The Iowa Farm Bureau members who traveled to South Africa in late March found many similarities as they motored around the country at the base of the African continent. Like Iowans, many of the South African farmers they visited grow corn and soybeans, raise cattle on pastures and sweat out the weather patterns each growing season.

They also found that South African farmers, like Iowans, are welcoming, friendly and are eager to share and learn.

But the 24 farmers and staff members on the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) market study trip also noted some stark differences that make farming...