Special Report

We’re headed to China

I’m very pleased and excited to be accompanying the Iowa Soybean Association on their latest trade mission to China.

It’s my first trip back to that country since 1983, when I spent nearly two weeks there as a participant in the Nebraska LEAD (ag leadership) program. I’m looking forward to seeing how much things have changed in 32 years.

I’m also anxious to learn more about China’s livestock feed sector, which will be a main focus of this mission. We’ll visit feed mills and talk with buyers of U.S. soybeans about how they regard the soybeans they purchase from Iowa and the U.S.

As we waited in the San Francisco airport to begin our 14-hour plus journey to Chengdu, China, I took the opportunity to visit with the leader of this mission, Iowa Soybean Association CEO Kirk Leeds. Leeds has been to China 15 times over the past decade, learning more about the largest customer for U.S. soybeans and developing relationships with key government officials and buyers.

“In Asia, and China is certainly part of that, relationships are very, very important,” says Leeds. “They like to know who they’re doing business with and that’s another reason for this trip.”

AUDIO: Kirk Leeds