April Hemmes

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.

So what about the timing was terrible? So it was the farm crisis. So everything just fell apart. We had huge interest rates. So it was like 16% interest. And then the land, the price of the land was going up. So some people bought land very high price with a very high interest rates. And then our commodity prices were not good. And then once farmers started failing, the banks started failing.

So what about the timing was terrible? So it was the farm crisis. So everything just fell apart. We had huge interest rates. So it was like 16% interest. And then the land, the price of the land was going up. So some people bought land very high price with a very high interest rates. And then our commodity prices were not good. And then once farmers started failing, the banks started failing.

So we had a lot of agriculture banks go out of business. And it was a time of white crosses in the courtyard when they had to go sell farms and people selling off their, you know, possessions to make bank payments, things like that.

So we had a lot of agriculture banks go out of business. And it was a time of white crosses in the courtyard when they had to go sell farms and people selling off their, you know, possessions to make bank payments, things like that.

We did have overproduction. We just had too much. We weren't trading around the world and exporting like we are now. And so that's really late 80s, early 90s is when that focus to export, especially to China, really ramped up.

We did have overproduction. We just had too much. We weren't trading around the world and exporting like we are now. And so that's really late 80s, early 90s is when that focus to export, especially to China, really ramped up.

Well, because they had such a growing population then. And we knew we had extra we had to export to. But you have to develop these things. And it takes a long time to develop relationships and trust. And that all started, it actually started with President Nixon going there in the 70s. And you just start building that trust. And then they started importing in the 90s from the U.S. soybeans.

Well, because they had such a growing population then. And we knew we had extra we had to export to. But you have to develop these things. And it takes a long time to develop relationships and trust. And that all started, it actually started with President Nixon going there in the 70s. And you just start building that trust. And then they started importing in the 90s from the U.S. soybeans.

Well, it happens on getting involved in your local boards or state boards or, in my case, national boards. So, you know, let's zoom through the 90s into the 2000s. And through the Iowa Farm Bureau, I got to visit China for the first time on a market study tour. And... It was a bunch of Iowa farmers. And what first struck us on our bus rides was the agriculture, of course, because we're farmers.

Well, it happens on getting involved in your local boards or state boards or, in my case, national boards. So, you know, let's zoom through the 90s into the 2000s. And through the Iowa Farm Bureau, I got to visit China for the first time on a market study tour. And... It was a bunch of Iowa farmers. And what first struck us on our bus rides was the agriculture, of course, because we're farmers.