The South Dakota See for Yourself Tour of the Pacific Northwest was deemed a success according South Dakota Soybean Association and Council Directors. Council Treasurer Todd Hanten says their goal was to show farmers the importance of exports to soybean prices and he admits he had even underestimated that role.
South Dakota Soybean Association Treasurer John Horter echoed the impact of the export market.
Hanten says they wanted farmers to understand the significance of proximity of the Pacific northwest export outlet and how that gives them a marketing advantage.
Council Director Tim Ostrem says it makes them more competitive exporting to top bean and meal customers in southeast Asia.
Ostrem is also hopeful farmers saw on the trip how instrumental the checkoff has been in international market development.
This was the first time the South Dakota Soybean Association sent representatives. John Horter talks about why they made that decision.
Association Director Ken Schulte says beyond the port and terminal infrastructure he was impressed to see the rail infrastructure improvements and the $16 billion investment made by BNSF.
And for Council Director Tim Ostrem the See for Yourself program has been pivotal for him as he was one of the first South Dakota farmers to participate in the tour.
Fifteen farmers from across the state participated in this year’s See for Yourself program.
