April Hemmes

I think the value is that personal connection. The personal relationship. Because... It doesn't, I mean, it does come down to price, but when we can tell our stories and they have a face to put with that farmer, you know, they can go, oh, soybean farmer, April. Yeah, I know her. I've talked to her. I know how she raises her crop. I know I've been to her farm, you know, things like that.

I think the value is that personal connection. The personal relationship. Because... It doesn't, I mean, it does come down to price, but when we can tell our stories and they have a face to put with that farmer, you know, they can go, oh, soybean farmer, April. Yeah, I know her. I've talked to her. I know how she raises her crop. I know I've been to her farm, you know, things like that.

That personal connection goes a long way. You know, am I saying it goes a lot farther than cheaper soybeans? No. No. But when it comes to... It's a factor. It really is. And it's amazing to me how much of a factor it can be. And it does mean something now because they have other places they can go. And yet they still buy over half of our soybeans we export.

That personal connection goes a long way. You know, am I saying it goes a lot farther than cheaper soybeans? No. No. But when it comes to... It's a factor. It really is. And it's amazing to me how much of a factor it can be. And it does mean something now because they have other places they can go. And yet they still buy over half of our soybeans we export.

Eight or nine times, at least nine times, I think.

Eight or nine times, at least nine times, I think.

Oh, that chart's a beauty in 2016 or 2017. Because it was growing, growing, growing. And then the first tariff set. And then boom. Down.

Oh, that chart's a beauty in 2016 or 2017. Because it was growing, growing, growing. And then the first tariff set. And then boom. Down.

You mean today? Yeah, right now.

You mean today? Yeah, right now.

But no.

But no.

I knew it was coming. Here it was. I never answer that question.

I knew it was coming. Here it was. I never answer that question.

I have been asked that question every single time I'm interviewed. And my answer is, it doesn't matter who I voted for. We have them for a president. And farmers tend not to look back. We like to look forward, you know. And I just wish the instability of everything right now is probably what bothers me more than anything. You know, I worry about the what. What's the weather going to do?

I have been asked that question every single time I'm interviewed. And my answer is, it doesn't matter who I voted for. We have them for a president. And farmers tend not to look back. We like to look forward, you know. And I just wish the instability of everything right now is probably what bothers me more than anything. You know, I worry about the what. What's the weather going to do?

What are the markets going to do? What's going to do next for tariffs? But we need, especially in agriculture, quite honestly, in any industry, in order to plan everything. We need some kind of stability.

What are the markets going to do? What's going to do next for tariffs? But we need, especially in agriculture, quite honestly, in any industry, in order to plan everything. We need some kind of stability.

Absolutely not. And not just in agriculture, but in the bond market, in the stock market, everywhere. So it's hard for businesses such as farming or any other business to plan when we don't know if we're going to have a market to go to, you know. So I think... I hope. Let me put it this way. I hope. At the end of the day, they get together sooner rather than later.

Absolutely not. And not just in agriculture, but in the bond market, in the stock market, everywhere. So it's hard for businesses such as farming or any other business to plan when we don't know if we're going to have a market to go to, you know. So I think... I hope. Let me put it this way. I hope. At the end of the day, they get together sooner rather than later.