Agriculture: Pungo’s White returns to national soybean board position

COURTHOUSE — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has reappointed Pungo farmer Robert White Jr. to a three-year term as a director of the United Soybean Board, a national organization funded by farmers that guides research into and marketing of the commodity.

“We are excited to welcome back Robert and the other farmer-leaders who will continue working with us on the United Soybean Board,” Jared Hagert, chairman of the board and a soybean farmer from Emerado, N.D., said in a statement.

Seventy farmers volunteer to serve on the board. White was one of 17 people sworn in as directors during the board’s annual meeting in St. Louis this past month, according to a statement the group released to the media. Cameron Gibson of Orange, Va., also represents the commonwealth on the board.

The group’s efforts are funded by a portion of soy revenue called a checkoff, according to the origanization’s website.

The money is invested in ways meant to make the commodity more profitable for U.S. farmers and to ensure customer needs are met, among other things.

White, who serves on the Virginia Soybean Board, raises soy, corn and wheat.

In the organization’s press statement, White said he looked forward to another term.

“I learned a lot from my first three years on the board,” he said, “and I look forward to seeing what the next three years hold.”

Among many accomplishments, White was the Agriculture Man of the Year in Virginia Beach in 1999, an honor he shared with his father, according to a 2013 profile in the Virginia Soybean News.

He has also bee recognized for sustainable practices.

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