The American soybean industry is in China this week celebrating thirty years of doing business with that country. Indiana Soybean Alliance President Kevin Wilson and CEO Jane Ade Stevens are on the trip with leadership of the United Soybean Board, American Soybean Association, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
Stevens told HAT in a Tuesday morning call from Beijing that the week is a celebration, but the U.S. drought is getting plenty of attention too.
“That’s probably the number one question we’re getting asked, and like everyone they’re wanting to make sure that they have a reliable supply. Their projections continue to show that they’re going to just continue to buy even more soybeans, so having a year where there aren’t as many soybeans is of great concern to them”
She says the Chinese are getting assurances that there is still time for a good bean crop to develop.
“We’ve tried to assure them that number one, the growing season is not complete yet and we are starting to get the appropriate rains across the soybean country and the soybean crop may be ok.”
Stevens says soybean scientists and farmers here have many challenges ahead with the future of the Chinese market looking very strong.
“Their population continues to grow. Their middle class continues to grow, and they are just going to continue to need more and more soybeans. They’re eating more meat so they want the beans for meal for livestock and poultry, and they also want it for the soybean oil. I was just at the supermarket at the Wal Mart near the hotel here in downtown Beijing and their isle of oils that they have available is astonishing.”
China is the largest international market for U.S. soybeans and national leaders that are a part of the delegation include United Soybean Board Chair Vanessa Kummer, American Soybean Association President Steve Wellman, U.S. Soybean Export Council Chairman Roy Bardole, and Lafayette, Indiana farmer Alan Kemper (pictured right with Wilson and Stevens,) Chairman of ASA.[audio:https://www.hoosieragtoday.com//wp-content/uploads//2012/07/Indiana-Soybean-celebrates-in-China.mp3|titles=Indiana Soybean celebrates in China]Hear the full HAT interview with Jane Ade Stevens:[audio:https://www.hoosieragtoday.com//wp-content/uploads//2012/07/Jane-Ade-Stevens-from-Beijing.mp3|titles=Jane Ade Stevens from Beijing]