Foreign entities no longer eligible for state soybean checkoff dollars

The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board has adopted a policy aimed at protecting agricultural research from benefiting foreign competitors. In a unanimous decision on March 12, the board voted to prohibit the use of state soybean checkoff dollars for any research that would benefit foreign countries such as Brazil, Argentina, or China.

“I was the first governor in the nation to kick communist China off our farmland and out of our state, and I remain committed to safeguarding Arkansas farmers from foreign interference,” said Gov. Sarah Sanders. “I fully support yesterday’s decision by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, because the research done by Arkansas’ farmers should never fall into the hands of our foreign adversaries.”

This action aligns with the state’s broader legislative efforts and a national push to strengthen protections against foreign adversaries, according to the board. In 2023, Sanders signed Act 636 into law, restricting certain foreign entities from owning agricultural land and increasing oversight of foreign involvement in the state’s agriculture industry.

“Arkansas farmers invest in research to strengthen Arkansas agriculture, not to subsidize the competitive edge of foreign producers,” said Brad Doyle, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board chair. “This policy reinforces our board’s commitment to Arkansas soybean producers and aligns with the state’s clear direction on protecting Arkansas agriculture.”

The Soybean Promotion Board exists to support the growth and competitiveness of the state’s soybean sector and is funded by assessments on soybeans grown in Arkansas, Doyle said. In 2025, the board funded $3.4 million in research projects focused on topics from breeding and genetics to disease management. By restricting funding for projects that could be shared with foreign competitors, the board aims to ensure that Arkansas-developed varieties, traits, and research findings remain exclusively available to Arkansas and U.S. farmers.

“Arkansas agriculture will not allow foreign competitors to profit from Arkansas producer-funded research,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “Farm security is national security, and this decision draws a clear line: Arkansas-funded research belongs to Arkansas farmers.”