As the sun sets on FY25 and FY26’s horizon dawns, Northern Soy Marketing (NSM) remains strong and steady.  

“As we move into FY26, we’re going to continue to build on what we’ve accomplished so far as an organization,” said NSM Chair Glen Groth, who farms near Ridgeway, Minn. “We’re not going to be doing anything drastically new. We have our space carved out and have dialed in our international trade missions.” 

With trade missions to Thailand and Indonesia in FY26, NSM plans to once again meet and engage with international customers on their home ground. Though the specifics have yet to be determined, there is no doubt that valuable conversations will be had.  

During NSM trade missions, participants – which include farmer leaders, soybean agronomists, poultry nutrition consultants and marketing experts – hear firsthand the obstacles deterring buyers from U.S. Soy and walk through the nutrition benefits of northern-grown soy step-by-step.  

“We present our information in a concise and helpful manner for customers overseas, and really do the best job we can representing the quality of our soybeans grown in NSM’s member states,” Groth said. 

Promoting the reliability, consistency and quality of northern-grown soybeans, NSM works with respected researchers to provide a more accurate picture of soybean feeding quality by considering essential amino acids rather than crude protein as the true measure of soy quality.  

“I’m proud that we continue to engage with new businesses in Southeast Asia,” Groth said. “I feel that our international programming is really refined so we can add value for our customers, as well as to the soybean farmers in Minnesota and South Dakota. We’re adding value on both sides of the ocean.” 

It’s the people that matter, and it’s not surprising that meeting with industry stakeholders is what Groth is looking forward to most in the coming year. 

“I hope to meet more of our international customers, whether it’s on their turf or ours,” Groth said. “We’ll continue to learn more about what they need and how the farmers of this region can meet those needs.” 

And, once again, NSM will host its Crop Tour later this fall, which will bring international stakeholders to farms across the Upper Midwest. With the first NSM Crop Tour held in 2023, this event has proven popular among the companies that NSM delegations visit during their international trade missions. 

“We’re going to have the Crop Tour again this year, which is important for our customers to see how soybeans are grown over here,” Groth said. “They’re grown in an environmentally sustainable manner and stored in clean, modern facilities. Harvested with the latest technology, they’re grown on family farms by people who feel strongly about growing a good quality product that can benefit other people around the world.” 

Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate, as she did in 2024, and the Crop Tour will align with soybean harvest in the Upper Midwest, giving participants the opportunity to ride in the combine and grain cart. 

At the end of the day, as NSM moves into FY26, the organization hopes to move the needle for soybean farmers in the Upper Midwest. 

“As our yield increases, we keep growing more soybeans every year,” Groth said.
“We’re getting better at doing what we’re doing. Anything we can do with soybean meal offshores will increase basis and increase opportunity for Minnesota and South Dakota soybean farmers.”