FRANKFORT, Ind. — Two teams of Korean soybean traders visited Meadowlane Farms in Frankfort on June 15 to learn about soybean production in Indiana and put faces to the names of farmers who produce the soybeans imported to Korea.
The international trade teams – one that produces soybean meal and oil, and the other animal feed – were hosted by the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA). Meadowlane Farms, owned and operated by Mike Beard and his family, grows primarily soybeans, which made the farm an ideal site for the visit.
The Korean visitors were part of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), which is the organization that hosted their U.S. trip.
"I consider it a real privilege to get to know people from other countries and cultures," Beard said. "As a member of the United Soybean Board, I support the work that helps what USSEC does in international trade. At the end of the day, I rely on international trade for 60 percent of my soybean marketing, and 30 percent of my corn marketing."
After lunch provided by the ISA, Beard and his neighbor, Levi Huffman, who also produces soybeans, shared information about their farms. They spoke about the other crops they raise, the safety of genetically modified crops, common frustrations they have with recent excess rainfall, and a little about high-oleic trait soybeans, which Beard believes could be a "shining star" crop in the future.
"This traited soybean represents a healthy oil," Beard said. "It’s a more stable oil for use in cooking."
Beard has 15 percent of his soybeans invested in the high-oleic trait this year and says he will continue to support the trait while a market is being built. High oleic soybeans have risen in demand because the oil produced from them has lower saturated fat and no trans fat.
The Korean traders had heard about high oleic trait beans earlier in the trip when they visited a crushing facility. They are interested in purchasing the crop as early as 2020, when it is predicted to be in supply if the market builds.
Say Young Jo, the USSEC country director for Korea, said the teams were pleased with their trip to U.S. farms as a whole.
"We are impressed with the size of the crops and the amount of equipment we have seen on these farms," said Young. "And the treatment we received from the people we met has been excellent. Everyone has been so kind."
The visit ended with Beard and Huffman showing off a tractor attachment to the teams. "We, as farmers, are misunderstood in many areas of the world, and just to be able to communicate face-to-face with these international visitors is the greatest opportunity we have to tell our story, get to know their needs and tell them that we are doing the best that we can to meet their needs," Beard said.
