfus Commodities’ soybean processing and biofuel plant.

“Biofuels are the renaissance of our rural communities and one of the economic pillars revitalizing rural America and the entire ag industry,” Tom said.

“Louis Dreyfus’ commitment to this plant is proof of that. In a single year, this plant will purchase over $450 million worth of Hoosier soybeans. Having LD Commodities a part of Kosciusko County means new family wage jobs for employees and important new markets for our farmers.”

Others were equally optimistic, seeing the plant’s opening as big news for Hoosier soybean producers.

“This is a huge moment for our state’s farmers,” said Indiana Soybean Alliance President Mark Seib. “The big buzz right now is biofuels. Soy biodiesel is a U.S. product. It’s a farm product. It’s grown here and it’s renewable.”

“The state’s 27,000 soybean farmers will benefit from Louis Dreyfus’ investment here in northern Indiana,” said Seib, a Poseyville, Ind. farmer.

Predicting the plant will become a major market for soybeans in the state as well as a major supplier of soybean meal, he added,
“This is a benefit to our state’s livestock industry.”

Mary Lou Smith, an United Soybean Board director and soybean farmer from Petersburg, Mich., who accompanied a group of USB directors from across the country to the grand opening, predicted the plant will be a great benefit not only to Indiana farmers but also to farmers across the nation.

“Its capacity will call for soybeans from beyond the local area,” she said. USB, made up of 64 farmer-directors, oversees the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in areas of animal, human and industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply.

As stated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Customer Information Act, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.

This farm news was published in the Aug. 29, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.