<b>By TIM ALEXANDER<br>
Illinois Correspondent</b></p><p>

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — A new website launched by the Illinois Soybean Assoc. (ISA) allows buyers to post premium soybean programs, gives growers a detailed listing of programs and provides links to additional resources devoted to soybean production.<br>
The website online at www.soybeanpremiums.org will help buyers promote their premium programs and help growers identify opportunities for increased profit, according to David Hartke, ISA chairman.<br>
“Selling differentiated soybeans can bring in extra revenue without having to expand acres, but identifying the right program for each operation can be a challenge,” Hartke said in a news release issued by the ISA. “The purpose of this site is to give growers a go-to place to find premiums in their areas, as well as highlight the specialty soybean marketplace.”<br>
Peter Goldsmith, executive director of the National Soybean Research Laboratory in Urbana, said the market for specialty soybeans is not as complete and well-known among Illinois growers as it could be.<br>
“This site can help producers understand what this market segment needs, how contracts work and how you buy and sell these soybeans,” he said.<br>
Goldsmith added that premium programs can differ greatly in contract characteristics, making it difficult for buyers to hook up with producers. Current premiums listed on the site range from 50 cents to $1.45 per bushel for growers who can meet companies’ specific guidelines.<br>
“Producers can see the many premiums out there and they can research and choose one. The challenge is that you are talking about several contract aspects, not just price. It’s a more complicated message, so it is even more necessary to have a place to display this information,” Goldsmith said.<br>
Lynn Clarkson, president of Clarkson Grain Co. of Cerro Gordo, is utilizing the site by seeking to contract 8,000 acres of a specialty soybean variety.<br>
“Our job is to supply people with the specific soybeans they want,” Clarkson said. “We go beyond the U.S. standards for grain. We are looking for things the general market doesn’t provide.”<br>
Clarkson’s processed soybeans are used in products such as snack bars, cosmetics, baby food, soymilk and animal feeds. Enhanced soybeans, such as those with traits like high protein, high oil or low-linolenic acid are fueling an emerging specialty market through companies such as Clarkson’s.<br>
“A tool like www.soybeanpremiums.org helps us get the word out,” she said. “One of the hardest parts of our business is getting the opportunities to enough farmers. We need to get them out and in front of interested growers.”<br>
Goldsmith touts the website as an exciting opportunity for Illinois soybean producers.<br>
“We have the potential to get the message to foreign buyers that we can grow specialty soybeans, that we have the infrastructure, technology and managerial skills,” he said. “It demonstrates that Illinois is a place where needs can be met.”<br>