SSGA to launch European marketing efforts Sept. 15

/0 Comments/in , ,

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) is launching its marketing efforts in Europe on Sept. 15 with the U.S. Identity-Preserved Soya and Specialty Grains Virtual Seminar. This webinar will promote the U.S. container and identity-preserved (IP) traceability system and its benefits to European companies and consumers.

The co-organizer of the event, the Dutch company Bridge2Food, is promoting the event on its website and through social media channels to attract a robust audience of European buyers. SSGA is also working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture offices in Europe to promote the event. Target participants include companies along the soy value chain, from traders and importers, to food processors and ingredient companies, to food producers and retailers. Registration is free so we hope and expect significant participation by European companies interested in high-quality, U.S. IP products.

The seminar will feature three SSGA presentations and a virtual trade show. Two of these presentations will introduce the U.S. IP system and focus on its advantages, including traceability of container-shipped field crops. We will also have a panel discussion with U.S. producers of IP soya and specialty grains.

Concurrent to the presentations and during networking breaks, participants will be able to meet with exhibitors in the virtual trade show. SSGA members can exhibit for free. This will be a great opportunity for SSGA members to introduce themselves to the European market and to make new contacts in this important market.

If your company would like to join us, email Katelyn Engquist to register.

GTE sponsorship remains important for industry leaders

/0 Comments/in

By Shane Frederick, SSGA Communications Manager

For many years, SB&B Foods Inc. had been the lanyard sponsor for the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference.

With the 2020 GTE moving to a virtual, online platform because of travel and gathering restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, there was no need for lanyards and name badges.

However, that didn’t mean SB&B and other industry leaders weren’t still interested in throwing their support behind the event.

“Obviously this year we won’t be wearing lanyards,” said Todd Sinner, SB&B vice president and partner. “But it was still an easy decision because we see incredible value in it. I feel there’s no better global event than what you get at the GTE. We get the greatest return on our investment both as a sponsor and as an attendee.”

SB&B signed on early as an industry sponsor for the 2020 Virtual GTE, which will take place Aug. 24-27.

The DeLong Co. Inc., and The Redwood Group are the other industry-level sponsors of the global event, which is organized jointly by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA). The GTE gives U.S. exporters and international buyers a platform to build relationships, renew old ones and do business together.

The sponsors agreed that it was vital that the GTE continue on, even if it had to take place online.

“I think this year, probably more than any other year, the GTE is crucial,” said Adam Buckentine, director of Food Soy and Organics for The Redwood Group, a food and feed ingredient merchandising and solutions-based company headquartered in Mission, Kan. “Because of the situation with COVID, you don’t get the opportunity to travel and see your customers.

“To have visibility by being at the virtual GTE, we’re saying, ‘We’re still here, we’re still working and we still want to supply you with quality soybeans.’ … Name me another place in the world where we get to talk to customers from so many countries who are aligned in their interest in the soybean industry. It’s a tremendous opportunity to cover a lot of ground.”

Austin DeLong, who is in export sales for The DeLong Co., the agricultural products wholesaler based in Clinton, Wis., agreed.

“We find it very important to stay connected and engaged with our customers during this uncertain time of COVID,” he said. “The GTE and its trade show continue to provide a valuable agenda to update our international customers on the U.S. soy industry. Although we find ourselves attending a virtual event this year, we still believe constructive dialogue and new business development can take place under this platform.”

Sinner, who is chair of SSGA’s Food Grade Soya action team, says the GTE is vital to SB&B, the Casselton, N.D.-headquartered soy food and specialty company, as well as to others in the IP industry.

“For us, as IP soybean exporters for over 30 years, IP is something we’re passionate about and care about,” Sinner said. “Sponsoring the GTE is a result of that passion and care. We are able to promote (IP) to people around the world.”

Sinner said the work being done to coordinate a virtual event after the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the ability to have a live event is a continuation of SSGA’s agility and effectiveness since its formation about 18 months ago. That includes the efforts to try to open new markets for the IP soya and specialty grains industry and to create a national brand promoting the U.S. as a quality origin for IP crops.

