DES MOINES, Iowa – One way to measure quality on soybeans is reliability. The United Soybean Board says customers around the world are looking to the United States, and taking note.
Farmers are meeting the demands of international customers with top-quality beans, USB says. That means supply from the U.S. is reliable, consistent and sustainable. U-S-B says export forecasts for the current year are backing that observation up.
USB calls the soy exports for this marketing year “outstanding,” with 87% of the total export forecasts already sold.
United Soybean Board Treasurer and North Dakota farmer Jared Hagert says one of the ways farmers meet customer needs is by providing high-quality soybeans. Globally, animal agriculture uses 97% of all U.S. soybean meal. High levels of protein are important to feed formulators, as well as poultry, livestock and fish farmers.
“We’re focusing on our customers internationally by tying in the component value of our soybeans; the protein and oil, and then also the superior balance of amino acids within those profiles,” Hagert explains.
Sustainability is also an important factor for international customers. The U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol assures buyers that U.S. soy meets stringent sustainability criteria.
Even so, Hagert says U.S. soybean farmers must continue to look for ways to improve their sustainability performance.
“U.S. soybean farmers need to think about sustainability and how it affects their customers and their business,” Hagert says, “because ultimately, their business is our business.”
During the most recent marketing year, the U.S. exported 1.7 billion bushels of American soy, valued at over $28 billion.
