U.S. Soy Leaders Tour the Western Plains during 2023 PIIE Program

This week, ASA and USB leaders participated in the Producer and Industry Information Exchange program in North Dakota. USB and the National Oilseed Processors Association sponsored the program.

PIIE tour participants had a firsthand look at agriculture in the western plains while engaging in important conversations about agriculture and energy. North Dakota provided the perfect backdrop given its role at the intersection of those two industries. The PIIE tour provided an overview of the expansion of soybean acres, the construction of world-class crushing facility Green Bison Soy Processing and tours of Marathon Petroleum Renewable Diesel Refinery, Red Trail Energy, Carbon Capture and Underground Sequestration and ONEOK Gas Production Plant. Tour participants also enjoyed farm tours, saw the prairie potholes, visited NDSU’s Dickenson Research and Extension Center, and saw bison in Teddy Roosevelt National Park.

Throughout the week, guests including NDSU President Dr. David Cook, Dr. Greg Lardy, VP Agriculture, NDSU; Miki Miheguli, NDSC Research Programs Coordinator; Dr. Sam Markell, Dr. Wade Webster, Dr. Barney Geddes, Dr. Janet Knodel, Julie Hochhalter, NDSU; Bill McBee, ND Soybean Processors; Mike Keller, Green Bison Soy Processing; Doug Goehring, Commissioner, ND Department of Agriculture; Sara Otte Coleman, ND Director Tourism and Marketing; Clark Coleman, past chair, National Sunflower Association; Tamra Heins, Executive Director, ND Pork Council; Tony Heins, NDPC Board; and Ryan Taylor, Director of Public Policy, ND Ducks Unlimited joined the group for meals and fellowship. USB Directors Matt Gast and Ryan Richard, North Dakota Soybean Council Director Rob Rose and ASA Directors Monte Peterson (ND) and Justin Sherlock (ND) also joined the program.

Participants in the tour were USB director (and former ASA director) Sam Butler (AL); ASA directors Ken Boswell (NE), ASA Vice President Josh Gackle (ND), Don Lutz (WI), Phil Ramsey (IN), Jordan Scott (SD), Jerry Slocum (MS), and Jimmy Thomas (NC). ASA Executive Director of Government Affairs Christy Seyfert also participated in the tour hosted by North Dakota Soybean Association Executive Director Nancy Johnson.

If your state would like to host PIIE in 2025, please contact Christine Luelf, cluelf@soy.org.