SSGA tours the Midwest

SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg toured the Midwest last week, starting with the AgroExpo in St. Johns, Michigan and continuing with visits to members in Indiana.

AgroExpo featured more than 130 exhibitors, including SSGA members Legacy Seed/DF Seed, Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Star of the West and Zeeland Farm Services. Member Michigan Soybean Committee devoted space in its booth to showcase the importance of variety-specific agriculture in the state, showing high-oleic oils made from its soybeans and food soybeans like those used to make natto and tofu. It was perfect weather to spend a few days outside and learn about how diverse Michigan agriculture is in giving farmers choice with crops to grow.

Senator Debbie Stabenow opened the farm show and acknowledged the importance of the passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to find better shipping solutions for exporters. Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lipstreu thanked SSGA for its work to support education and information on transport solutions for the state.

After AgroExpo, Wenberg traveled to Indiana to catch up with one of SSGA’s newest members, IOM Grains, as well as the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Crop Improvement Association. SSGA will host its annual meeting in Indianapolis, scheduled for December 1-2, 2022. Indianapolis is a wonderful location for the meeting, with SSGA offering assistance to Indiana and stewarding specialty field crops nationally. Indiana Crop Improvement Association Director James Fung operates the association with international markets in mind, providing field inspection and audits, as well as seed variety testing that make specialty markets work in the region. Watch for more information on SSGA’s annual meeting in the coming weeks.

Wenberg’s tour will continue this week with visits to Midwest Agricultural Export Summit, hosted by the South Dakota District Export Council, South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and Sanford Health.