“The leadership at SSGA, collaborating with USEEC, makes this a very powerful event,” Sinner said. “You’re able to see first-hand what the results will be because we’ve got a united vision now from one of the greatest soy producing countries in the world with a lot to offer. … It’s really been taken to the next level.”

GTE beat goes on, thanks, in part, to QSSB sponsors

/0 Comments/in

By Shane Frederick, SSGA Communications Manager

There are many ways to tell a story, and the story of 2020 has been told on our screens. That will be the case at the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE), which will take place in a virtual environment Aug. 24-27.

“The Global Trade Exchange gives Illinois soybean growers the chance to tell our story about the high-quality and sustainability grown soybeans we grow each and every year,” said Doug Schroeder, Illinois Soybean Association chairman. “The GTE also allows Illinois growers to share the story of how we get our beans directly to export customers. using transportation corridors like the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.”

Illinois is one of six U.S. qualified state soybean boards (QSSBs) that are committed to the GTE as show-level sponsors during this year’s show. Each will be presenting a session presentation during the show.

The other QSSB sponsors are: Iowa Soybean Association, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, Ohio Soybean Council and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

“I think the GTE is important because, like any business, it’s important for us farmers and the agriculture industry to maintain relationships,” said Patrick O’Leary, a Minnesota farmer and council director. “These conferences are a good way for us to not only build but maintain relationships. Even the idea of going virtual gives us the opportunity to still spend some time talking to our customers and have them understand what’s happening at our farms.”

Ohio farmer and council board member Bill Bayliss agreed.

“The conference is a great opportunity to create new relationships with international customers and thank current customers for their business,” Bayliss said. “Soybeans are the No. 1 export among Ohio agricultural products, and about half of the soybeans grown in Ohio are exported – which is why expanding international markets is important to Ohio soybean farmers.”

More than 1,000 U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) trade team members from more than 60 countries have been invited to participate in the GTE, which is co-hosted by USSEC and the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA).

“The opportunity to have leaders from all over the world representing so many different aspects of our industry together in one place, communicating face-to-face, was incredibly valuable to the continued growth of North Dakota soy worldwide,” said Adam Redmann, North Dakota council board member and a past attendee of the GTE.

The states did not shy away from continuing to sponsor and support a differently formatted event, as organizers are expecting a record number of attendees due to the virtual nature of the event.

“I’ve always felt that this is a very important conference,” Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board President Robert Karls said. “International buyers are No. 1 on our list as a target market. They make or break the soybean market. The conference is a means to an end providing an outlet to buyers who are so vital to the industry we’re trying to make better every day.”

This year, at least, the meet-ups that once took place between session, at the trade show or over morning coffee or evening drinks will take place online through a unique platform designed to give attendees as close to a real, live experience as possible so the work that has taken place in previous conferences can continue to be done.

“Exports are critical to the economic well-being of U.S. soybean farmers,” said Grant Kimberley, senior director of market development for the Iowa Soybean Association. “More than ever, we need positive news on the export front as sales this marketing year continue to lag. Events like the GTE can be a catalyst for renewing purchases of quality and sustainably grown U.S. soybeans and boosting prices.

“By working together and being together virtually this year for this year’s exchange, we can emphasize the quality of U.S.-grown soybeans and our reliability as a trading partner to an even larger number of buyers and prospective buyers.”

As part of its GTE sponsorship, states will sponsor a conference session and select a farmer-leader to introduce the presentation.

Int’l container shipping issues, future on agenda at 2020 GTE

/0 Comments/in

By Bruce Abbe, strategic adviser for trade & transportation

The 2020 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE) is less than one month away. The big international buyer and supplier event is a virtual conference and trade show this year for the first time and is expected to attract its largest international audience ever.

International transportation and container shipping developments will be one of the spotlight event at the GTE once again. A high-powered panel featuring four of the most respected U.S.-based leaders in intermodal container shipping will be on the agenda to provide an update and interactive presentation on global container shipping now and looking forward.

