Chairman's Report - February 23, Calendar of Events. Dear Friends, USB Board Meeting Feb , 2012 Biloxi, MS

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1 1 of 5 2/23/ :34 AM Forward to a friend Chairman's Report - February 23, 2012 Dear Friends, Like many of you, I will soon start planting this year s soybean crop, just as I ve done for the last forty years. However, every farmer knows no two years of planting are identical and careful planning is needed to ensure profitable harvest. We analyze the market, inspect our current stocks, and make careful purchasing decisions to reflect new technology, scientific innovations and growing global demand. Developing USSEC s unified export strategy (UES) application is a lot like farming we must constantly adapt to changes in the marketplace to build demand and customer preference for U.S. soy. Over the past couple of months USSEC staff, farmer leaders, and an industry representative met to discuss the UES for Fiscal Year USSEC held regional planning meetings in China, Mexico and Turkey to examine the drivers and inhibitors to U.S. soy exports specific to each region. In the past, USSEC s export strategy has been more tactical, but these meetings helped us zero in on the target audience and how we can change their behavior over time to boost U.S. soy exports. By focusing on better defining the constraints and opportunities in foreign markets, I believe our market development plans will be much more strategic going forward. I was fortunate enough to attend the Americas regional meeting in Jalisco, Mexico where several farmer leaders had the opportunity to meet with their regional staff. From a grower perspective, the collaborative process was what I had hoped for. We were able to really examine the soy value chain, from the farm to the end user, and develop targeted strategies where we can make a difference. Overall, USSEC aims to ensure exports and investments continue to be strategically focused so we as farmers and stakeholders receive the best return on investment. I would like to personally thank the farmer leaders and regional meeting participants for their valuable contributions. With your ideas and insight we were able to identify our target audiences and the most efficient market growth strategies. Thank you Sharon Covert, Jim Miller and Randy Mann for your participation in Shanghai, China; Jared Hagert and Danny Murphy in Jalisco, Mexico; and Bob Metz, Joe Steiner, and USSEC Treasurer Doug Grennan (of Scoular Grain Co.) in Izmir Turkey. USSEC created an Industry Advisory Council (IAC) last year to extend the reach of our industry engagement beyond our membership. At the IAC s inaugural meeting on December 1, USSEC leadership, St. Louis staff and the Calendar of Events USB Board Meeting Feb , 2012 Biloxi, MS USSEC Board Meeting Feb. 28, 2012 Nashville, TN Commodity Classic March 1-3, 2012 Nashville, TN ASA Board Meeting March 12-16, 2012 UES Approval Meeting March 14-15, 2012 ASA Board Meeting and Legislative Forum July 8-12, 2012 USB Board Meeting July 15-19, 2012 Williamsburg, VA USSEC Annual Meeting Aug TBD

2 2 of 5 2/23/ :34 AM Regional Directors gave an overview of USSEC s strategic marketing objectives and discussed plans for It led to a fruitful exchange between USSEC leadership and the industry participants and a commitment to continued collaboration. I believe this industry engagement is crucial to USSEC s future success and relevance in the market place. The IAC will also review the FY2013 UES and their feedback will be shared with farmer leaders before USSEC s funding application is finalized. USSEC is dedicated to continual improvement as a world-class marketing organization. I think the regional UES planning meetings and the improvements planned for the UES are excellent examples of the day-to-day work our staff is doing to realize that goal. CEO Jim Sutter has recently made several new hires to help us achieve our goals. Please join me in welcoming the new faces on the USSEC team. You will find their introductions below. Sincerely, Roy Bardole, USSEC Chairman Linda Funk (executive director of the Soy Foods Council) and Bardole during the human utilization breakout session in Mexico.

3 3 of 5 2/23/ :34 AM Jim Sutter, Bardole, and Jared Hagert meet with regional staff in Mexico. Randy Mann (L) and Jim Miller (R) examine U.S. soybeans at a feed mill in Shanghai. USSEC Welcomes New Faces Phil Macias is our relatively new USSEC controller. He started with USSEC on November 14, 2011 and is already making a great contribution in his new position. Phil is a CPA, and his accounting background includes time spent in public accounting with Ernst & Young,

4 4 of 5 2/23/ :34 AM manufacturing experience, working as an independent auditor with his own practice and most recently with the Inspector General s office for the U.S. Air Force. Tim Dollarhide joined USSEC on December 27, 2011 as the new IT manager. Tim has been working in the technical field for over 5 years. After studying Computer Management and Information Systems at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, he began working for MB Consulting Group as a help desk tech where he quickly moved up to a network engineer and primary technical account manager. He is extremely familiar with Windows Server and desktop environments and has some experience with Mac OS as well. He is adept at configuring and troubleshooting a wide variety of smart devices (iphones, Androids, Blackberry, tablets). In his free time, Tim performs Improv comedy around St. Louis with his group, Lack of Condor. Mike Indelicato began working for USSEC in October on a contract basis and joined the staff full-time on December 1, 2011 as our Accounts Payable clerk. Mike comes to us with 30 years of accounting and finance experience which includes auditing, cost analysis, labor and sales forecasting and the preparation of financial statements. He has worked for an independent accounting firm, a real estate company, an oil company and aerospace firms. Most recently, Mike worked more than 20 years with Boeing in Saint Louis. Marypat Corbett joined USSEC on Monday, February 6, 2012 in her role as human utilization marketing manager. Marypat comes to USSEC with more than 20 years of marketing, international project management, and profit center management experience. She has worked in international business development for a variety of products including seeds, biotech products, and feed ingredients. Marypat also volunteers with a variety of civic and professional organizations such as the St. Louis Agribusiness Club, the Conservation Technology Information Center, Mid America Croplife Association, and the Griffin Center. Michael Officer also joined the USSEC team on February 6 as the new animal utilization marketing manager. Michael has a strong feed industry background as well as experience in marketing and animal nutrition. He has worked throughout the

5 5 of 5 2/23/ :34 AM Midwest as an animal nutritionist and has also held leadership roles in global business development. Michael most recently worked with Novus International where he led development efforts for Feed Quality products. And last but not least is another new hire who started February 6-Brenda Waltermire. She is the new Executive Assistant who will be providing support to CEO Jim Sutter and the entire executive management team. Brenda s experience includes more than 20 years of administrative support, human resources, and vendor management. She most recently worked for Pfizer, Inc. where she was responsible for office administration, communications projects, and event planning. USSEC Updates Staff Directory, New Organizational Chart With the recent additions to the USSEC staff, an updated staff directory with contact information can be found on the USSEC website, found here, as well as a new organizational chart Swingley Ridge Rd. Suite 200 Chesterfield, MO or Swingley Ridge Rd. Ste. 200 Chesterfield, MO To learn why you received this and how to remove yourself from the list, see Privacy & Permissions Policy Review / edit information about you Remove yourself from the mailing list Generated by Learn more