Just back from the South Dakota Soybean See for Yourself Tour of the Pacific Northwest, soybean farmers are reflecting on what they learned about how their checkoff dollars have been used for international market development. The group toured ports and grain terminals in Washington State that handle their product, in addition to the BNSF Railroad yards in Seattle.
Garretson Farmer Pete Bakken says he saw first-hand the importance of exports. He says 60-percent of South Dakota soybeans go to international markets, with China as the top customer.
He says he also learned just how important the Pacific Northwest export area and the ability to deliver soybeans to China in a timely fashion is to the basis level and price he receives at the elevator for his soybeans.
Steve Lounsbery farms near Montrose and says the tour changed his opinion about how the checkoff is working for him.
Miller farmer and SDSU agronomy major Tara Parmely says she was impressed with how the soybean checkoff is helping develop soy-based feed for aquaculture diets and how it’s been instrumental in developing export markets.
Farmer Jim Berreth of Eureka says he was impressed with the tour of the BNSF rail terminal in Seattle and the $16 billion investment the company has made on U.S. infrastructure, a good chunk of it in the Midwest.
Another participant was Amanda Towlerton, who farms with her husband in Iroquois. She says she wanted to participate in the See for Yourself Tour to enhance her knowledge about where the product goes after it leaves her field.
Dan Piotter of New Effington says as a young farmer the tour was an eye-opening experience for him. He was what all of the players in the export chain, from the railroad, to the shipper, and finally the customer, want from him as far as grain quality.
And Dale Schwader of Howard says he appreciated the tour because it gave him a better idea of the logistics of moving his grain from the local elevator to export customers.
Fifteen South Dakota farmers were selected for this year’s See for Yourself program sponsored by the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.
