USSEC sponsored a swine trade team from Japan to visit southern Minnesota in mid-May.
The mission team consisted of Japanese business executives, journalists and a farmer who were looking for ways to improve their swine industry. USSEC invited the team to learn more about U.S. agriculture, while forging a relationship that will lead to them buying more U.S. Soy.
The visitors toured a feed plant and visited Minnesota farmer Cole Trebesch and his father at their farm near Sleepy Eye.

Japanese farmer Atsushi Tokioka said, "Something I don't like in Japan is that we don't take pride in farming. But here there is a lot of pride in producing something."
Mr. Trebesch stated, "They can learn something from us and we can probably learn something from them."
USSEC and Minnesota Soybean organized the trade group.
USSEC is a trusted ally, working with QSSBs as their global marketing arm to enhance market access for state produced soy and soy products. USSEC is the state’s gateway to the international marketplace, providing timely and relevant information through USSEC’s proprietary network in 70 countries.