USSEC recently provided technical assistance on feed formulations, development of feeding programs and nutritional recommendations to livestock and poultry producers in the Dominican Republic. Carlos Campabadal, USSEC contractor, visited four feed mills, Consejo, Aproamoli, Agrifeed and Pollos Cibao, to discuss the advantages of soy meal-based diets and the digestibility of amino acids in feeds. The purchase group El Consejo invited Campabadal to talk about creating feed programs during an economic crisis. He also spoke one-on-one with workshop attendees about nutrition and management.

This year the conference recognized the region’s top customers for U.S. soy. La Filipina Corporation of the Philippines received the award as the largest purchaser of U.S. soybean meal. La Filipina, one of the country’s largest flour mill, feed mill, commodity traders and bulk port handlers, buys all of its meal from the United States. Indonesia’s FKS Multi Agro received the award for the largest customer of U.S. soybeans, importing 900,000 metric tons of beans this year. FKS uses the majority of imported beans in the production of tempe and tofu. Wilmar International received the award for the region’s overall largest importer of U.S. soy products. Wilmer, Asia’s largest oilseed processing group, purchases more than one million metric tons of U.S. soybeans each month.

USSEC, the U.S. Grains Council and the U.S. Wheat Associates organized the three-day event. Reuters, Dow Jones and Bloomberg covered the event.

Soy industry representatives and farmer leaders recently gathered in New Orleans to appoint the new USSEC Board and elect officers for the coming year. USSEC appoints, or reappoints, a board of directors comprised of 15 members – four representing the American Soybean Association (ASA), four representing the United Soybean Board (USB) and seven representing industry and state soy organizations.

The following farmer-leaders selected to serve on the USSEC Board include:

ASA
John Heisdorffer
Ron Kindred
Randy Mann, elected Chairman
Jim Miller

USB
Jim Call
Sharon Covert, elected Vice-Chair
Vanessa Kummer
Tom Rotello

Kirk Leeds, Iowa Soybean Association CEO, and John Wright, of Owensboro Grain Company, were elected to serve as secretary and treasurer respectively. Please visit http://ussec2018.wpengine.com/about-ussec/board-of-directors/ to view a full list of 2012-2013 USSEC Board.

Soybeans: Bushels: 22.4 million; Metric Tons: 612,000
Soybean Meal: Bushels: 300 million (equiv.); Metric Tons: 8.2 million
Soybean Oil: Bushels:  20.1 million (equiv.); Metric Tons: 569,300

Soybean marketing year: September 1-August 31
Soybean meal and soybean oil marketing year: October 1 – September 30

USSEC recently hosted risk management seminars for Thai and Vietnamese soy industry partners where participants learned how to access and apply risk management practices in the crushing business.

In Thailand, USSEC conducted a two-day session with Thai Vegetable Oil (TVO), the largest crusher in the country. The consultants met with TVO’s top executives including Charuphot Neesanant, managing director; Wiboon Lohachoonsiri, director of the research department; and Sumeth Damrongchaitham, deputy managing director.

USSEC then held a one-day meeting in Ho Chi Minh City for leaders in the Vietnamese crushing industry. After the workshop, attendees visited Bunge Vietnam’s office and met with the plant director.

Robert Carlson, USSEC consultant, met with seminar attendees at both locations to discuss his experience in managing a crushing plant in the United States and in the Middle East. Carlson also presented on the impact of risk management in regards to business and quality control. In addition participants learned about accessing price risk management from the perspective of a position report of flat price, basis and margin position.

USSEC will continue to provide education on risk management and other management and marketing topics that promote good industry practices to soy business partners in Southeast Asia. USSEC also intends to continue the distribution of technical information to the feed, livestock and aqua industries to stimulate awareness, development and marketing of U.S. soy products.

USSEC’s Global Opportunites program worked with the United Soybean Board to fund a study on the United States’ infrastructure and transportation system and its effects on U.S. soybean farmers. The checkoff funded study, “Farm to Market- A Soybean’s Journey,” analyzed how soybeans move from the farm gate to customers and highlighted the weaknesses found in the system along the way.

U.S. farmers depend on a 50-year-old highway system, a 70-year-old inland waterway system and a railway network built in the late 1800s to move their products from the fields to end users. This transportation system provided farmers a competitive advantage in the global market but growing evidence supports this advantage continues to be threatened by the deterioration of U.S. highways, bridges, rails, locks and dams.

