Northern Soy Marketing (NSM) is bringing international stakeholders straight to soy quality’s source Oct. 7-11, 2024, during NSM’s second annual Crop Tour, which will feature stops at soybean farms in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.  “I can’t think of a better way to demonstrate the quality of northern-grown soybeans than showing our customers the care that farmers in this region take in growing and harvesting soybeans,” NSM Chair Glen Groth said.  Established to promote the quality, consistency and reliability of northern-grown soybeans and soymeal, NSM works with respected researchers to paint a more accurate picture of soybean feed quality by considering critical essential amino acids rather than crude protein as the true measure of soy quality. And it all starts at the farm gate.   “A big aspect of NSM’s efforts to unlock the knowledge of soybean quality includes visiting international stakeholders and meeting with them one-on-one,” NSM Market Development Project Manager Katelyn Engquist said. “The Crop Tour is an opportunity for NSM to reciprocate that hospitality and show purchasers where northern-grown soy is born.”  The Crop Tour kicks off on Monday, Oct 7, at United Soybean Board Director Tony Mellenthin’s farm in Eau Galle, Wis. From there, the group will head to Groth’s family farm in Ridgeway, Minn. On Tuesday, the group will tour University of Minnesota’s soybean research plots and visit NSM Director Patrick O’Leary’s farm in Danvers, Minn.   “I’m excited for them to see our clean fields and our harvesting equipment, and to answer any questions they may have about our production practices,” Groth said. “I want them to feel at ease, knowing that when they’re purchasing soybeans from us, they’re getting a great value.”  Wednesday, Oct. 9, will bring the group to South Dakota where they will tour South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council Director Chad Schooley’s operation in Castlewood, S.D., along with the South Dakota Soybean Processors plant in Volga, S.D. The tour will wrap up in Washington with a tour of Grays Harbor and AGP’s export facility, as well as with a Port of Seattle tour. “I want participants to take away that the farms in this region are family-owned businesses,” Groth said. “We take great care in producing a product that they can benefit from and use to add value to their business.”