Source: PRESS RELEASE, 1/16/17

John Fleming of Scotland Neck, N.C. was elected president of the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association at the 50th annual meeting in Durham, N.C. on Jan. 13, 2017. Jeff Tyson of Nashville, N.C. was elected vice president. Association members also elected as officers were David Heath of Dover, N.C. as secretary and Jeff Peed of Aurora, N.C. as treasurer.  

“I am excited to serve the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association as its president,” said John Fleming. “I look forward to helping North Carolina soybean growers increase their yields and profits by leveraging the agronomic research conducted through the checkoff, increasing the effectiveness of the organization’s advocacy work and strengthening the association overall.” 

Isaac Boerema of Pantego, N.C.; Ben Moses of Conway, N.C.; Michael McPherson of Mebane, N.C.; Chris Naylor of Clinton, N.C. were elected to serve on the executive committee.  

Association Elects New Soybean Directors
Soybean producers also elected Brett Medlin of Indian Trail N.C. to serve on the board of directors, representing Gaston, Mecklenburg and Union counties.

The following currently serving directors were re-elected to the board: Jessica Burgess of Eure, N.C., representing Pasquotank Co.; Elbert Dixon of Maury, N.C., representing Greene, Lenoir, Wayne and Wilson counties; Gary Hendrix of Raeford, N.C. representing Hoke, Scotland and Robeson counties; Ben Moses of Conway, N.C., representing Edgecombe, Halifax and Nash counties; Chris Naylor of Clinton, N.C., representing Sampson Co.; Cody Paul of Bayboro, N.C., representing Carteret, Craven, Jones, Onslow and Pamlico counties; and Craig Seaman of Manson, N.C., representing Franklin, Vance, Wake and Warren counties.

Directors serve a three-year term and are responsible for overseeing the research, marketing and communications work of the association, as well as the association’s advocacy work on behalf of soybean farmers. 

Jeff Peed Recognized For Exemplary Service
The North Carolina Soybean Producers Association presented its Meritorious Service Award to Jeff Peed of Aurora, N.C., outgoing president of the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association, at the annual awards banquet on Jan. 12, 2017. Peed, a Beaufort Co. farmer, was recognized for exceptional leadership and service during his term as president of the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association from Jan. 2015 to Jan. 2017.  

State Soybean Contest Winners Announced
John Ashcraft of Union Co. won the 2016 annual North Carolina Soybean Yield Contest with an entry of 87.8 bushels per acre. The county soybean agent is Andrew Baucom of Union County Cooperative Extension. Ashcraft was presented a plaque by Dr. Richard Reich, assistant commissioner of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Dr. Jim Dunphy, professor of crop science and soybean extension specialist with North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Ashcraft and Baucom will receive an expense-paid trip to Commodity Classic, the national conference and trade show for the U.S. corn, sorghum, soybean and wheat industries, in San Antonio, Texas. on Mar. 2-4, 2017. 

Russell Hedrick of Catawba Co. was runner-up in the yield contest with a yield of 86.5 bushels per acre. Manning Farm, Inc. of Washington Co. recorded the third-highest yield of 84.1 bushels per acre. Matthews Family Farm of Davie Co. had the highest yield in the Northern Piedmont area with 83.7 bushels per acre. Sanderson Farming of Wayne Co. had the highest yield in the Northern Coastal Plain area at 71.4 bushels per acre. Grant Andrews of Richmond Co. had the highest yield in the Southern Coastal Plain area with 70.2 bushels per acre.  

Frank Howey Family Farms of Union County placed first in the state in the Most Efficient Yield category, with a total cost of $3.39 per bushel. Alison and Frank Howey of Howey Farms received the award and will receive one expense-paid trip to the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Tex.  

The soybean yield contest is administered by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at N.C. State University and sponsored by the N.C. Soybean Producers Association.

For more information, call Charles Hall, Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association at (800)839-5775.

The North Carolina Soybean Producers Association is a statewide trade association representing all North Carolina soybean producers, responsible for research, education and promotion programs to benefit the state’s soybean farmers. The association is the qualified state board responsible for administering national soybean checkoff programs in North Carolina. The association is the state affiliate of the American Soybean Association (ASA.)