“The entire transportation has been vital to the U.S. soy industry, not only in moving our products to domestic processors but also in delivering U.S. soy to our international customers as well,” said Dale Profit, soybean farmer from Van Wert, Ohio, and USB director. “Brazil has several proposed infrastructure projects that haven’t been completed yet, but if those improvements are made, it would put them on par with U.S. soybean farmers as far as transportation costs and we would lose that advantage.”

USSEC recently hosted a roundtable for Harim to discuss the advantages of using soy in broiler and swine feed. In addition to being Korea’s largest broiler integrator, Harim also has two swine integrators and a feed mill.

Hyung Suk Lee, Ph.D., animal utilization contractor, and Merlin Lindemann, Ph.D., swine nutrition professor at the University of Kentucky, spoke with Harim staff members. Topics discussed included the comparative quality of U.S. soybean meal with competing soybean meals based on standardized digestible amino acids and the latest edition of the National Research Council’s nutrient requirement for swine study.

This past February, Say Young Jo, ASA-IM’s Korea director, met with Harim’s chairman to discuss the company’s inclusion of U.S hipro dehulled soybean meal in feed to reduce broiler and swine production cost. As a follow up to the February meeting with Harim, USSEC took this opportunity to build on Harim’s increasing interest in using U.S. hipro dehulled meal.

During a recent Soy in Aquaculture Stakeholders meeting in Kona, Hawaii researchers and international aquaculture consultants presented results to date and discussed strategies for future Aquaculture Research and Marketing efforts with USB, USSEC and QSSB board members. Information presented included the status of the U.S and global industry, offshore aquaculture, industry promotion and education/standards certification. George Chamberlain, Ph.D., of the Global Aquaculture Alliance and John Schillinger, Ph.D., of Schillinger Genetics addressed the event. Dr. Chamberlain shared his perspective on the future of aquaculture highlighting the aquaculture market growth that needs to take place to meet the demand for seafood worldwide. Dr. Schillinger updated stakeholders on the development progress of new alternative products for aquafeeds such as high protein density, low oligosaccharide and low trypsin inhibitor soybean varieties. Participants also had the opportunity to visit Kona Blue Water Farms and learn more about USB-sponsored aquaculture feed formulation research on yellowtail and amberjack fish species.

USSEC Hosts Ceremony Marking 30 Years of Partnership with China

To celebrate 30 years of partnership with China, USSEC, the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the United Soybean Board (USB) hosted a ceremony for more than 450 government officials and representatives from China’s oilseed processing and animal agriculture industries. Zeng Liying, vice administrator of the Chinese State Administration of Grain, and Joseph Glauber, chief economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture delivered opening remarks. The speakers highlighted the role agriculture played in strengthening the relationship between the two countries and congratulated the industry on 30 years of collaboration.

“U.S. soybean farmers are proud of the role we have in supporting the tremendous growth of China’s animal agriculture and aquaculture industries over the last 30 years,” said Steve Wellman, ASA president. “As partners with shared interests, we are committed to continuing to support China’s food security and food safety goals.”

The ceremony concluded with a presentation of plaques of appreciation to representatives from the Chinese soy and animal industries. Directors and farmer-leaders representing the U.S. soy industry included Steve Wellman; Vanessa Kummer, USB chair; Roy Bardole, USSEC chairman; Alan Kemper, ASA chairman; Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO; Steve Censky, ASA CEO; and John Becherer, USB CEO.

Chinese government and industry leaders in attendance included Xie Jianmin, deputy director general of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture; Bian Zhenhu, president of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-products (CFNA); Sha Yusheng, deputy secretary general of the China Feed Industry Association (CFIA); Wei Baozhen, director general of the China National Fisheries Technology Extension Center (NEC); and Shen Guang, secretary general of the China Animal Agriculture Association (CAAA).

Mr. Steve Wellman is delivering a welcome speech at the 30th Anniversary Celebration Conference and present at this ceremony are (from right to left): Dr. Joe Glauber, Chief Economist of USDA, Mdm. Zeng Liying, Vice Administrator of the State Administration of Grain, Mr. Xie Jianmin, Deputy Director General of the Dept. of Int’l Cooperation of MOA, Mdm. Vanessa Kummer, Chair of USB and Mr. Sha Yusheng, Deputy Secretary General of China Feed Industry Association.
— Photo by Xinhua News Agency

Mdm. Vanessa Kummer, Chair of USB, is presenting a plaque of appreciation to Mr. Bian Zhenhu, President of CFNA after he delivered a speech to the audience participated in the 30th anniversary celebration in Beijing.

