The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) places a tremendous value on trade teams, and had the privilege of hosting an Australian trade team this week.

The trade team started out the day at the Minnesota Soybean office in Mankato, Minn., being introduced to the organization, as well as the various weeds that can be seen in Minnesota soybean fields.

The Australians then traveled to Bruce Ponwith’s strip-till farm near Cleveland, Minn., where University of Minnesota Regional Extension Educator Jodi DeJong-Hughes interacted with a soil pit showing the effects of strip-tillage under the soil.

“Strip tilling and residue management is something we have been trying to learn more about,” said Australian farmer Paul Flemming. “Being able to see a strip-till farm in Minnesota definitely showed us (trade team) that we are on the right track.”

The trade team will be traveling to the National Strip-Tillage Conference in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.

“We value the opportunity to host trade teams,” says Kim Nill, Minnesota Soybean’s director of market development. “Now more than ever, it is important to keep building these relationships by having an open dialogue with other countries and underscore the value of our high quality U.S. soybeans.”