The South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council is taking 10 growers to Mexico in February on an export tour.

"This See-For-Yourself experience truly puts a face to this export market. It connects South Dakota growers with buyers from Mexico who import our products," says Matt Bainbridge, Ethan, S.D., SDSRPC chairman. “Although we sell a lot of soybeans locally, we rely heavily on export markets and value our relationship with Mexican buyers."

Close to 70% of South Dakota's harvested 255 million bushels of soybeans are exported.

"This is a unique opportunity to see how South Dakota-grown soybeans are used in Mexico," Bainbridge says. "Growers will actually meet with buyers and tour hog and dairy farms, feed mills, processing plants and other facilities that utilize our soybeans. It is a great opportunity to learn what these buyers look for when they buy our soybeans."

Barry Loomis, Bruce, S.D., recommends the tours. He went on one last year to China.

LEARNED A LOT: Barry Loomis, Bruce, S.D., encourages soybean growers to go on the export tour to Mexico. He went on a similar trip to China last year.

"I did not understand the magnitude of the industry in China that buys our soybeans until I was there,” he says.

"On my own, I would never be invited to tour Chinese soybean processing plants and soybean oil and packaging facilities. It was interesting to learn about the work that checkoff dollars do to market our commodity worldwide."

Loomis encourages soybean growers to take advantage of the See For Yourself tour and fill out the short application to experience the Mexico export process firsthand.

The See For Yourself application deadline is Sept. 21. From the applications received, 10 soybean growers who contribute to the South Dakota soybean checkoff will be selected by a committee of SDSRPC farmer-directors for the opportunity to participate in the tour. The tour will cost participants $300. SDSRPC will cover other expenses, including most meals and travel. Payment is required by Oct. 12. Any required immunization, passport and souvenir expenses will be the responsibility of participants.

For more information on the 2018 Mexico See for Yourself experience, contact Kelly Wubben at 605-330-9942 or by email at [email protected].

Source: SD Soybean