2006 Specialty Soybean conferences

Return to Home Page Return to News Release Page March 3, 2006
For Immediate Release
Specialty Soybean Conferences Offered at St. Cloud and Marshall in March
Fargo, N.D., USA – St. Cloud and Marshall, Minn., will be the sites for the 2006 Northern Specialty Soybean Conferences in March. The conferences will give both beginning and experienced producers valuable opportunities to learn more about specialty soybeans and to interact with processors who handle them. On Tuesday, March 14, the conference will be at Best Western Kelly Inn, St. Cloud, Minn. The conference on Wednesday, March 15 will be at Best Western Marshall Inn, Marshall, Minn. Registration deadline is Tuesday, March 7. “Many soybeans are used for food applications,” says Dr. Pat Berglund, director of Northern Crops Institute. “Most buyers of food soybeans have very specific quality requirements. It may be the clear hilum, a certain size, or a certain protein level or oil. I think there is a big future for specialty soybeans for particular applications, but they are not for every producer because of production practices and marketing issues. This conference will help clarify those requirements for producers.” Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and Northern Crops Institute will co-sponsor the conferences. “The partnership we have with Northern Crops Institute allows us the opportunity to make producers aware of the revenue-producing opportunities that exist when growing Identity Preserved (IP) soybeans,” says Lance Petersen, vice president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and International Marketing Committee member. “Domestic and global markets are rapidly emerging for differentiated soybean products and the NCI conferences will provide growers the information needed to effectively compete for these unique soybean market opportunities.” According to Jim Palmer, executive director of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, “Our International Marketing Committee sees specialty soybeans as a value-added opportunity option for Minnesota farmers who might be interested. Minnesota has supported and participated in the American Soybean Association's International Food Grade Soybean Conferences for several years now and has been impressed with the continuing growth.” Topics for the 2006 conferences will include an overview of specialty soybeans; varieties and quality considerations; production, handling, and shipping; market opportunities; and contracts and specifications. A guest panel of local producers will also share their experiences in producing and marketing their specialty soybeans. Speakers will include Dr. Patricia Berglund, Northern Crops Institute; Jim Boots, MN Crop Improvement Association; Dr. Jim Orf, University of Minnesota; Carrol Duerr, Midwest Shippers Association; Laverne Klecker, SunRich, Inc.; and Carolyn Lane, Northland Organics Foods. The program begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. A complimentary lunch will be served at noon. Pre-registration is required to ensure an adequate meal count. No registration fee is charged. For more information and registration forms, please visit NCI's web site at www.northern-crops.com and follow the educational courses link or call 701-231-7736.

March 3, 2006

For Immediate Release

Specialty Soybean Conferences Offered at St. Cloud and Marshall in March

Fargo, N.D., USA – St. Cloud and Marshall, Minn., will be the sites for the 2006 Northern Specialty Soybean Conferences in March. The conferences will give both beginning and experienced producers valuable opportunities to learn more about specialty soybeans and to interact with processors who handle them.

On Tuesday, March 14, the conference will be at Best Western Kelly Inn, St. Cloud, Minn. The conference on Wednesday, March 15 will be at Best Western Marshall Inn, Marshall, Minn. Registration deadline is Tuesday, March 7.

“Many soybeans are used for food applications,” says Dr. Pat Berglund, director of Northern Crops Institute. “Most buyers of food soybeans have very specific quality requirements. It may be the clear hilum, a certain size, or a certain protein level or oil. I think there is a big future for specialty soybeans for particular applications, but they are not for every producer because of production practices and marketing issues. This conference will help clarify those requirements for producers.”

Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and Northern Crops Institute will co-sponsor the conferences.

“The partnership we have with Northern Crops Institute allows us the opportunity to make producers aware of the revenue-producing opportunities that exist when growing Identity Preserved (IP) soybeans,” says Lance Petersen, vice president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and International Marketing Committee member. “Domestic and global markets are rapidly emerging for differentiated soybean products and the NCI conferences will provide growers the information needed to effectively compete for these unique soybean market opportunities.”

According to Jim Palmer, executive director of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, “Our International Marketing Committee sees specialty soybeans as a value-added opportunity option for Minnesota farmers who might be interested. Minnesota has supported and participated in the American Soybean Association's International Food Grade Soybean Conferences for several years now and has been impressed with the continuing growth.”

Topics for the 2006 conferences will include an overview of specialty soybeans; varieties and quality considerations; production, handling, and shipping; market opportunities; and contracts and specifications. A guest panel of local producers will also share their experiences in producing and marketing their specialty soybeans.

Speakers will include Dr. Patricia Berglund, Northern Crops Institute; Jim Boots, MN Crop Improvement Association; Dr. Jim Orf, University of Minnesota; Carrol Duerr, Midwest Shippers Association; Laverne Klecker, SunRich, Inc.; and Carolyn Lane, Northland Organics Foods.

The program begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. A complimentary lunch will be served at noon.

Pre-registration is required to ensure an adequate meal count. No registration fee is charged.

For more information and registration forms, please visit NCI's web site at www.northern-crops.com and follow the educational courses link or call 701-231-7736.