Earlier this week we talked about the work being done by the beef checkoff to invest dollars into continuing education. The soybean checkoff is also investing in the marketability of the soybeans that we grow.
Recently a group led by the United Soybean Board (USB), the Iowa Soybean Association, and others, made a large investment of $1.3 million to help expand the port of Gray’s Harbor in Washington. This will help double the capacity of the harbor’s soy meal exports and help boost international trade.
April Hemmes is an Iowa Farmer and the USB Action Team Chair. She tells us about this investment. Gray’s Harbor provides a direct Pacific route to Southeast Asia and China.
Hemmes says that projects like this help drive home the importance of our ag trade. She adds that getting to go to Gray’s Harbor and see the project first-hand gives her a better understanding of how those investment dollars are going to be used.
Hemmes remarks that many countries are changing the way they produce proteins, and the availability of our soybean meal helps them reach their goals. It is also a value-add for soybean farmers all across the country.
You can learn more about how checkoff dollars are used to promote soy-based products around the globe by visiting the United Soybean Board website.
