Soybean farmers meet with USMEF

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Soybean Alliance hosted a meeting with U.S. Meat Export Federation and other Hoosier commodity groups.

Over the past three years, Indiana corn and soybean has invested about $2.7 million to USMEF for meat promotion efforts around the world, said Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of USMEF.

“It was a good opportunity to sit down and discuss the progress made,” Halstrom said. “The combined impact of meat exports to Indiana for corn and soybeans was valued in 2022 at over $340 million.”

The USMEF works to build trade relationships worldwide.

“We’re also educating others, explaining the efforts that go into high quality U.S. beef and pork,” Halstrom said.

“That goes back to the inputs and efforts made by family farmers raising corn and soybeans. We talk about the high quality, safe products made in the U.S.”

Mark Legan, ISA board member and farmer from Coatesville, said that 2022 was a record year in terms of volume and value for U.S. beef.

Pork exports were down somewhat, but it was still the third largest export year for U.S. pork.

“A lot of people ask why are meat exports important to Indiana corn and soybean farmers,” Legan said. “It’s largely because livestock is the largest use we have in Indiana for corn and soybean meal.”