Jay, Adams host tour

Purdue University’s 83rd annual Farm Management Tour drew hundreds to Jay and Adams counties Tuesday and today.
Farmers, agribusiness representatives, Purdue faculty, and students toured IOM Grain’s Portland operation and the Johnson family farm in rural Redkey.
IOM’s Ramon Loucks told a crowd of about 250 how the company has successfully moved into the marketing of food-grade, non-GMO soybeans to consumers in not only the U.S. but China, Japan and Singapore.
“Compared to the rest of the United States, year-in-year-out, we have higher oil content and higher protein content,” Loucks said. “Anytime you want to talk quality … they’re talking (Indiana, Ohio, Michigan) soybeans. They’re talking about our region.”
Loucks took part in a panel discussion led by Purdue agricultural economist Chris Hurt and including Jay County farmer Greg Miller, who produces soybeans for IOM.
The company has about 200 to 250 growers, though not all of them are growing soybeans for IOM every year.
“We are all about long-term end user customers, and we are all about long-term grower relationships,” said Loucks.
Soybeans raised for human consumption in products such as tofu bring a higher price per bushel on the market than those raised for animal feed.
“We do go after the premium,” said Miller. “That’s our goal.”
Loucks explained that IOM doesn’t see itself in competition with huge companies like Cargill but has instead identified a niche market.
“We’re a boutique market,” he said. “We are a high end market. … The future looks good (but) we’re only as good as the last bushel we ship.”
Following the panel discussion, the group took guided tours of the IOM plant, located on county road 100 North in the north Portland industrial park.
Three generations of the Johnson family welcomed the tour to their farm on county road 1150 West. The family produces popcorn, seed soybeans, and seed wheat.
This morning the tour moved to Adams County, touring the Sommer and Beer farms near Berne and the Nidlinger farms near Decatur.