“Global Container Shipping – Shaping the Future” is the theme for this key session, which is sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association.

U.S. agricultural exporters and their international customers have experienced a strong sense of urgency in 2020 as it relates to timely and reliable shipments. Unpredictable trade interruptions have created concerns and U.S. exporters are working hard with their transportation partners to create a more dependable and consistent environment for moving their shipments.

Looking ahead
While the first half of 2020 was marked by unprecedented disruptions for international shipping due to the economic effects from COVID-19, the second half of the year is now looking considerably improved with most businesses now operating again. In the longer-term, global shipping’s future will be shaped by what all strategic supply chain partners can do together to be more proactive with solutions than reactive to shipping problems.

Change is in the air
With the right cooperation among all supply chain partners, change can be good and yield the reliability of service shippers and international customers need.

This GTE panel session at the will feature five transportation segment leaders with unquestionable experience in the international container shipping industry. The panelists will discuss not only the current outlook for shipping service and costs but also where they see the need and opportunity to expand and improve service from the inland U.S. to worldwide destinations. We anticipate a lively interactive discussion for those taking part in this session.

Confirmed speakers include:

Peter Friedmann, Executive Director, Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC). AgTC represents all agricultural export sectors, and Friedmann is one of the most-recognized and influential advocates for improving container shipping in Washington, D.C.

Uffe Ostergaard, President, Hapag-Lloyd North America. Hapag-Lloyd is the fifth-largest container shipping line in the world. Hapag is also well respected for its efforts to provide expanded container service to more rural U.S. locations.

Gene Seroka, Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles (POLA). The Port of Los Angeles is the largest container port in the U.S. in terms of volume and value. POLA handles around 20% of all cargo coming into the U.S. Seroka is one of the most-recognized and respected leaders of U.S. ports.

Roger Mortenson, Vice President, Grains Millers Specialty Products. Mortenson heads Grain Millers’ food grade soybean division, which supplies specialty soybeans to food manufacturers in many countries. Grain Millers is also the largest oat milling company in the U.S., and has specialty grains and food ingredient operations in nine North American locations.

The panel will be moderated by Bob Sinner, President, SB&B Foods and chair of the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance Competitive Shipping action team.

Visit here for more information or to register, if you haven’t already.

2020 Virtual GTE set for Aug. 24-27

/0 Comments/in

Registration now open for USSEC, SSGA conference

Everyone is looking forward to gathering together again as soon as possible, but until then, work must continue even in these uncertain times. That’s why the 2020 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE) is going virtual.

The 2020 Virtual GTE will take place Aug. 24-27, and registration is now open.

The conference and trade show, a jointly held U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) event, is an opportunity for international buyers and U.S. exporters to build relationships. While this has been done in person for years, the eighth annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange and 17th annual Specialty Grains Conference will be an online experience designed to allow those connections to continue to take place.

“Although we would love to be meeting and connecting in person with our soy family of associations, industry partners and customers, SSGA, in partnership with USSEC, is excited about the opportunity to put on the 2020 Virtual GTE this summer,” said Curt Petrich, SSGA board chair. “It is our hope that this unique, virtual format will allow all participants to discover new opportunities, efficiencies and benefits.”

More than 500 soy and grain industry leaders, buyers and suppliers are expected to attend and participate in the 2020 Virtual GTE. That includes 200 international buyers representing more than 50 countries.

“The U.S. Soy GTE is our global family meeting on the value and benefits of U.S. Soy,” SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg said. “SSGA is extremely proud to be a co-sponsor this year and welcomes all foreign customers to join and hear about the U.S. crop and, for SSGA especially, about traceability. The U.S. delivers food and premium soya with assurances of origin and quality through excellent identity-preserved programs.”

Besides USSEC and SSGA, the 2020 Virtual GTE currently has sponsorships from the United Soybean Board, American Soybean Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, Illinois Soybean Association, Ohio Soybean Association and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

GTE organizers plan to return to an in-person conference and trade show again in 2021 but are excited about the prospects of this summer’s unique event.

