FARGO, N.D. (Oct. 4, 2017) — A delegation of soybean buyers from China and Indonesia, hosted by the North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC), visited farms and elevators in Cass, Steele and Traill Counties Oct. 2, 2017.
The purpose of the delegation’s visit was to build relationships between North Dakota soybean producers and international customers; to discuss with the buyers the quality of this year’s soybeans being harvested in North Dakota. The group collected samples of North Dakota soybeans to test moisture, essential amino acids, protein and oil.
The group of 15 guests visited the NDSC office the morning of October 2nd. NDSC CEO Diana Beitelspacher officially welcomed the group and provided an overview of NDSC, the soybean checkoff and the North Dakota soybean industry. The daylong soybean tour of the Red River Valley included visits to Maple River Grain and Agronomy, Casselton; Joe Morken’s family farm, Casselton; Jim Thompson’s family farm, Page; Jason Mewes’ family farm, Colgate; Mike Satrom’s family farm, Galesburg; and Alton Grain Terminal, Hillsboro. North Dakota soybean farmer Joel Thorsrud of Hillsboro met the group at Alton.
“We are always happy to show and discuss the quality of our North Dakota soybean crop and build relationships with our important customers,” says NDSC Chairman Joe Morken. “We are also proud to provide North Dakota soybean samples to these visiting major feed and food buyers so they can see exactly what they are buying; an abundant, safe, clean and quality product for their families, companies and fellow consumers.”
About 1.936 billion bushels of U.S. soy were exported to customers around the world in the 2015-2016 marketing year. The value of these exports came to a record of more than $24.8 billion. In 2016, North Dakota produced 249 million bushels of soybeans. Export is a key element for North Dakota soybean producers because over 90 percent of the soybeans harvested in North Dakota leave the state. Approximately 70 percent of soybeans grown in North Dakota are shipped to the Pacific Northwest and destined for Southeast Asian markets.
“Time spent in-person with our customers is an essential piece of what we do to promote North Dakota soybeans,” says NDSC Director of Market Development Stephanie Sinner. “We really appreciate our soybean farmers taking time out of their busy harvest season to visit with our trade delegation and talk about their farming operations. For many of our guests from overseas, this is their first time on a farm, so getting to know our farmers one-to-one is invaluable for our industry.”
North Dakota soybean farmers across the state are represented on the North Dakota Soybean Council Board, which oversees a grass roots promotion, research and marketing program funded by soybean checkoff dollars. The Council’s mission is to effectively invest and leverage North Dakota soy checkoff resources to maximize the benefits of North Dakota soy. The Council is organized by North Dakota state law.
