The "See For Yourself" group

Here is the entire "See For Yourself" tour group. It is made up of United Soybean Board directors, soybean farmers, media, and checkoff staff. We had a terrific time and learned a great deal about how checkoff dollars are being used to open new markets for U.S. soy growers. We want to say thanks to the soybean growers for including us in this adventure.

Tequila, Mexico

The final stop of the tour was the Jose Cuervo distillery in Tequila, Mexico.  Tequila production is tightly tied to the history of Mexico and this region in particular, so it was interesting to hear about its production and heritage.  Tequila is produced from the heart of the agave plant, seen here.  These pine cone shaped bulbs are steamed and pressed and then fermented and distilled to produce the tequila.  

The agave are maintained and harvested by Jimadors, men who usually pass down the trade for generations.  A Jimador gave us a demonstration on how to trim and harvest the agave plants with an amazingly sharp machete.  And notice, he is doing all of this in sandals!  We checked, and yes he still has all of his fingers and toes.  

I don't think you'll get much milk!

Pedro was our guide and interpreter through much of the tour.  He works for the Soybean Checkoff in Mexico and was a valuable host all week.  He also liked to have a lot of fun, including this moment with the cement cow on the grounds at Oleofinos.

Oleofinos Group

The second stop on Friday was at Oleofinos Group, a soybean oil crusher and refiner. We saw a number of production lines ranging from edible soybean oil to soaps and palm oil solids.  

Aquatic Depot

Our first Friday stop on the "See For Yourself" Tour was the Aquatic Depot, a fish genetics and production facility that uses soybean meal for feed. Tilapia production is a growing industry in Mexico, and the Aquatic Depot is a leading provider of fingerlings for other fish farms, so its support of soy protein for feed is important for U.S. soy growers. During the visit we saw the egg collection and development process as well as the tank facilities for tilapia production. Be sure to check out the video on tilapia production below.

Aquaculture in Mexico

While on the "See For Yourself" tour with the soybean checkoff, we visited an aquaculture facility near Guadalajara. Aquaculture is a growing industry in Mexico, with much of the production focusing on talapia. In fact, the country hopes to boost production enough to start exporting talapia to the United States. That is good news for U.S. soy growers as the Mexican fish farms are increasingly using soy protein. While at the farm, Mike Adams talked with Francisco De La Torre, the aquaculture program manager for the American Soybean Association about how the fish are raised and the potential for U.S. soy business.

A little taste of Mariachi to end the day

The "Young Guns" on the "See For Yourself" Tour

Interview with Illinois soybean grower Susan Thompson

Interview with USB Director Jim Call

Video of Carousel Milking Parlor at PROAN

Dairy Production at PROAN

The PROAN facilities also include three milking herds. Nineteen hundred cows step on the carousel at this facility three times a day to be milked. This is the first time we have seen an automated carousel system in place on this scale, and this is one of the smaller dairy facilities at PROAN.

Automated Egg Production in Mexico

Play the video below to see the automated egg production at the PROAN facility near San Juan, Mexico.

DeKalb is Everywhere

Who are those masked men?

PROAN takes biosecurity very seriously. That's why we found Mike Adams and Dave Russell from the Brownfield Network dressed like bank robbers. This one building hosts 1.2 million egg-laying hens, and it is just one of the PROAN facilities. The process is highly automated and very clean. Be sure to check out more images from the PROAN egg facility at our picture page.

Richard Fordyce talks about PROAN/ Mexico

While at the PROAN feed mill, Mike Adams talked with United Soybean Board director Richard Fordyce about the "See For Yourself" program, about PROAN and the demand for soy in Mexico and about his home farming operation.

PROAN in Mexico

Our tour in Mexico started in earnest on Thursday. We visited the PROAN company, a facility which is beyond the imagination of most of us in terms of its scope and vertical integration. Pictured here is the feed mill that processes the U.S. Soybeans and other inputs to provide hundreds of different diets for the swine, dairy, and poultry and egg production farms that are scattered around San Juan. All are operated by Proan, as well as processing facilities for the products from each of these animals. I think it took many in our group by surprise that such a large, integrated operation would be located in central Mexico. Be sure to check out more pictures of our visit to PROAN on our picture page.

Mike Adams Interview on making soy ink

Making soy ink at INX

Our St. Louis leg of the tour also included a visit to INX International, a company that produces soy inks in 50 locations around the world.  Managers at INX said virtually all of their customers now demand soy-based inks for all of their products, ranging from posters and pamphlets to boxes and soda cans.

Batches of ink being milled for smoothness.

Mixing a vat of soy ink.

Barrels of the finished product.

Some of the everyday products printed with soy ink.

Mike Adams talks about using soy ink with the Post-Dispatch production manager.

Using soy ink at the Post-Dispatch

Before heading to Mexico with the United Soybean Board and the "See For Yourself" program, we visited some businesses in St. Louis that use soy products, thanks to the efforts of the Soybean Checkoff.  Here, soybean growers tour the printing operation of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The daily newspaper runs soy inks on all of its presses.

The paper, will also prints the area Suburban Journals and other publications, uses thousands of rolls of newsprint each year.

The 1970s era presses run all on soy ink for both color and black-and-white.

Changing the aluminum printing plates in the press.

The Post-Dispatch uses so much soy ink it is shipped in by tanker-truck and is stored in these tanks on-site.