Once you register, be sure to keep your eye open for more announcements, including exhibitors, presentations and other details, between now and Aug. 24.

For more information, go to the 2020 Virtual GTE website at: gte2020.org.

Northern Commodity Transportation Conference to cover all the ag transportation bases

/0 Comments/in ,

If you build it, they will come.

In a matter of months, the inaugural Northern Commodity Transportation Conference (NCTC) has transformed from a brainstorm to a fully-curated meeting with dozens of panelists, ensuring coverage of every link in the ag transportation chain.

After all, every player in commodity transportation can empathize with the complex system of moving commodities from the Tri-State region to the West Coast for export. To untangle today’s myriad of transportation roadblocks, Ag Management Solutions, in conjunction with commodity groups from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, is set to unveil the NCTC March 11-12 in Bloomington, Minn.

“We are extremely encouraged by the response the NCTC has received,” says AMS CEO Tom Slunecka, who reported more than 100 farmers, industry leaders and legislative assistants will be in attendance. “The enthusiasm surrounding this event proves that there’s a demand to discuss these important, relevant topics in commodity transportation.”

This unique, first-of-its-kind conference will unite the entire commodity transportation industry to share and learn about trade barriers, struggles, similarities and opportunities along the transportation route as commodities leave combines in Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota and head for international waters.

“At the end of the day, we are all in this together,” Slunecka says. “If the system cannot turn a profit, neither can our farmers. Without profitable farmers, there will be no grain to feed the system.”

Transportation and non-tariff barrier topics such as grain quality criteria, phytosanitary issues, rail reliability and regulations and trucking efficiencies will be discussed. The majority of the topics will begin with a panel format, allowing for free-flowing, robust dialogue among all attendees.

“As privately funded transportation systems, railroads have unique challenges as we seek to continually improve service to our agricultural customers and ship their goods to markets,” says Steve Milligan, BNSF Railway’s ombudsman for agricultural products. “The NCTC is a great way to share information across the industry, and we look forward to being a part of it.”

Dozens of state officials and experts from the agriculture industry are slated to appear as featured speakers, including longtime economic and marketing consultant John Baize; American Soybean Association President Bill Gordon; Minnesota and North Dakota’s respective agriculture commissioners Thom Petersen and Doug Goehring; and National Grain and Feed Association President Randy Gordon. Staffers from Sen. Mike Rounds (S.D.), Sen. John Thune (S.D.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Tina Smith (Minn.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig, respectively, will be in attendance. Local and regional media are also expected to cover the event.

“Our hope is to create a better understanding of the many issues and barriers we face from the combine until the grains reach international waters,” Slunecka says. “Each of these issues we’ll be discussing help drive profitability for the entire system.”

Team members in the grain, trading, sales, regulatory and management industries will glean substantial value from this conference. Potential NCTC attendees include: grain elevator and terminal loading managers, transcontinental shipping lines, shippers, transloading facilities, rail lines, commodity association leadership, state government, regulatory groups and more.

“With a full slate of speakers and panelists encompassing the breadth of the commodity transportation industry, the NCTC is an exciting new event for anyone who is a link in the ag transportation chain,” says North Dakota farmer Mike Langseth, chair of Northern Soy Marketing. “We’re proud to sponsor NCTC, and we encourage elevator employees and farmers to join us in the conversation and find solutions to the issues facing our industry.”

Registration is $200 per person; walk-ins are also welcome. Visit www.graintransportation.com to learn more and register.

Kavazanjian shares IP challenges, successes at SSGA annual meeting

/0 Comments/in ,

Nancy Kavazanjian isn’t a stranger to the world of identity-preserved soybeans. Along with her husband, Chuck, Hammer and Kavazanjian Farms has been growing varieties of non-GMO or IP soybeans for more than 30 years. But when Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance Executive Director Eric Wenberg approached her to speak at the inaugural annual meeting, the longtime United Soybean Board director admitted she was a little hesitant.

