International efforts share value of soy worldwide

Published by Josey Mestagh

A key facet of the Kansas Soybean Commission’s goal to improve farmer profitability is building international markets to boost soybean exports. The U.S. Soybean Export Council is crucial in building international partnerships and finding market opportunities.

Lance Rezac, a commissioner from Onaga who represents Kansas on the USSEC board, headed to Lima, Peru, Sept. 7-8 for the Americas Agricultural Cooperators Conference. Rezac reports there were 82 organizations, including from other U.S. grain commodities, representing 12 countries.

USSEC shared that soybean, corn, wheat, and rice farmers convened to strengthen relations with customers, importers, and other stakeholders in the food, feed, and livestock industries from the Americas. Food security and nutrition goals were points of discussion at the conference.

Rezac spoke on a producer panel to share a soybean crop update, something he was also able to do at Soy Connext in San Diego, California, in August.

Soy Connext, formerly the Global Trade Exchange, brought together 615 soybean buyers and sellers from 60 countries to discuss the value of U.S. Soy. U.S. Soy touts an advantage in the world marketplace because of its quality and sustainability.

Commissioner Gary Robbins enjoyed international trade discussions a little closer to home. A team from Turkey visited Robbins on his farm Aug. 18 to look at the crops and talk about sustainability. Participants on the USSEC tour reported the visit was valuable and they took note of the U.S. soybean quality. For more on USSEC and its work internationally, visit www.ussec.org.

In other KSC news, the commission election process opened across the state. Districts four, five and six – making up the central third column of the state – are up for election in the 2023 cycle. Interested individuals in these districts have until Nov. 30, 2022 to meet the filing deadline. Candidates must gather 20 signatures from peers with no more than five signatures from any one county to qualify. Signatures may be submitted online, on paper or both.