Everybody benefits from commodity checkoff programs, funds collected at first point of sale, money taken out of farmer’s checks when he or she sells a commodity. The big one we all benefit from is biofuels, gasohol, and biodiesel. Gasohol made by blending corn oil with petroleum oil (Gasoline) and biodiesel by blending soybean oil with petroleum oil based diesel.

In the mid-1960s and early 1970s when commodity checkoff programs were first being established the price farmers received for corn and soybeans was established primarily by their value for livestock feed. The oil was seen as a byproduct. That has changed today. The value of the oil in soybeans and corn now makes up a large percent of what farmer’s are paid for their corn and soybeans. This has also helped keep  prices we have to pay for our animal products meat, eggs, and milk lower because feed costs for animals is kept lower as more of the value of corn and soybeans comes from the oil.

Checkoff funds were used to help start the Meat Export Federation (MEF). Meat exports is one of the biggest benefits to rural America that as happened in my life time. I will say more on that in future posts.

Hope you will read my book or listen to Stu Ellis read “Your Food-My Adventure” on Amazon audible.