Nancy Kavazanjian was interviewed by moderator Doug Monson at the inaugural SSGA annual meeting

“I didn’t want to hear myself talk for 15 to 20 minutes,” she joked.

Thankfully for SSGA members, she was more than happy to be interviewed in front of attendees on her experiences growing IP crops, some of the challenges she feels the industry is facing, and the need for more breeding and genetics for the industry.

Kavazanjian recalled her early days as an IP producer and how many farmers were growing anywhere from 10 to 50 acres of soybeans because the premiums at times kept people afloat.

“Once Roundup Ready came along, most of those farmers didn’t want to deal with having to grow conventional soybeans,” she said. “They all went to Roundup Ready. And of course, once the ethanol industry took off, there was a lot more corn being grown than soybeans.”

Kavazanjian said she sees a parallel in this tough ag economy to the ’80s, where those premiums helped keep farmers going. She says even today the premium is often more than enough to offset the basis in her area.

“We’ve had to change with the way the world has changed around us,” she said. “That’s just part of farming – being able to be innovative enough you recognize these changes and you capitalize on them.”

Kavazanjian, who hails from Beaver Dam, Wisc., said some of the challenges she faces include a lack of a crushing facility in the state, tools to continue to combat weeds and a better selection of varieties.

“As farmers, yield is everything,” she said. “But we need the people in this room, in this industry to work on getting us more varieties that are within a few bushels of commodity crops.”

Lastly, Kavazanjian spoke about sustainability, a topic that is near and dear to her heart. While she admits the word is often a buzzword with different meanings, she says there is no denying companies and customers care deeply about it. Her advice:

“Just embrace it. Use it.”

Ag Shippers Workshop to zero in on latest developments in export container shipping

/0 Comments/in ,

By Bruce Abbe, SSGA strategic advisor for trade and transportation

There are two big event days coming up early next month that Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) members and prospective members should take notice of and plan to attend.

The first is SSGA’s 2019 Annual Meeting on Dec. 3. It will feature two highly informative optional tours in the morning, followed by member planning meetings of SSGA’s three action teams, industry expert presentations plus the official member meeting and elections. Register here to attend SSGA’s 2019 Annual Meeting.

But don’t overlook the next day’s Ag Shippers Workshop. This year’s Minneapolis Ag Shippers Workshop, chiefly organized by the national Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) and co-sponsored by SSGA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will indeed be an information-packed, free flowing meeting featuring the latest updates on what is happening in global export container shipping from the inland U.S. It will also feature valuable discussion among shippers about the issues and strategies SSGA and AgTC should focus on.

The Dec. 4 Ag Shippers Workshop, one of seven AgTC is holding around the country, will be held at the same venue as the SSGA annual meeting – the Minneapolis Airport Marriott at 2020 American Blvd. East, in Bloomington, Minn.

Latest developments for the workshop include:

  • The ocean carriers session will feature senior executives for the Ocean Network Express (ONE) – the recently merged, large global service carrier made up of Japan’s three major container lines. ONE remains one of the most important carriers serving the Japan market and is important for many SSGA soybean and grain exporters.
  • Canadian Pacific (CP) Railroad will be sending at least one senior executive to share news about their North American rail system developments, including plans for expanding and improving service from CP’s Minneapolis container rail yard.
  • Informed discussion and information about the full range of other issues for shippers will also be held: the International Maritime Organization (IMO) low sulfur fuel mandate surcharges coming Jan. 1, the China/U.S. tariff war, new EU tariffs and other trade developments; free time penalties at the ports, rail, trucking and chassis issues and more.

If you or your business are involved in intermodal container shipping to reach and serve markets, this is a session you won’t want to miss this workshop. AgTC and SSGA members can register at a discount. Register here.

Weather or not: SSGA sponsors soy procurement course for importers

/0 Comments/in ,

Sun, rain and then a blizzard: participants in the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) Soybean Procurement Management for Importers Course seemingly experienced each of North Dakota’s seasons in the span of a few days during their stay in Fargo on Oct. 7-11. Soybean buyers from Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Nigeria, India and the U.S. completed the course to learn about merchandising and purchasing soybeans from the U.S.

