This year marks 50 years since Nebraska’s soybean checkoff was established and 30 years since the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) began leading those efforts on behalf of farmers across the state.
In that time, soybeans have grown from a smaller part of Nebraska agriculture into one of its most significant crops. Throughout the decades, NSB has stayed focused on one thing: serving the farmers who grow them.
"The Nebraska Soybean Board was created for farmers, and it’s still led by farmers today," said Andy Chvatal, executive director of the Nebraska Soybean Board. "That farmer leadership has guided every decision we’ve made, and it keeps us grounded in what really matters."
The Nebraska soybean checkoff officially began in 1975, when the Nebraska Legislature passed LB 74. It created a half- cent per bushel assessment on all soybeans sold in the state, managed by the Nebraska Soybean Development, Utilization and Marketing Board under the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. This allowed Nebraska farmers to invest in their crop and its future.
In 1995, just four years after the national soybean checkoff was established in 1991, NSB adopted its Articles of Incorporation and became certified as a Qualified State Soybean Board. With the launch of the national checkoff, farmers began investing 0.5% of the market price per bushel sold. That investment is split evenly: half stays in Nebraska to be directed by NSB, while the other half goes to the United Soybean Board to support national and international efforts.
Early on, NSB focused on strengthening the crop through university research, growing demand for biodiesel and expanding market opportunities around the world. In 1999, Soybean Management Field Days launched to bring research- based insights directly to growers. Free soil testing for soybean cyst nematode began in the early 2000s, helping farmers detect a serious threat to yields and profitability.
Over time, NSB has continued to listen to farmers and respond to new challenges and opportunities.
"We’ve tried to stay flexible and forward- thinking," Chvatal said. "As the industry has changed, we’ve adapted, but we’ve always stayed true to the goal of making sure every checkoff dollar goes to work for Nebraska farmers."
Partnerships have been a key part of that progress. In 2013, NSB helped fund the Nebraska Soybean Producers Presidential Chair in Soybean Breeding at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Around the same time, the board started a cost-share program to install biodiesel blender pumps across the state, helping fuel retailers offer higher blends of clean-burning biodiesel.
While NSB’s work has a global reach, its roots are planted firmly in Nebraska. Programs like the Ag Sack Lunch have helped thousands of fourth graders understand where their food comes from. The See For Yourself program has given farmers the chance to witness firsthand how their checkoff investment makes a difference at home and abroad.
Today, Nebraska soybeans are a part of a global supply chain. More than half of U.S. soybeans are exported, and Nebraska farmers planted a record 5.75 million acres in 2022.
In 2025, NSB opened its new office at 4625 Innovation Drive in Lincoln. The new space reflects how far the organization has come and its continued commitment to working alongside the farmers it serves.
"We’re proud of where we've been, but we’re even more excited about where we’re headed," Chvatal said. "With farmers representing eight districts and one at-large seat, our board brings together voices from across the state. The challenges on the farm keep changing, and it’s important to have people at the table who live it every day and want to make a difference."
After five decades, the Nebraska soybean checkoff is still focused on building markets, supporting innovation and funding research that keeps the state’s soybean farmers moving forward.
"We want to be a partner in the success of every soybean farmer in Nebraska," said Chvatal. "That’s what this board was created to do, and that’s what we’ll continue doing together."
Through successes big and small, from cutting-edge research to hands-on education, the checkoff has had a lasting impact across Nebraska and far beyond. Regional, national and international partnerships have allowed NSB to stay connected with organizations and talented individuals who work for the benefit of Nebraska soybean farmers. At every step, NSB has remained focused on its mission: "Growing value for Nebraska farmers by maximizing their checkoff investments."
Explore the history of soybeans in Nebraska and beyond. Check out our timeline celebrating 50 years of the Nebraska soybean checkoff and 30 years of leadership under the Nebraska Soybean Board.
