This year, the ISA checkoff program sponsored a virtual trade team video series that demonstrates soybean production from seed to export. The project was implemented to enhance opportunities for foreign buyers to experience all stages of soybean growth at one time, no matter where they are in the world.
The second video, sponsored by Baird Seed Company and the checkoff, follows Illinois farmer, and ISA vice chairman, Steve Pitstick, from Maple Park, Ill., as he provides an inside look at his operation during this crucial and exciting time in the production process – transporting soybeans to market.
As trade team visits have transitioned to virtual experiences due to COVID-19, these videos have become a mainstay to continue to build relationships with foreign buyers. This allows visitors who would normally have hands-on experiences at Illinois farms with soybean growers to be able to view the video anywhere in the world at any time. Pre-pandemic, Illinois would host more than 1,100 trade team visitors each year.
This video is part of a four-part series for virtual trade teams. “As we complete the yearly crop cycle with this series, virtual visitors can see all of the seasons versus an in-person visit of one day. They can experience the crop planting stage, weed control, summer growing season, harvest, taking it to market – the complete life cycle at once. That is unique,” said Pitstick.
Baird Seed Company, located in Williamsfield, Ill., serves the Midwest region including Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. They provide soybean growers with a wide variety of seeds including non-GMO soybeans and cover crops.
Doug Baird, CEO and owner of Baird Seed Company said, “We are excited to partner on the off-season video with ISA. Being a small non-GMO seed company in Illinois, it can be difficult to get our name into the farming community. We believe in ISA’s trade team work and their promotion of Illinois soybeans to export markets. This is a great opportunity to introduce Baird Seed Company and our offerings to Illinois soybean farmers.”
The video in partnership with Baird Seed Company was released on March 15. To watch the second installment of the virtual trade team project, click here.
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development and utilization efforts while the membership program supports the government relations interests of Illinois soybean farmers at the local, state, and national level, through the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG). ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean producers through promotion, advocacy, and education with the vision of becoming a market leader in sustainable soybean production and profitability. For more information, visit the website www.ilsoy.org.
Baird Seed Company, Home of Illini Brand Seeds, is a 3rd generation family-owned seed company that offers the largest selection of Non-GMO Soybean and Wheat seed varieties in Illinois. Serving growers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Ohio since 2012, Baird also offers a lineup of cover crop and small grain seeds processed at their MCIA Organic certified facility located just outside of Williamsfield, Illinois. Working with a 20,000 acre grower network, Baird supplies both Non-GMO and Organic soybean growers with production contract opportunities by supplying grain to multiple domestic and export food product customers. To learn more about Baird, please like us on Facebook @BairdSeedco and visit our website at www.bairdseedcompany.com.
For more information, contact:
Rachel Peabody
Director of Communications
Illinois Soybean Association
(217) 825-7654
peabodyr@ilsoy.org