Experts in commodity trading lectured on cash and futures markets, while grain merchandisers spoke about international grain markets.

“The course provided an overview of many different topics related to buying soybeans,” says NCI Program Manager Brian Sorenson. “Participants learned about cash and futures markets, how to hedge properly and about different risk management tools.”

After three days of lectures and tours in the Fargo area, participants broke into three groups: bulk soybean merchandising, food grade soybean merchandising and container soybean merchandising, for more specialized training.

Participants in the food grade and container tracks toured the SB&B Foods farm and processing facility and Maple River Grain and Agronomy, both in Casselton, ND, and Brushvale Seed in Breckenridge, Minn.

Participants from Vietnam, sponsored by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA), were impressed by the steps taken by farmers and suppliers to control their product. Although Vietnamese participants were limited on which tours they could attend due to African swine fever concerns in their home country, they enjoyed learning about the quality of U.S. soybeans and meeting suppliers of food grade soybeans.

Sorenson also noted that lectures about the nutrition and quality of soybeans were very popular among participants, as well as the farm and infrastructure tours.

Natto industry members meet for annual Natto Summit

/0 Comments/in ,

Twenty-three Japanese natto soybean buyers – along with natto suppliers from North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Arkansas and Ohio – gathered in Fargo, N.D., Sept. 3-5, for the third annual U.S. – Japan Natto Summit. The event was organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) with the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) serving as a partner.

Natto, a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, is often eaten for breakfast and is popular in Japan for its health benefits. Fermentation breaks down the proteins in the soybean, making it easier to digest than whole soybeans. Natto soybeans are small, with a clear hilum and thin seed coat.

Natto Summit attendees heard from experts regarding challenges and promotion activities in the natto industry, U.S. and global food trends, soybean production, agricultural technology, transportation, commodity supply and demand, gene editing and more. A common theme among speakers was the current declining agriculture economy that U.S. farmers are enduring.

Soybean ending stocks for 2018/2019 were a record high at 114.53 million metric tons (MMT), about 15 percent larger than the previous record set last year. A continued oversupply creates opportunity for producers to choose specialty beans.

“With commodity soybean production well below breakeven for most farmers, now is a great time to choose a premium crop,” says Dave Spickler of Lighthouse Commodities. “Growers need to think of ways to diversify.”

With natto producers, distributers and buyers all in one place, attendees were able to develop personal relationships and discuss issues in the industry.

“The Natto Summit is a great example of the farm-to-table relationship building with identity-preserved soya that’s needed in this era of a tough trade environment,” says SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg. “Japan’s natto industry and its associations and companies set the global standard for marketing and supporting their livelihoods by working together. The fact that the U.S. can be an origin and work with buyers to create exactly the crop characteristics they want for the product isn’t a niche – it’s an example of how building specific pathways for exports works well.”

Masako Tateishi, North Asia regional human utilization director for USSEC, agrees that relationships help create a successful Natto Summit and trade business.

“The Natto Summit allows buyers to get together with the rest of the industry to discuss challenges and opportunities and maybe create more natto sales in an industry that is growing in Japan,” Tateishi says. “Natto buyers also enjoy touring the facilities and seeing how the soybeans are handled safely and reliably.”

Three food grade soybean plants – SB&B Foods, Inc. in Casselton, N.D., Brushvale Seed in Breckenridge, Minn., and Richland IFC in Dwight, N.D. – hosted tours of their soybean research plots, breeding nurseries and facilities, where attendees saw each step in the food grade soybean cleaning process.

“Against Japan’s demographic changes, natto interest is growing. The Natto Summit shows how we all contribute to improve U.S. soy – the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) with its Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) funds, USSEC’s international organization muscle, and other soy partners in the United Soybean Board (USB) and the American Soybean Association (ASA),” Wenberg says. “The Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs) from North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin put their grower funds into supporting a great event that SSGA was also happy to contribute to.”