FARMER LEADERS

Chief Executive Officer
United Soybean Board (USB)
St. Louis, Missouri

John Becherer is the Chief Executive Officer of the United Soybean Board (USB) headquartered in St. Louis. He was raised on a dairy farm in central Wisconsin and has strong ties with the agricultural community. John has more than 20 years of management experience and holds a master's degree in agricultural economics.
John served as the senior director of development and programs for the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) at West Lafayette, Indiana. CTIC is a clearinghouse for technological information on soil conservation, water conservation and water quality. John was named senior director of CTIC in July 1991 after serving as executive director since 1988.

Prior to working for CTIC, John worked as a consultant for Demeter Inc., the nation's 10th largest merchandising firm. The position helped him develop an international view of the challenges that face soybean farmers today.

John graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1971 with a degree in economics. He managed a construction company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 14 years, directing their successful marketing program and serving as general manager.

He returned to school in 1986 and earned his master's degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University in 1987. While at Purdue, John worked on various agricultural-related projects for both the university and private industry.

John describes himself as a consensus builder and views his position at USB as an opportunity to continue his career-long interest in helping farmers farm more profitably.

The USB is comprised of 64 soybean farmers appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and charged with the responsibility of increasing the profitability of soybeans. John directs the implementation of USB's $27 million budget utilizing soybean checkoff funds in projects that develop international and domestic markets; new soybean uses; disease and drought-resistant soybean varieties; and to inform and educate consumers, the agricultural industry and farmers.