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“We know the challenges of a growing population in the world and our farm is going to be a part of producing food for that population.”

Vicki Coughlin
Soybean Farmer

Name: Vicki Coughlin
Location: Watertown, Wisconsin
Years farming: While my husband has been involved in agriculture his entire life, we started this farm together in 1962.
My family: My husband Gene and I have five children, twelve grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. We farm with our son Chris, and his wife Kristie and their family.
How I came to be a farmer: Gene has farmed all his life. We began our own operation in 1962 and operate the land that has been in the Coughlin family since 1852. Our farm is at the beginning of six generations of agriculture.
The best thing about being a farmer: I find great pride in knowing that we are producing food on the same land that has been in production for generations. And then seeing the interest and passion in the next generations to continue the legacy of food production. These are a few of the rewards that we enjoy from farming.
My personal philosophy on farming: For our family, working hard and working together as a family, while experiencing and sharing the bounty from the land, is a big part of who we are. There is a great reward in knowing that producing food and caring for the land goes hand-in-hand. We know the business of agriculture is one filled with high risk, hard work, and uncertainty; however, the reward of being in an industry that has a high positive impact on the lives of others throughout the world is exactly what we want to be part of. The love of the land is the base of our livelihood, our heritage, and the future for our farm.

Soybean Production in Wisconsin and the United States

• Farmers in more than 30 states grow soybeans, making it the second most popular crop in the U.S.
• U.S. farmers account for 46 percent of the world’s soybean production.
• Ninety-eight percent of the soybean meal produced by U.S. farmers is fed to animals such as pigs, cows and chickens.
• Each soybean plant has 60 to 80 pods containing two or three beans each.
• Soybean oil is contained in such items as vegetable oil, salad dressing, and mayonnaise. It is also used for such things as tofu, soy sauce, and high fiber breads like pizza crust.
• Soy oil is used in inks and paints.
• One acre of soybeans can produce more than 82,000 crayons.
• Soy protein is found in many foods consumed by health-conscious consumers.
• The average person consumes about seven gallons of soybean oil every year.
• Soybeans were first brought to America in the early 19th century as ballast in trading ships.
• The first mention of soybean cultivation in the New World appeared in an 1804 publication promoting the soybean as an adaptable crop for Pennsylvania.

For more information about soybean farming in Wisconsin, please visit:  http://www.wisoybean.org

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