The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council is inviting Minnesota soybean farmers to apply to be one of 15 farmers who will join our See For Yourself trip to China, March 19-28, 2013. Each year, we organize See For Yourself trips that give soybean farmers the opportunity to see firsthand how their checkoff program is working to increase productivity and profitability and the demand for our crop.
The council’s International Marketing Committee is organizing a trip to visit our largest international customer – China. The country’s rapidly growing middle class is now eating a much more protein-rich diet, which is opening new marketing opportunities for soybeans and soybean products. China is now purchasing more soybeans than all other countries combined – more than $10.8 billion annually. A significant portion of those soybeans comes from Minnesota.
It is important for Minnesota farmers to build relationships with our customers overseas. And what better way to build relationships with our largest customer than by a face-to-face visit? Minnesota Soybean will cover costs of obtaining a visa, in-country transportation, lodging and meals. Farmers selected to attend will be asked to pay their own airfare of $1,500. Spouses can also attend, but must pay their own costs, which will be $4,500.
If you are interested in seeing your soybean checkoff at work in China, please fill out an application by Nov. 23, 2012. We will be selecting the participants in early December.
Thank you for your interest. If you have any questions or would like additional information contact Sam Ziegler at sam@mnsoybean.com or 507-388-1635.