Illinois Governor Honors ISA as Export Promotion Agency of the Year

In recognition of Illinois Export Week, Governor Pat Quinn honored the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) as the Governor's Export Promotion Agency of the Year.  The award - created by the Illinois legislature in 1993 - recognizes Illinois organizations that provide substantial export assistance to Illinois companies. 

"For more than 50 years, Illinois farmers have grown and supplied an increasing amount of soybeans to meet international customer needs," says ISA Vice Chairman Matt Hughes.  Governor Quinn noted, "The key way to making jobs happen is through exports.  Our soybeans are second to none." 

ISA has been involved with U.S. soy export promotion activities funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff since the mid-1960s.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 13 percent of all U.S. soybean exports originate in Illinois.  In 2010-11, Illinois farmers shipped about 209 million soybean bushels, worth $11.25 per bushel, or $2.35 billion, overseas.