Two U.S. grower leaders, Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) director Don Wyss and United Soybean Board (USB) Domestic Opportunities Target Area Coordinator Jim Schriver, visited South Korea from April 13-19 to meet with customers in the feed and food industries and to participate in a U.S. soybean meal technical workshop.  This activity was funded by Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA).  USSEC International Feed Marketing Manager Pam Helmsing and ISA’s Roz Leeck escorted the grower leaders; USSEC North Asia Regional Director Paul Burke also joined the team in Korea.  Grower leaders visited Sajohaepyo Co., Ltd., a local crusher; Korea Feed Association (KFA); Jeil Feed Co., Ltd.; Doosan Feed and Livestock Co., Ltd.; CJ Cheiljedang’s crushing plant; and Kanneung Chodang Bean Curd Co., Ltd.  Grower leaders talked with Korean customers about the forecast for U.S. soybean planting and price movement.

Additionally, both grower leaders gave presentations at the 2014 U.S. soybean meal technical workshop to feed mill staffs and integrators.   The workshop was hosted in the city of Yongpyong, where the 2018 winter Olympic Games will take place.  The first presentation focused on providing updates of U.S. soybean growers’ 2014 planting intentions and its ramifications on the market and the U.S. swine and broiler industry, while the second presentation examined “Beyond the Elevator: Where Soybeans Go.”  After the lectures, the grower leaders and local participants played “jok-koo,” a Korean style of volleyball, to foster team spirit.  At a dinner reception for workshop participants, the grower leaders proposed a toast to the success of the U.S. soy industry and the Korean feed and livestock industry.