Soybeans are a lot more than a crop in the field, and this episode proves it. Dave Deken and Brian Arnall visit with Rick and Ginger Reimer of the Oklahoma Soybean Board about how soybean checkoff dollars are being invested in research, producer outreach, education, and consumer awareness across Oklahoma. From Red Dirt Soy and production research to classroom workshops and virtual reality tools, the Reimers share how the board is helping connect agriculture to both producers and the public. The conversation also digs into soybean rotations, the crop’s spread into new parts of Oklahoma, why soybeans are so important to livestock agriculture, and how the board has even supported feral hog control because of the damage those animals cause to crops and pasture. It’s a wide-ranging look at how soybean leadership, Extension partnerships, and strategic outreach are helping strengthen agriculture from the farm gate to the classroom Top 10 Takeaways This episode reframes soybeans as much more than a crop. The Oklahoma Soybean Board is investing not only in production research, but also in education, livestock-connected outreach, and public understanding of agriculture. Teacher training is one of the board’s biggest multiplier strategies. Ginger says the board has worked with nearly 800 teachers and is reaching around 20,000 students annually through workshops and classroom-ready materials. The soybean checkoff is tightly accountable. Rick emphasizes audits, compliance reviews, and documentation because every dollar being spent belongs to soybean producers. Research is still the budget anchor. Rick estimates about 60% of retained board funds go toward research, with another 20% to 30% supporting education and outreach. Soybeans and livestock are directly linked. Rick says most domestically used soybeans go into animal agriculture, which explains why the board supports pork, poultry, and related educational programming. Soybean production geography in Oklahoma has shifted. Counties once dominant in eastern Oklahoma are no longer the only leaders; major soybean production now includes north-central Oklahoma, and the crop is pushing even farther west. Western Oklahoma soybeans bring new management questions. Brian points to irrigated production and iron deficiency issues in high-pH soils as examples of why region-specific research matters. Digital outreach is becoming a bigger part of the mission. The board is expanding through social media, recorded workshop content, YouTube, and online education platforms. Feral hog control is a serious agricultural issue. The board’s support for control efforts shows how soybean leadership is responding to broader on-farm threats, not just soybean-only problems. Agricultural literacy is long-term risk management. Ginger makes the strongest public-facing point of the episode: informed teachers become informed communities, and informed communities shape the future of agriculture. Detailed Timestamped Rundown 00:02–01:06 Dave opens Episode 510 and frames soybeans as more than a field crop, tying them to livestock feed, producer research, ag education, and statewide outreach. He previews the conversation with Rick and Ginger Reimer of the Oklahoma Soybean Board and points listeners to Red Dirt Agronomy online for more resources.01:07–01:40 Dave introduces Brian Arnall, and the hosts set up the interview, noting it was recorded January 10, 2026, at the Oklahoma Wheat Commission booth during KNID Agrifest.01:41–03:24 Brian introduces Rick and Ginger Reimer. Rick explains his long tenure with the soybean organization and walks through the shift from the Oklahoma Soybean Commission to the Oklahoma Soybean Board after the national soybean checkoff was established, including the split of funds between the state and national boards.03:25–06:22 Ginger outlines her role in marketing, consumer information, and education. She explains how her classroom work evolved into teacher workshops that equip educators with supplies, books, curriculum, and hands-on materials. Rick adds that the board tracks reach by counting how many students those teachers serve each year. Ginger says they are nearing 800 teachers and about 20,000 students annually.06:22–08:41 The group discusses workshop themes including “Pork and Beans” and “Chicka Doodle Do.” Ginger describes using VR headsets to show students swine production and explains how different workshops are tailored for preschool through older students. Brian notes the board’s outreach goes well beyond soybeans alone and reflects the full agricultural ecosystem.08:41–10:32 Rick stresses accountability for checkoff dollars, jokingly summarizing it as “document or die.” He explains the importance of receipts, audits, and compliance reviews because the board is spending producer money. He estimates roughly 60% of the state board’s retained budget goes to research, 20% to 30% to education and outreach, and admin is kept near or under 10% when possible.10:32–13:38 Dave and Brian talk about Red Dirt Soy and the Oklahoma Soybean Board’s support for digital outreach and research communication. They highlight how the board helped make room for creative, scalable outreach ideas, including online field-day style content that can reach producers across the state without requiring travel. Rick adds that soybean research also includes topics beyond yield, such as ensuring crop protection practices do not harm beneficial beetles.13:38–15:05 Rick explains why the board supports livestock-related education: livestock is soybeans’ biggest customer. He says about half of U.S. soybeans are exported, while 97% of the soybeans staying domestic are used in animal agriculture. That is why Oklahoma Soybean Board programs often connect soybeans to pork, poultry, and other livestock sectors.15:05–17:23 The conversation shifts to crop rotation and geography. Rick says soybeans help clean up wheat fields and work well in rotations. He explains that the top soybean-producing counties in Oklahoma used to be in the east, but now counties such as Garfield, Grant, Kay, and Noble are among the leaders. Brian adds that soybeans have pushed farther west, even into the Panhandle, creating new fertility and iron-deficiency management challenges in high-pH soils.17:23–20:32 Rick and Brian explain why Oklahoma can be a strong soybean state: soil, weather, rainfall, and the crop’s fit as a double-crop option behind wheat. Brian notes the historical appeal of double-crop beans as a relatively low-risk, high-reward system. The discussion also covers soybeans’ sensitivity to timely late-season rains and the use of different maturity groups to spread production risk.20:32–25:11 Brian raises another lesser-known soybean board priority: feral hog control. Rick describes years of support for thermal scopes, traps, panels, and grain carts used in control efforts through Wildlife Services. The hosts explain how destructive hogs are to soybeans, hay meadows, pastures, and farm infrastructure, making this issue much bigger than row crops alone.25:11–29:04 Dave asks what is next for the board. Ginger says a bigger social media presence is a priority, along with posting recorded teacher workshops online so educators can revisit them later. She also describes forming a teacher advisory group, experimenting with Facebook Live training, and growing the board’s YouTube content, including Rick reading Full of Beans: Henry Ford Grows a Car from a soybean field.29:04–31:28 Dave asks what producers want from the board. Rick says growers want strong production research and continued promotion of soybeans’ value. Ginger adds a broader civic point: when they teach teachers, they are also reaching future voters, and agriculture needs a more informed public as farmland disappears under development.31:28–32:11 The episode wraps with appreciation from both sides and a reminder that agriculture works best when commodity groups and institutions collaborate. Dave closes the show and thanks listeners. RedDirtAgronomy.com
