April Hemmes
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
So it's pictures of where I've been and some of my personal travels and soybean travels.
So it's pictures of where I've been and some of my personal travels and soybean travels.
Yeah. Yeah, the terracotta soldiers and the Forbidden City is over there. Wow. That's good stuff.
Yeah. Yeah, the terracotta soldiers and the Forbidden City is over there. Wow. That's good stuff.
So I'm April Hemmes. I am a 65-year-old farmer. I'm here on my family's century farm. My great-grandfather purchased it in 1901. I raise soybeans and corn on my farm in Iowa, the best soil in the world. And I've been on a lot of different boards through the years, United Soybean Board and the Iowa Soybean Board. So part of my travels to China were promoting soybeans. Okay.
So I'm April Hemmes. I am a 65-year-old farmer. I'm here on my family's century farm. My great-grandfather purchased it in 1901. I raise soybeans and corn on my farm in Iowa, the best soil in the world. And I've been on a lot of different boards through the years, United Soybean Board and the Iowa Soybean Board. So part of my travels to China were promoting soybeans. Okay.
About 53 percent, over half of the soybeans exported in the U.S. go to China.
About 53 percent, over half of the soybeans exported in the U.S. go to China.
And that's huge. You know, the American farmers were very good at what we do. We raise very high quality crops. And so we're so good, we don't use it all here domestically. We have a great domestic market, but we need to export it. So China imports our whole soybean, and they crush it there because that's the value is crushing that soybean, we call it.
And that's huge. You know, the American farmers were very good at what we do. We raise very high quality crops. And so we're so good, we don't use it all here domestically. We have a great domestic market, but we need to export it. So China imports our whole soybean, and they crush it there because that's the value is crushing that soybean, we call it.
And then 80% is the meal, and around 20% is the oil. And the meal goes to feed all their livestock. And I think they're the largest— Pork producers in the planet, they raise the most pork. So a lot of our soybeans get fed to their pork and ducks and chickens, poultry. And then the oil, all the oil gets used for human use, for frying.
And then 80% is the meal, and around 20% is the oil. And the meal goes to feed all their livestock. And I think they're the largest— Pork producers in the planet, they raise the most pork. So a lot of our soybeans get fed to their pork and ducks and chickens, poultry. And then the oil, all the oil gets used for human use, for frying.
So I came home in 1985. This is actually my 40th year at home on the farm, which is quite amazing to me. So I graduated in animal science from Iowa State University. And then I worked at the Iowa Swine Testing Station for a little while. And then I got a phone call. We need somebody to talk Iowan. in Washington, D.C., greeting people to a brand new elected congressman.
So I came home in 1985. This is actually my 40th year at home on the farm, which is quite amazing to me. So I graduated in animal science from Iowa State University. And then I worked at the Iowa Swine Testing Station for a little while. And then I got a phone call. We need somebody to talk Iowan. in Washington, D.C., greeting people to a brand new elected congressman.
And I learned pretty quickly that's not where I wanted to be. My goal all along was to come back to the farm. I kind of made that decision and called home and I said, I want to come back to the farm. And my dad said, no, you're not coming back to the farm. This is terrible timing. And my grandfather was the one who said she wants to come back and farm. She's coming back.
And I learned pretty quickly that's not where I wanted to be. My goal all along was to come back to the farm. I kind of made that decision and called home and I said, I want to come back to the farm. And my dad said, no, you're not coming back to the farm. This is terrible timing. And my grandfather was the one who said she wants to come back and farm. She's coming back.