Ohio Growers

Bill Bayliss

West Central Ohio

Q: When did you start farming?
A: 1966

Q: How would you describe your farm?
A: I farm 1500 acres of soybeans, corn, wheat and hay, but I specialize in food-grade soybeans. I utilize no-till, conservation tillage, cover crops and other practices that improve the soil for future generations to use.

Q: As a soybean producer, why is quality important to you?
A: From human nutrition to a livestock protein source, I intend to deliver the best grains that my customers can rely on. I take great pride in sourcing seed varieties with higher protein and food-grade characteristics.

Q: How has the pursuit of sustainability influenced your production practices?
A: My goal is to improve my land so it will be better for the generations of my family to follow. We started using no-till technology 50 years ago and have evolved through many conservation practices of cover crops and wildlife habitats.

Q: What do you want soybean buyers to know about your farm?
A: We welcome visitors and are happy to share our passion for growing quality crops and caring for our land.

Bob Suver

Western Clark County

Q: When did you start farming?
A: 1974

Q: How would you describe your farm?
A: I am a 5th generation farmer. We farm around 350 acres and all of our acres feature underground drainage tile. Each year, we grow 174 acres of corn and 174 acres of soybeans, leaving 2 acres of conservation buffers to support wildlife and maintain water quality. My operation has used no-till technology on 100% of our acres for the last 30 years.

Q: As a soybean producer, why is quality important to you?
A: Whatever is the most important factor for the end user of my soybeans is always what’s most important to me.

Q: How has the pursuit of sustainability influenced your production practices?
A: Following the best sustainability practices ensures the quality of the crops I grow and positions my operation to succeed throughout the highs and lows of the market. It also helps to maintain soil health, so that I can grow a better crop.

Q: What do you want soybean buyers to know about your farm?
A: I will grow the products you need and want. Quality is always the #1 consideration throughout the planting, growing and harvesting seasons.

Cindy Layman

Growing up with both sets of grandparents being farmers, Cindy Layman grew appreciation for the knowledge and skill it takes to feed the growing global population. Cindy and her husband married in 1982 and have built their current operation from 160 acres to around 6,000 acres of soybeans and corn.

Layman raises her crop with the end-user in mind. “These end users demand and deserve a high quality product,” claims Layman. “Soybeans are a sustainable product. They are much more than soybean oil and livestock feed. Research and technology continue to provide a growing variety of uses for the oil and meal.”

Ohio’s soybean farmers are open to adapt and grow with the research. Combined with hard work and generations of experience, Ohio farmers, like Layman, continue to use the most current technology to provide the market with a high-quality, sustainably produced product.

In a continued pursuit of sustainability, Ohio soybean farmers see themselves as stewards of the land. Some sustainable practices on the Layman farm consist of grass waterways, filter strips, and cover crops to help protect and improve the soil.

“We have been 100% no-till for 30-plus years. We use current technology to variable rate chemical and fertilizer applications as recommended by thorough soil testing to be sure those inputs are being utilized by the plants most efficiently,” Layman shared. “People must have food to survive and with the growing global population and a shrinking pool of farmers feeding them – this becomes more and more important. With the use of new technologies, it is also possible for farmers to replace things like vehicle fuels, heating fuels and plastics which are a truly sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.”.

From her field to your markets. Rest assured knowing that your soybeans are coming straight from the heart.