South Dakota farm family to host Chinese trade team

A South Dakota farm family will host a trade team of pork producers and allied industry members from China on June 12. The trade team will join the Bainbridge family from Ethan, S.D., for a picnic and farm tour to learn more about South Dakota soybean production.

The trade team is here on a 10-day study tour of the Midwest. Sponsored by the U.S. Soybean Export Council, the group participated in the World Pork Expo in Des Moines last week. The trade team will continue the tour, visiting swine operations in Nebraska, Minnesota and South Dakota.

The farm tour and picnic will give the Chinese group the opportunity to better understand production methods, as well as strengthen the relationship between Midwest soybean and pork producers and customers in China.

“We are very excited to host the trade delegation at our family farm this week. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase the quality of our crops, and also to build relationships with our overseas customers and the end users of our product. Over half of South Dakota’s soybeans are exported, with close to 30 percent of South Dakota’s total soybean crop going to China. As farmers, we are committed to learning more about our customers’ needs and doing our best to meet them,” said Matt Bainbridge, a soybean farmer and South Dakota soybean checkoff director.

In addition to touring different types of swine operations, the group also will participate in a series of technical seminars hosted by SDSU faculty members on topics such as facility design, herd health, nutrition, reproduction and manure/nutrient management.