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Wisconsin soybean program looks ahead after loss of leader

The Wisconsin Soybean program is turning a tragedy into an opportunity.  Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board chair Pat Mullooly tells Brownfield it was a shock when Wisconsin Soybean Association Executive Director Robert Karls died in early 2022.  “Bob was a long-time supporter of the program or involved in the program for thirty-plus years and it was a shock to us when that happened, but it’s a good time for us to take a fresh look at things, and that’s what we’re doing at this point.”

Mullooly says the board has been using the last nine months to take a fresh look at their priorities.

For now, Mullooly says they have hired some outside help. “We have partnered with Ag Management Solutions. I call it kind of a sister company of Minnesota Soybean and their association and their checkoff side, so that’s kind of what they do. They have a group of people that come around and help boards in this type of situation and it’s been a good partnership with us.”

And for the future of the Wisconsin Soybean Program, Mullooly says, “We have about a year contract left with them, and at that point, we are hoping to get our own employees back in the state, a director and possibly one more person or part-time person.”

In addition to their partnership with Ag Management Solutions, the board has also been narrowing down which soybean research projects will be funded by checkoff dollars.  Those projects will likely be announced during the Wisconsin Corn-Soy Expo on February 2^nd.