U.S. Soy Farmers Meet with Chinese Government Officials, Promise Sustainable Soy Supply

USSEC arranged for U.S. soybean farmers to have the opportunity to meet with representatives from the State Administration of Grain (SAG), the Ministry of Commerce and the Development and Research Center of the State Council (DRC) during one of their first stops in China last week. The group met with Zeng Liying, vice administrator of the SAG; Jiang Zengwei, vice minister of Commerce; and Xu Xiaoqing and Cheng Guogiang, Ph.D., directors general of the DRC to discuss the current soy market situation regarding the drought and biotech events, such as the continued use of new soybean trait technology. The grower leaders committed their willingness to work with the Chinese leaders to continue to provide a sustainable and quality supply of U.S. soy.

Steve Wellman, president of the American Soybean Association and Vanessa Kummer, chair of the United Soybean Board, led the delegation meetings.

Mdm. Zeng Liying, Vice Administrator of Grain met with the U.S. Soy Industry Delegation led by ASA President Steve Wellman, USB Chair Vanessa Kummer and USSEC Chairman Roy Bardole on July 30th, 2012 in Beijing.

Mr. Jiang Zengwei, Vice Minister of Commerce met with the U.S. soy industry delegation on July 30th, 2012 in Beijing.

U.S. Soybean Farmers Visit Soy Crushing Plants

A delegation of more than 50 U.S. soybean farmers traveled to Tianjin to visit Tianjin Joy Excel Grains and Oil Industries Co., Ltd. The farmers had the opportunity to see first-hand how the soy they grow makes it into the Chinese marketplace. Tianjin is the newest crushing facility under the COFCO Group, the largest importer of U.S. soybeans in 2011. The state-of-the-art facility’s daily crushing capacity includes 4,000 metric tons of soybeans, and a refining capacity of 1,000 metric tons of vegetable oil, including soybean oil. The facility also includes storage capacity for 120,000 metric tons of grain and 148,000 metric tons for oil.

Following the facility tour, the delegation met with COFCO executives to discuss the supply and quality of U.S. soybeans. The on-going drought in the United States raises concern for the Chinese importers but the farmer leaders noted the increased planted acres of soybeans as a reassurance of an abundant crop.

The delegation met with the top management from the Shanghai Liangyou Group, one of the largest and most advanced grain and oilseeds processing plants in China. The plant, located on the Yangtze River, functions as a major hub for imported grains and oilseeds as well as a marketing center for processed products, such as wheat, flour, soybean meal and oil, and rice. The plant has a daily crushing capacity of 3,700 metric tons and U.S. soybeans comprised 75 percent of the plant’s soy crushing capacity in 2011.

Group photo of the U.S. soy industry delegation at Tianjin Joy Excel Crushing Plant of COFCO Group.Group photo of the U.S. soy industry delegation at Tianjin Joy Excel Crushing Plant of COFCO Group.

Vanessa Kummer, Chair of USB and Steve Wellman, President of ASA are touring the port facility attached to COFCO crushing plant in Tianjin.

QSSB Representatives Explain Benefits of Soy-Based Diet

Representatives from nine QSSBs traveled to China to celebrate 30 years of partnership between China and the U.S. soy industry. The QSSB leaders visited three livestock processors and feed companies and aqua farm to learn how China’s animal and aquaculture industries use U.S. soy. The companies included the Yangxiang Group, Beijing Huadu Yukou Poultry Co. Ltd., and the Beijing Sturgeon Farm.

The Yangxiang Group, one of the top feed companies in China, also focuses on feed production, swine farming and meat processing. Huadu Yukou, a leader in layer breeder production, feed manufacturing and food processing, also owns two proprietary layer breeder brands. The U.S. delegation explained the advantages of using a soy-based diet in livestock and aqua feeds.

David Nichols, Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board; Gene Stoel, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council; Keith Roberts, Ohio Soybean Council; and Tom Oswald, Iowa Soybean Association, Beijing at the Jinchao Garden Agriculture Development Center.

