South Dakota Soybean

What South Dakota Soybean does

South Dakota Soybean is a farmer-led agricultural checkoff organization headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, operating through two affiliated entities: the South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (SDSRPC), which administers checkoff-funded research, market development, and promotion programs, and the South Dakota Soybean Association (SDSA), which serves as the voluntary membership body handling advocacy and producer engagement. Founded in 1982 as the 25th American Soybean Association state affiliate, the organization represents soybean growers across nine governance districts through grassroots programs including Shop Talks (a state-wide grassroots event series launched in 2020), the Young Leader Program (a two-phase leadership pipeline co-sponsored with Corteva Agriscience), the Genesis Leaders Program (a four-seminar leadership series with SDARL, December 2025 through March 2026), and the annual Soybean Yield and Quality Contest.

The organization's core "product surface" is a portfolio of programmatic services rather than a technology platform: consumer-facing initiatives (Hungry for Truth), content/media properties (The Soybean Pod podcast, Checkoff Check-In web series, South Dakota Ag Minute, Scoop on Soy newsletter, South Dakota Soybean Leader magazine), educational resources (free agriculture curriculum with lab kits for educators, Soil Health School scholarships), and administrative infrastructure for the checkoff itself (the Checkoff Remittance System for grain elevators, the Yield Contest Online Portal). Technology is described in the source material as "not applicable" — the organization operates no proprietary AI or software product, and its primary data assets come from USMEF-partnered livestock-export research and Northern Soy Marketing's nutritional benchmarking of northern-grown vs. Brazilian soybeans.

South Dakota Soybean's revenue model is a mandatory producer assessment: soybean farmers contribute one-half of one percent (.005) of the bushel price at first point of sale, collected by grain elevators and remitted quarterly, with funds split evenly between the South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the United Soybean Board. SDSA membership dues and ancillary program revenue (Yield Contest entry fees, Genesis Leaders tuition, Soybean Open sponsorships) are supplementary. The organization has no parent company, no outside investors, and is not publicly traded. Strategic partnerships anchor its reach, including the United Soybean Board and American Soybean Association at the national level, South Dakota State University and the Raven Precision Agriculture Center for research, U.S. Meat Export Federation for export-market development, Northern Soy Marketing for Southeast Asia (Vietnam) market access, and Corteva Agriscience for leadership programming.

Name

South Dakota Soybean

Legal name

South Dakota Soybean

Website

https://sdsoybean.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

South Dakota Soybean is a farmer-led agricultural checkoff organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in Sioux Falls, serving soybean growers across South Dakota through checkoff-funded research, market development, advocacy, and leadership programs including the Young Leader Program, Genesis Leaders Program, and Soybean Yield and Quality Contest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Checkoff Programs

NAICS

Soybean Farming (11111), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112), Farm Management Services (115116)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Soybean Farming (AFAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Supply Chain, Marketing & Contracting Advisory (Grain/Livestock Marketing) (AFACAJAH)

Keywords

• Agricultural checkoff programs
• Soybean market development
• Farmer advocacy services
• Soybean research funding
• Leadership development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sioux Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Soybean Checkoff Assessment: The primary funding mechanism is the soybean checkoff, where soybean farmers contribute one-half of 1 percent (.005) of the price of each bushel at the first point of sale for farmer-driven research and promotional activities. Funds are split evenly between the South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (SDSRPC) and the United Soybean Board (USB). This is a mandatory assessment collected by first purchasers (grain elevators) and reported quarterly to maximize profit opportunities for soybean farmers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

South Dakota Soybean is a farmer-led agricultural checkoff organization that funds and delivers soybean research, market development, advocacy, and education on behalf of South Dakota soybean producers. It administers leadership development programs (Young Leader, Genesis Leaders), the annual Soybean Yield and Quality Contest, grassroots Shop Talks events, consumer-facing initiatives (Hungry for Truth, Checkoff Check-In, The Soybean Pod podcast), and policy advocacy at state and national levels.

Product overview

South Dakota Soybean is an agricultural membership organization offering a portfolio of programs and services for soybean farmers. Its core offerings include the Young Leader Program and Genesis Leaders Program for leadership development, the annual Soybean Yield and Quality Contest for producer recognition, and Shop Talks as grassroots engagement events. Additional services include the Checkoff Remittance System for checkoff fee collection, the Yield Contest Online Portal for contest registration, and educational resources like the Agriculture Curriculum. The organization also runs consumer-facing initiatives including the Hungry for Truth conversation program, the Checkoff Check-In web series, The Soybean Pod podcast, and the See For Yourself program. Publications include the South Dakota Soybean Leader magazine. These offerings work together to support farmer leadership development, market development, consumer education, and industry advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hungry for Truth: An initiative by the South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council designed to open conversations between farmers and South Dakotans about food and farming. Funded exclusively by South Dakota soybean farmers through the soybean checkoff.
• Checkoff Check-In
• The Soybean Pod

