The soybean farmer captures the heart of American values that have made our country strong:
•	Celebrate the land by being a good steward of its natural resources
•	Conserve resources for future generations by using every part of the soybean wisely
•	Replace finite resources like petroleum with this plentiful, annually renewable plant
Today’s soybean farmers represent a fundamental core for rural communities and the world – creating a tangible gift of goodwill that reaches people across the globe through food, energy and other vital products.

Healthy lives - Soy protein is important beyond developed countries. It saves lives by combating hunger and fighting disease. For instance, research shows protein requirements of HIV/AIDS-infected people can be 50 to 100 percent higher than uninfected people. Soy protein is an ideal solution to improving nutrition.

Soy enhances health in other ways as well. Soy-based fuels like biodiesel replace petroleum diesel, reducing particulate matter and emissions linked to cancer in the process. Soy candles burn cleaner – helping the air we breathe and reducing soot in our homes.

Healthy environment - Growing soybeans helps the soil by adding nitrogen to it. And by growing around three billion bushels of soybeans each year, we create a sustainable resource that’s replenished with each year’s crop. This replaces many finite petroleum-based products and preserves resources for future generations.

Consider a renewable fuel called soy biodiesel. It takes only a small percentage of each bushel of soybeans to make this fuel. A diesel car running on soy biodiesel can actually get 3,000 miles per acre, plus leave an excess of 80% of each bushel to feed the world.

Since each acre of soybeans is annually renewable, soy sustains resources to help meet our energy demands. Plus, soy biodiesel is as harmless to the environment as table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar.

Soy products can help the environment in so many ways. Soy ink makes it easier to de-ink and recycle newspapers. While many petroleum-based plastics can outlast a person’s lifetime in our landfills before they biodegrade, soy plastics biodegrade very quickly.

Healthy economy - The soybean industry has a major impact on the U.S. economy. The value of the soybean crop alone is $16 billion. Then add soybean production, processing and product manufacturing to its economic value. Soybeans create American jobs and create a multiplier effect of economic development.

Soybean exports and the use of domestic soy biodiesel reduce our reliance on foreign oil – improving our country’s balance of trade. Soy biodiesel has the potential to replace a portion of the 60 billion gallons of petroleum used each year in semi trucks, farm and construction equipment, home heating, boats, trains, electrical generators, and other diesel equipment. The vast majority of this petroleum diesel is imported.

Whether it’s human, environmental or economic health, we’ve realized the dream of soy in thousands of ways. And soybean technology is still reaching for the stars in food and scientific laboratories across the globe. This small bean continues to stretch the imagination and explore new frontiers of innovation.

Sugar Tree Candle Company united with soybean farmers across America in 2010 with a special blend of soy wax and fragrances creating a line of soy candle products for your home. …