Farmers Meet Their #1 Customer in Shanghai, Tour Swine Farm

The U.S. delegation visited the Shanghai Wangu swine breeding farm, a privately-owned operation in the Songjiang district of Shanghai. The company has three pure-bred farms located in Shanghai, Jiangxi Province and Yunnan Province and raise 3,000 breeding sows. USSEC collaborates with the farm to the increase use of U.S. soy in swine feed formulations and grow productivity and profitability of the swine industry in China.

QSSBs represented included Illinois Soybean Association, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Iowa Soybean Association, Kentucky Soybean Board, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, North Carolina Soybean Producers Association, Ohio Soybean Council, and the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board.

State QSSBs and grower leaders are touring the port facility at the Shahghai Liangyou Waigaoqiao Grain & Oilseeds Processing and Logistics Complex located at the mouth of Yangtze River.

Group photo at the swine breeding company in Shanghai after touring the facility.

USSEC Seeks Marketing Program Manager

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.

New China Talking Points Now Available
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.

USSEC Celebrates 30th Anniversary of China’s Partnership

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 Seminars Provide Growth Opportunities for Chinese Feed Mill

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.

Feeding Trial Demonstrates Benefit of Soy-Based Fish Diet

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 Continues to Promote Advantages of U.S. Meal in Korea

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.

USB’s “Beyond The Bean On-Air” Features Biotechnology

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 Seeks Marketing Program Manager

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.

New China Talking Points Now Available

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.

USSEC Promotes U.S. Soy on Japanese Television

The popular national Japanese television program World Business Satellite (WSB) recently interviewed USSEC staff about the country’s soymilk business trends. James Echle, ASA-IM Japan country director, and Masi Tateishi, USSEC contractor, appeared as guests on the show which specializes in economic and financial information. Echle highlighted the U.S. soy industry’s interest in increasing U.S. soy inclusion in the soymilk market. Japan’s soymilk consumption reached a record high in 2011, at 221,187 kiloliters.

WBS also aired a series of segments featuring Japanese companies using soy in its products. Companies profiled include: Kikkoman, a soymilk plant; Noevier, a cosmetic company producing soy-based cosmetics; and Fuji Pan, a top bakery that recently released a series of soy pastries. Tateishi highlighted the increased use of U.S. soy for these popular consumer products.

Currently, Japan consumes more than one million metric tons (MT) of soy each year with 34,000 MT used for soymilk production. The inclusion of soybeans in soymilk increased by 400 percent in the last decade and USSEC will continue to focus on the growth potential for U.S. soy in this market.

Click here to view the WBS segment. 

TV Tokyo WBS crew filming U.S. identify preserved soybeans & U.S. soyfood products displayed in ASA-IM Japan office

USSEC Highlights Soy Advantages for Poultry Production in Colombia

USSEC recently participated in a seminar sponsored by the Colombian Poultry Federation (FENAVI). USSEC specialist Carlos Campabadal discussed poultry production and nutrition, focusing on the advantages of soybean meal in poultry diets including the high-protein and amino-acid values.

Colombia has South America’s largest potential to grow and increase production of poultry meat and eggs. Colombia’s poultry meat sector grew 3.8 percent last year and egg production at 9.4 percent, generating $675 million. Currently, the country consumes 234 eggs and 23.8 kilograms of poultry meat per capita a year, but those numbers could increase with more efficient production.

Due to previous high importation taxes on U.S. soy, the majority of Colombia’s soybean meal comes from Argentina and Brazil, with only 16 percent imported from the United States. With the recent implementation of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. soy market share has the potential to increase in the coming years. USSEC’s partnership and work with FENAVI provides a potential avenue for increased U.S. soy imports to Colombia.

USSEC Promotes U.S. Soy-Based Feed in Korea’s Aquaculture Industry

USSEC recently visited Daehan Feed Co., Ltd., a leading Korean feed mill, to discuss strategies to expand the demand for soy-based extruded pellet feed in aquaculture. In Soo Shin, aquaculture utilization contractor, met with Daehan’s marketing manager to discuss soybean meal inclusion in aqua feed as well as continuing efforts to extend the use of extruded-pellet feed for all growth stages of flounder.

Daehan has an annual feed production capacity of 10,000 metric tons and expressed interest in partnering with USSEC for future projects to promote soy-based aqua feeds.