Products and services

• Young Leader Program A two-phase leadership training program sponsored by ASA and Corteva Agriscience for actively farming couples or individuals passionate about the future of agriculture, with spouses encouraged to participate regardless of employment status on the farm.
• Genesis Leaders Program A four-seminar leadership development program running from December 2025 through March 2026, designed to develop leaders for the soybean industry and delivered in partnership with the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (SDARL) program.
• Soybean Yield and Quality Contest Annual contest recognizing and rewarding South Dakota's top soybean producers, encouraging innovative management practices and providing valuable agronomic data. Entry fee is $25; youth entries are free. Quality testing is provided by South Dakota Soybean Processors.
• Shop Talks Grassroots event series launched in 2020 that brings vital information and meaningful connections directly to soybean producers across South Dakota.
• Hungry for Truth Consumer-facing initiative designed to open conversations between farmers and South Dakotans about food and farming, funded exclusively by South Dakota soybean farmers through the soybean checkoff.
• Checkoff Check-In Web series sponsored by South Dakota soybean producers through the checkoff, showcasing the many different ways agriculture makes a positive impact on communities across the state, featuring segments like Around Here, In the Field, and Bean Market Insights.
• The Soybean Pod Podcast discussing the incredible soybean, the people who grow it, and why the crop is so important, hosted by Tom Steever and available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud.
• See For Yourself Program designed to give South Dakota soybean farmers hands-on opportunity to learn about their customers and the soybean checkoff's role in marketing, including Pacific Northwest export tours.
• Agriculture Curriculum Free agriculture curriculum for educators covering ten diverse topics including soybean composition, diseases, and applications in aquaculture, food processing, and biofuels production, with lab kits included.
• South Dakota Soybean Leader Magazine Quarterly magazine publication covering news, updates, and stories related to the South Dakota soybean industry, distributed to subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• $66 per acre contribution to South Dakota soybeans from pork exports alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Soybean Board (USB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe soybean checkoff funds are split evenly between the South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the United Soybean Board. USB coordinates national soybean research and promotion efforts, supporting market development, sustainability initiatives, and demand growth for U.S. soybeans globally.
• American Soybean Association (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASA is the national advocacy organization for soybean farmers. South Dakota Soybean Association is affiliated with ASA, providing representation at the federal level for farm policy, trade, and regulatory issues affecting soybean producers.
• South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership Program (SDARL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Soybean Checkoff has partnered with SDARL to deliver the Genesis Leaders Program, a custom leadership program for soybean growers consisting of four dynamic seminars from December 2025 through March 2026.
• Corteva AgrisciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorteva Agriscience sponsors the Young Leader Program alongside ASA. Phase I of the program is held at Corteva's Global Business Center in Johnston, Iowa. The program provides leadership training for actively farming couples or individuals.
• South Dakota Soybean ProcessorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Dakota Soybean Processors sponsors the Soybean Yield and Quality Contest and provides quality testing for the quality contest portion. They crush 200,000 bushels of soybeans daily and test for Estimated Processed Value (EPV) from oil and protein content.
• U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Dakota soybean growers invest checkoff dollars in USMEF's efforts to promote pork and other meat exports. Studies show livestock is the top customer for U.S. soybean growers, with exported hogs consuming significant soybean meal.
• HoudekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoudek, a South Dakota company based in Volga, uses innovative fermentation technology to transform conventional and non-GMO soybean meal into highly digestible, high-protein ingredients for aquaculture and pet food markets, creating new value-added markets for South Dakota soybeans.
• Northern Soy Marketing (NSM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Soy Marketing, comprised of Soybean Checkoffs from South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota, markets northern-grown soybeans to Southeast Asian buyers, highlighting superior essential digestible amino acid ratios compared to Brazilian soybeans.
• South Dakota State University (SDSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Raven Precision Agriculture Center at SDSU was funded in part by South Dakota farmers through their Soybean Checkoff. The university serves as a hub for agricultural research and education that strengthens the agriculture economy in rural communities.
• South Dakota Soil Health SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe South Dakota Soybean Association sponsors the South Dakota Soil Health School, providing scholarships for farmers to attend and learn soil health practices.
• AgtegraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgtegra is an agricultural cooperative whose board includes South Dakota Soybean Checkoff directors. The cooperative supports market development and farmer services across the region.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Illinois Soybean Association: State checkoff and policy organization for Illinois, another top-tier soybean producing state. Operates the same checkoff assessment model with similar research, market development, and advocacy programs.
• Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council: Co-member of Northern Soy Marketing alongside South Dakota, operating the same checkoff-funded research and promotion model. Highly comparable governance, funding mechanism, and international marketing strategy focused on Southeast Asia.
• Nebraska Soybean Board: State soybean checkoff organization for Nebraska, a major soybean producing neighbor to South Dakota. Operates the same farmer-funded research, promotion, and education model and competes for similar producer mindshare in the Upper Midwest.
• Iowa Soybean Association: State-level soybean checkoff and policy organization for Iowa, the largest U.S. soybean producing state. Operates the same dual-entity (research/promotion council + association) structure with a checkoff-funded mandate, making it the most directly comparable peer in terms of mission, funding mechanism, and program portfolio.
• North Dakota Soybean Council: Third member of the Northern Soy Marketing coalition with South Dakota and Minnesota. Same state-level checkoff structure, adjacent geography, and shared international market development focus, making it a near-clone peer.

Broad incumbents

• United Soybean Board (USB): National checkoff-funded body that receives half of every state soybean checkoff dollar. Operates national-scale research, promotion, and international market development, complementing rather than competing with South Dakota's state-level work.
• American Soybean Association (ASA): National advocacy umbrella of which South Dakota Soybean Association is a state affiliate. Operates broader federal-level policy and trade advocacy rather than state-level checkoff programs, but the partnership is structural and operational.

Others

• U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF): Core strategic partner that converts soybean checkoff investment into international meat demand, which in turn drives soybean meal consumption. Not a direct peer in governance but a critical downstream demand-generation counterpart in the same value chain.
• South Dakota Corn: Adjacent South Dakota commodity checkoff organization that competes for the same grower acres and attention. Represents the alternative crop rotation that directly affects South Dakota Soybean's checkoff revenue base, making it a structurally relevant counterparty.

Regional players

• Indiana Soybean Alliance: Combined checkoff and membership organization for Indiana soybean farmers, operating an integrated single-entity structure rather than the separate council/association split used in South Dakota. Comparable mission but different governance architecture.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sdsoybean
• Facebookfacebook.com/sdsoybean

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Dakota Soybean