USING SOYBEANS BEYOND THE FARM

A dollar bill printed from soybean ink; cardboard boxes produced from soybean fiber; and, hot dogs made from soybean protein. These are but a few of the potential new uses that the American soybean industry has found for this diverse farm commodity that remains a critical part of our domestic farm economy. Discovering new consumer and market uses for this environmentally-friendly product is fast becoming a trademark for the versatile soybean and its many byproducts.

Soybean ink has become one of the most promising and environmentally sound agricultural discoveries in recent years. Missouri soybean farmers have long known that ethanol isn't the only farm crop that reduces our dependence on foreign oil. Soy ink is quickly replacing petroleum-based products as both a pollution and energy saving alternative.

In the newspaper business alone, soybean ink is used by over half of the nation's 1,700 daily papers. With a 3 billion dollar newspaper ink market at stake, the potential for this Missouri grown product is nearly unlimited. Certainly, it's time for the federal government to show its support. To do so, I have given my strongest support to the Vegetable Ink Printing Act. This measure directs all federal agencies to utilize all-soy newsprint inks in the millions of pounds of paper products printed annually by the federal government.

Missouri soybean producers have long believed in the vast potential uses for this important domestic crop. Through science, we are unlocking new and future uses for the American soybean, and this means expanded markets and profits for the Missouri farmer. Once again, the American agricultural producer has found a way to give consumers what they need, reduce domestic pollution, and lessen our dependence on foreign oil sources -- ensuring appropriate federal support for these farming objectives remains my ultimate goal.