The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) in partnership with the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) hosted the 3rd Ag Supply Chain Asia 2021 as a virtual convention Jan. 26-28. Additional than 500 attendees from 31 countries convened to hear from specialist speakers, increase their agribusiness network and learn about the hottest offer and need tendencies, as perfectly as coverage updates.
All areas of the soy source chain ended up represented from importers and exporters to soybean farmers and suppliers of feed components. In addition, quite a few regional govt reps, ag co-operators and U.S. governing administration companies showed their assist by attending the conference.
‘Southeast Asia proceeds to be a region that holds great possible for U.S. Soy,’ claimed Tim Loh, USSEC regional director, Southeast Asia. ‘The agricultural landscape in this section of the globe is assorted with a expanding population that consumes large amounts of U.S. Soy and soybean merchandise.
‘Looking forward, it is crucial that USSEC continue to spend in our partnerships in this location even even more.’
To kick off the a few-day party, Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO, and Ryan LeGrand, USGC CEO, welcomed attendees, highlighting the worth of partnerships and the history of both equally organizations in the area.
‘At USSEC, we have been concentrated on fostering present interactions and constructing new types in evolving and increasing marketplaces,’ Sutter explained. ‘Southeast Asia has a brilliant long term when it comes to U.S. Soy. … We glance forward to staying capable to enrich and strengthen our interactions in the yrs to occur.’
LeGrand added: ‘Our collective purpose is to extend the global market place for U.S. grains, oil seeds and linked products and solutions, such as right here in Southeast Asia. We know this target is greatest attained when our operate serves our buyers, as much as it does our members, the U.S. farmer, U.S. agribusiness sector and different ag-connected businesses. As we move into 2021 and outside of, our goal is to make our partnership even more powerful and continue to be a regular provider to your field and your prospects.’
The meeting furnished in-depth marketplace views and strategic direction through panels this kind of as just one showcasing ag exporters. Here, contributors read from Craig Pietig of AG Processing Inc., Ben Seiler of Flint Hills Sources, Brian Wittenborn of The Andersons Inc., and Chris Crawford of The Scoular Organization. Collectively, they shared their point of view on cost outlook, bulk and container logistics, and provide.
Individuals also bought to hear from field leaders these types of as: Thomas Hammer, president of the Countrywide Oilseed Processors Association, Dave Hightower of the Hightower Report, Ken Erikson of IHS Markit, John Coyle of Blue Drinking water Shipping and delivery Enterprise and Invoice Rooney of Kuehne + Nagel Inc.
On top of that, four U.S. farmers experienced the likelihood to showcase their operations, sustainability tactics and outlook for 2021. Josh Gackle, a soybean farmer from Kulm, North Dakota, and David Iverson, a soybean farmer from Astoria, South Dakota, offered on-the-farm perception and standpoint to attendees.
Iverson, a fourth-generation farmer and director to the United Soybean Board, shared that U.S. soy farmers are businessmen and gals who use sophisticated technologies and know the value of working in world marketplace. Right now, Iverson farms 1,500 acres, rotating in between corn and soybeans.
‘We acquire wonderful care to assure the finest achievable top quality of soybeans for our clients,’ Iverson explained, including that his grandfather was 1 of the to start with farmers in the spot to grow soybeans in the 1940s. ‘We use technologies these types of as GPS and yield displays to fully grasp what is taking place in the industry and to lower inputs and apply fertilizer in a a lot more sustainable way.’
Gackle, who serves as a director to the American Soybean Affiliation, focused his presentation on sustainability.
‘Sustainability starts on the farm,’ explained Gackle, who shared the significance of employing these methods to assure the next era coming onto the farm has each individual opportunity for success. ‘Through these procedures, we have been ready to do significantly additional with a lot considerably less.’
The 2020 crop year was really excellent for Gackle’s area, where by most ‘dryland farm’ indicating they count on rain for crop humidity. He shared that he techniques minimum tillage to conserve and keep the dampness in the ground so it can be applied when the crop needs it.
Furthermore, Gackle claimed on his farm they do soil sampling right after the crop has been harvested to superior understand the nutrients that are in the soil. He stated that this assists push their selections for what the soil and crop want to most effective conduct for the next crop period. Gackle shared that he partners this apply with variable-rate technological know-how on the planter and sprayer to improve not only the input applied but also taking into thing to consider the soil and what it can generate.
Equally Iverson and Gackle expressed their determination to providing a superior-high quality, reliable source of U.S. Soy to buyers.
It is these varieties of interactions and assurances that are most worthwhile for intercontinental potential buyers. Centered on a article-function survey, attendees booked about 1.3 million metric tons, or 80 million bushels, of U.S. agricultural merchandise with an estimated futures price of about $460 million in the course of this year’s digital Ag Supply Chain Asia. Of those documented bookings, 13.8 million bushels ended up soybeans and 13.2 million bushels have been soybean food.
‘The price of these meetings and packages are immeasurable,’ Sutter reported. ‘They enable us all to hook up, master from every other, and aid trade.
‘Additionally, these occasions contribute to the shared perception that exports are vital to global economic advancement. We appear ahead to getting equipped to increase and strengthen our interactions in the decades to come.’
Ag Offer Chain Asia was sponsored by the South Dakota Soybean Exploration and Advertising Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, Minnesota Soybean Investigation and Advertising Council and underneath the auspices of the United Soybean Board, American Soybean Association as properly as Foreign Agricultural Provider – United States Division of Agriculture.
Resource: USSEC – U.S. Soybean Export Council