URBANDALE, Iowa - A 15 member Chinese buyer’s group will visit Iowa Sept. 24 and 25 as part of a crop tour of the Midwest. The group purchases approximately $2 billion worth of U.S. soybeans each year, therefore the tour allows them a first-hand look at this year’s crop.

A stop in Iowa was a natural choice when planning the tour as Iowa ranks number one in soybean production in the U.S. The tour participants will have the chance to interact with and ask questions of Iowa soybean growers. By allowing these buyers the opportunity to hear directly from the producers about the soybean crop, they do not have to rely solely on the USDA and other market reports when purchasing U.S. soybeans. The tour is also a great chance for Iowa and the U.S. to build and strengthen relationships with international customers and it also provides them a greater understanding of U.S. agriculture.

The China Crop Tour participants arrive in Chicago Sept. 20 and travel to Indiana and Illinois in the days following. After arriving in Iowa on Sept. 24, the group will visit several Iowa farms. Those included are the John Hoffman farm near Waterloo, the Roy Bardole farm near Rippey, the Mark Muench farm near Ogden, and the Curt Sindergard farm near Rolfe, Iowa.

Hoffman is a director for the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and first vice president for the American Soybean Association, Bardole is also an ISA director and a member of the United Soybean Board. Muench is a former ISA director and Sindergard currently serves as ISA president elect.

The tour then moves to Minnesota and will also have stops in South Dakota and North Dakota, where the tour will conclude on Sept. 29.