A delegation of U.S. soybean farmers representing the United Soybean Board (USB), the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is in China to recognize the past 30 years of developing the partnership between the United States and China. In 2011, China imported more than half of the U.S. soybeans exported.
USSEC’s activities to help expand Chinese agriculture and agribusiness have played a part in China’s increasing production of meat, poultry and fish products. The effort to modernize and develop China’s animal-agriculture industry contributes to its food security and supports the animal-production goals outlined in China’s 12th Five-Year Plan.
“As we celebrate this important milestone, we look forward to further growth of this partnership and providing China with an exceptional product,” says Roy Bardole, USSEC chairman and soybean farmer from Rippey, Iowa. “We remain committed to providing China, and our other customers around the world, the highest-quality soybeans.”
Bardole also explained that that next year's planting decisions are driven by price and that prices will come down as production increases to meet demand. He stated, "the cure for high prices is high prices and the cure for low prices is low prices."
Along with the formal recognition of the 30-year partnership between the U.S. soybean sector and China, the U.S. group plans to tour a soy crushing plant in northern China, visit Jianguo Poultry Company and participate in a round-table discussion with Chinese soy leaders.

USSEC recently conducted a marketing seminar in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, and visited with one of the preferred customers in the region, Dalian Haitian United Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. Although USSEC first introduced full-fat soybean meal in the mid-1990s, Dalian Haitian did not start using the meal technology until the early 2000s, when equipment became affordable and the demand for animal production increased.
Shi Xiaoling, owner of Dalian Haitian, introduced the production of full-fat soybean meal after attending USSEC-sponsored events and seminars. The company is one of the leading full-fat soybean meal producers in northeast China, supplying meal to the local dairy and poultry industries. Dalian Haitian currently processes more than 20,000 metric tons of U.S. soybeans each year. USSEC also provided technical guidance regarding feed particle size and offered future educational opportunities for animal producers to learn about the advantages of full-fat soybean meal.
USSEC participants included Xiaoping Zhang, country director for China; Richard Han, technical director for animal utilization; Sam Shi, technical consultant; Leo Liu, Ph.D., technical manager; Sunny Zhang, program manager; Claudia Chong, marketing manager; and Yantian Zeng, program assistant.

The Hubbs Sea World Research Institute (HSWRI) recently completed a 10-month feeding trial with the California yellowtail that compared a soy-based diet to a feed produced with fishmeal. The United Soybean Board developed the soy-based diet through their research in alternative protein sources. The study found the yellowtail gained weight faster on the soy-based diet and the highest performing diet included 40 percent soy protein.
HSWRI also partnered with Carolyn Ross, Ph.D., at the School of Food Science at Washington State University to determine if a taste difference occurs when farmed fish are fed plant-based ingredients rather than traditional fish meal and oil. The research combined sensory analysis with analytical chemistry techniques to identify and describe changes in flavor and odor profiles. Thirty panelists participated in the sampling of both fish meal fed and soy fed fish. Based on the panelists’ feedback, the soy diet did not produce an undesirable taste in the fish but actually enhanced the flavor.

USSEC continued its promotion of U.S. soybean meal in two Korean feed mills, Easy Bio Co., Ltd., and Daehan Feed Co., Ltd. Hyung Suk Lee, ASA-IM animal utilization contractor met with nutritionists and purchasing staff to explain the advantages of purchasing U.S. soybean meal based on the amino acid and energy content. Nutritionists in the feed industry generally accept this concept, however, purchasing staff tend to evaluate soybean meal solely on crude protein content.
Lee provided information on the relative price of soybean meal based on digestible amino acids and energy content along with crude protein content. He also discussed the advantages of using U.S. hipro dehulled soybean meal to meet the nutrient content requirement for swine and poultry feed during the summer months.
USSEC will continue to promote the amino acid and energy content of U.S. soybean meal in efforts to expand the Korean market for U.S. hipro dehulled soybean meal.

The latest episode of “Beyond the Bean On-Air,” the checkoff’s Web-based video program, examines USB’s efforts to educate young people about biotechnology. It also looks at several projects the checkoff invests in to make sure U.S. soybean farmers meet their customers’ needs with quality soy products. The webisode features USB directors John Motter and Karen Fear. Click here to watch. Segments from this webisode will also be featured on Successful Farming’s “Machinery Show,” on RFD-TV on Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. Central.
https://youtu.be/aeORhYT3mGM

USSEC is seeking an experienced marketing program manager to provide oversight, professional project management, and direction to USSEC’s global animal utilization projects.
This excellent opportunity to represent U.S. soybean growers is located in St. Louis and reports to the Global Director of Commercialization and Marketing. Knowledge and experience in agribusiness and specifically the soy industry is a plus. Contact USSEC-HR@ussec.org for additional information.

Are you traveling to China for a marketing mission or hosting a Chinese trade team at your farm this year? If so, contact the USSEC office in St. Louis to request a copy of the new talking points and briefing paper. The document outlines up-to-date information regarding our largest soy trading partner and the most effective messages to improve relations with our largest customer. To request a copy, please contact Greg Olwig, golwig@ussec.org or Lisa Pine, lpine@ussec.org.