U.S. Soy Used in World’s Longest Tempe Bar in Indonesia

The world’s longest tempe bar recently debuted at the National Tempe Festival in Salatiga, Indonesia. The bar used more than 2.5 metric tons of U.S. soybeans and set the world record at 2,165 meters (7,100 feet). Tempe, a traditional fermented soybean dish unique to Indonesia, is a major source of protein in the human diet there. The City of Salatiga, Indonesian Cooperative of Tempe Producers, Satya Wacana Christian University, and the Indonesian Tempe Forum sponsored the festival. USSEC sponsors of the Indonesian Tempe Forum.

The record-breaking tempe bar included more than a dozen tempe producers and 55 volunteers. Local and national media covered the event to promote the Indonesian heritage of tempe and the health benefits of soy. The festival sold pieces of the bar and donated the remaining sections to local hospitals, schools and orphanages.

Indonesia is the fourth-largest consumer of U.S. soybeans, importing more than 1.7 million metrics tons per year. FKS Multi Agro, the country’s leading importer and the largest importer of U.S. soybeans in Southeast Asia, donated U.S. soybeans for the event.

Acceptance of the record by Cooperative of Tempe Producers.

Swine Project Lead by USSEC Designed to Increase Demand for U.S. Soy in Colombia

USSEC provided technical support to CaliCerdos de Colombia, a deboning facility in Cali, Colombia, that recently earned hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) certification. Julio Chaves, USSEC consultant and technicians from the Colombian Swine Producers Association offered guidance during the certification process. Chaves’ technical support focused on compliance with international standards. CaliCerdos expects the certification by INVIMA, Colombia’s equivalent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will increase consumer confidence and demand in their products. USSEC will continue to promote the advantages of U.S. soy in feed as demand for pork products increase.

USSEC Seeks Marketing Program Manager

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.

New China Talking Points Now Available

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.

USSEC Names Mitsuyuki Nishimura as Deputy Country Director of Japan

USSEC CEO Jim Sutter recently announced the addition of Mitsuyuki Nishimura to the USSEC team as its new deputy country director of Japan. This assignment will allow for a seamless transition to taking over the country director position upon James Echle’s planned retirement in September 2012.

“Nishimura-san brings more than 30 years of industry experience to the soy family,” said Sutter. “His extensive knowledge about the soybean business, as well as relationships in the oil-crushing, feed production and chemical industries, will greatly enhance our efforts to promote U.S. soy in Japan.”

Nishimura most recently led the Kyoto office and Brazilian operations for Sun Chlorella, a Kyoto-based company that promotes products containing chlorella, a strain of green algae grown in fresh water. Earlier in his career, Nishimura managed the oilseeds and feedstuffs department of Nissho Iwai Corporation, a Japanese trading company based in Sogo Shosha, Japan. During that time, he lived in the United States for 9 years, in Portland and New York City, and also lived in Brazil for 12 years.

Nishimura is a graduate of Meiji University, where he studied commerce. He is married with four children, two grown adults and two enrolled in Japanese universities. He speaks Portuguese, English and Japanese and, in his free time, enjoys oil painting and golf.

Soy Feed Promoted to Milkfish Farmers in the Philippines

USSEC recently partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Santeh Feeds to begin a milkfish cage demonstration project in the Philippines. The project focuses on the growth performance and economic returns of milkfish fed using floating feeds made with soy. As a result, the demonstration showed the advantages of using low-volume, high-density cage culture technologies. Santeh Feeds produced the extruded floating feed used in the project.

“The demonstration highlights how extruded floating feeds and feed enclosures designed to prevent feed from escaping the cages can also minimize the feed conversion ratio,” said Levy Manalac, technical manager for aquaculture. “A proper cage orientation and cage positioning would also maximize fish growth.”

Milkfish farmers in the Panabo and Mindanao regions currently use sinking feeds but expressed interest in using soy-optimized extruded floating feed.

During the stocking of milkfish in the USSEC Milkfish Cage Demonstration Project: (L-R) Mr. Albert Lanojan (Planning Officer, Regional Fisheries Training Center Employees Cooperative, Panabo Mariculture Park); Ms. Maria Lourdes Campeon (Aquaculturist and Officer in Charge of the USSEC Milkfish Demo Project); Mr. Andrew Ventura (Training Center Director, Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, Davao del Norte); Mr. Levy Loreto Manalac (USSEC Technical Manager-Aquaculture); and Mr. Diomede C. Bucog Jr. (Area Sales Manager, Tateh Premium Feeds-Santeh Feeds Corp.)

