U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange offers farmer-leaders chance to network with export customers
$2.8 billion. That was the value of U.S. soy that international representatives committed to buy during last year’s U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Davenport, Iowa. The soy checkoff, along with the rest of the U.S. soy industry, hope to see similar results from the second installment of that event this fall.
Co-hosted by the checkoff-funded U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Midwest Shippers Association, the Exchange will be held September 15-18 in Milwaukee, and gives U.S. soybean farmers a chance to meet face-to-face with some of their biggest customers.
“The Global Trade Exchange provides an opportunity for U.S. soybean farmers to meet our international customers,” said Dwain Ford, United Soybean Board (USB) International Opportunities Target Area coordinator and a soybean farmer from Kinmundy, Illinois. “We can sit down with them and listen to what their needs are, so that we can do a better job providing them with soybeans and soy products.”
Ford says networking helps maintain these relationships, which are essential in keeping export numbers high. Fifty-six percent of U.S. soy was exported in the last marketing year.
“It’s very important that we maintain and continue to develop our relationships with our international customers,” Ford said. “We need to build on those relationships and continue to provide our customers with a high-quality and sustainable product.”
To register or to find more information, visit www.GrainConference.org.