The Indiana Soybean Alliance and the US Soybean Export Council hosted foreign soybean buyers last week in Indiana as part of their Soybean Oil Master’s Program. They toured a number of different places around Indiana like Beck’s Hybrids, the Indiana Corn and Soybean Innovation Center at Purdue, Corteva Agrisciences, Victory Field, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and they even took in the Indy 500! They also visited farms around the state, including Kevin Kelley’s farm in Brookston.
“It’s always interesting when we have these groups come in,” Kelley tells HAT. “We learn about as much from them as they do from us. It helps put a face on American agriculture and maybe give them some confidence about where their products come from.”
Kelley explains why it’s so important to open his farm for tours like this.
“The world of ag is competitive and opportunities like this help us educate them as to why American soybeans maybe should be the preferred source for them and a trusted source as well.”
There were a number of tour groups from all around the world across Indiana last week. The group on Kelley’s farm was largely from China. Brazil has been their preferred buying destination of late. Kelley says they stuck to the basics in explaining why American soybeans are the best in the world.
“We talked a little bit about our crop rotations, that we’re using cover crops, we’re using minimum tillage. Since we own the majority of the land that we farm, thankfully, that we’re able to make some decisions, long-term decisions, for the health of the soil, which then results in healthier crops, healthier soybeans, soybeans with better traits, better nutrient profile for them. We’ve been here for 100 years, 120 years, and we’re hopefully going to be here for quite a bit longer. So, we’re a reliable source for them, and we’re looking to be a good long-term partner.”
You can learn more about the impact of the Soybean Oil Master’s Program here.