USSEC Hosts Chinese Fishery Experts for U.S. Aquaculture Orientation

USSEC hosted a delegation from the China National Fishery Technical Extension Centre, a group representing provincial aquaculture interests in China, on a visit to the U.S. that included stops in Michigan, Maine, Washington, DC and Florida. The program was focused on raising awareness about the advantages of

The visits focused on raising awareness about the advantages of industrialized intensive aquaculture to urge its adopted in China.

The group was accompanied by USSEC aquaculture specialists Jim Zhang and Zhou Enhua who collaborated with the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee to organize the event at Indian Brook Farms. The delegation continued on to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center in Franklin, Maine; The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute in Shepherdstown, West Virginia; University of Maryland’s Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, Maryland; Mote Aquaculture in Sarasota, Florida; and EW Shell Aquaculture Experiment Station in Atlanta, Georgia.

USSEC Hosts Meat-Processing Workshop in Central America

In an effort to increase soy consumption, USSEC recently conducted the 5th Regional Meat Processing Workshop in Costa Rica. More than 25 participants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia attended the five-day event.

The program focused on best practices in meat processing, including the proper use of soy proteins and the advantages of its use in quality improvement such as: increased nutritional value, increased yields, decreased purge and more stable meat products, and meat replacement for healthier sausages and lower price. Participants will utilize this knowledge in their meat formulas which should result in an increase in the amount functional and non-functional soy proteins they use.

Speakers included Juan Camou, Ph.D., from the Food Research Institute of Mexico; Lynn Knipe, Ph.D., meat science professor from the Ohio State University; Eliana Mora from the National Food Research Center of the University of Costa Rica; and Julio Chaves, USSEC specialist. The presentations focused on product development, packaging, and cooking and smoking. Luis Soto from Baltimore Spice discussed the use of soy in meat. Griffith also had three specialists on hand to address sensory panels. Specialists from ChemSol discussed the use of fibers in sausage as well as fat replacements.

Participants had the opportunity to process chorizo and emulsified products using soy concentrate and evaluate production.

More than 25 participants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia attended the five-day workshop in Costa Rica.

Partnership Leads to Increased Use of U.S. Soy in the Phillipines

USSEC began working with Santeh Feeds in the Philippines several years ago to provide technical assistance regarding feed and culture approaches. Over time, the feed mill staff has seen an increased ability to diagnose diseases, as well as an increase in overall health management.

“Two years ago when we came to the farm, their staff would inform us that they had unexplained mortalities but they had no idea what caused it or, how to address the issue,” said Lukas Manomaitis, technical director. “They now show us photos from a dissected fish and a list of initial symptoms.”

As a result of USSEC’s partnership with Santeh, feed mill reports show an increase in purchases of U.S. soy.

USSEC Seeks Marketing Program Manager

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.

New China Talking Points Now Available

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.

USSEC and the U.S. Grains Council recently organized the 6th Asia Grain Transportation Conference in Singapore, which generated trade commitments of more than $100 million in U.S. agricultural products.

Conference attendees heard an overview of the U.S. crushing industry, the evolution of the grain business, and transportation challenges affecting bulk and container shipping. Speakers focused on the impact the Panama Canal expansion will have on trade, cargo insurance and developments in the U.S. export and transportation systems.

Leaders representing USSEC, the United Soybean Board (USB), and the American Soybean Association (ASA) recently attended the China-U.S. Food Security, Food Safety and Sustainable Agriculture Development seminar in Beijing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service and the Development Research Center (DRC) of the Chinese State Council organized the event. Vanessa Kummer, USB chair; Sharon Covert, USB international marketing committee chair; Danny Murphy, ASA first vice president; Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO; Paul Burke, ASA-IM North Asia regional director; and Xiaoping Zhang, ASA-IM China country director joined more than 70 industry officials, researchers, and representatives at the conference.

USSEC recently conducted a seminar in Davao, Phillippines focused on milkfish cage culture and pond feed-based culture. More than 30 members of the Panacan Scrap and Recycle Consumer Cooperative (PARECCO) and sales managers from the Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation attended the workshop. PARECCO currently purchases milkfish feed from the Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation in Mati Mariculture Park, where they are currently operating 20 cages as part of the project.

Dear Friends,
Mark Twain said, “In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.” This year there certainly have been a variety of conditions in the U.S. with some farmers suffering drought and some have had fields too wet to plant. And maybe some of you have experienced both!