Building international relationships from the seat of a combine

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

While the livestock industry is the largest domestic customer of U.S. soybeans, foreign trade and soybean exports remain critical to the industry. Roughly 60% of U.S. soybeans are exported. U.S. soy remains America’s number one agricultural export, contributing more than $31 billion to the economy in 2024. Regardless of the commodity, trade does not occur without the work of individuals building relationships. Agricultural commodity organizations work every day to help build and develop those relationships to create and grow international markets.

This market development concept was never more apparent to Ray Van Horn than when he had the opportunity to host a trade team on his farm. “At the end of 2023, I was able to host a trade team from China. They were the largest grain buyers in the world,” said Van Horn. “I actually had the world’s largest green buyer sitting in the cab of the combine beside me.… Continue reading