Wisconsin Soybean News

Wisconsin Soybean Producers Host state agricultural tour

MADISON, Wis. – July 17, 2007 – Wisconsin Soybean Association leaders are hosting visiting soybean producers from across the country at a variety of agricultural and cultural sights this week for the annual, Regional Exchange and Awareness Program (REAP) sponsored by EMD Crop Bio Science.

The tour, which is arranged through the American Soybean Association, is designed to showcase agricultural production in different parts of the country each year.

“The REAP tour provides a valuable opportunity for growers to learn about farmers in other regions of the country and contributes to everyone’s understanding of member needs as ASA develops national policy strategies,” explains Bob Derr. As a soybean producer from Marshall, Wis., and former WSA president, Derr participated in a REAP tour last year in Tennessee. This year he is accompanying the group on their 4-day Wisconsin visit.

Participants are touring EMD Crop Bio Science fermentation, packaging, and research facilities, a cheese plant, dairy farm, ginseng farm and processing center, Cranberry marsh and processing plant, and the Busch Agricultural Research Malt House. Along the way they will dine at a German restaurant, tour Lambeau Field, ride the Ducks in Wisconsin Dells, tailgate at Miller Park and watch a Brewer Game.

The American Soybean Association has offered this popular program to farmer-leaders since 1991 and this is the first time Wisconsin served as a destination. The WSA is a membership driven, grassroots organization working to build valuable relationships between growers throughout Wisconsin while focusing on the promotion of Wisconsin soybeans. Formed in 1972 with 200 members, the WSA currently has over 1,200 members. Additional information on WSA is available online at http://www.wisoybean.org/wsa_membership.html or by calling the Soybean Program office in Madison at 608-274-7522.