The president of the Iowa Soybean Association says the agreement signed last week in Des Moines with the leaders of China’s ag ministry will bring great opportunities for Iowa growers. Brian Kemp, who farms near Sibley in northwest Iowa, says the memorandums of understanding will lead to more business and trade exchanges between Iowa and China.
“I think we’ll need even better cooperation as far as exchanging trade missions, exchanging information, becoming more knowledgeable of each other’s processes,” Kemp says. “It’s always helpful when we have producers go to China and better understand their culture and their livestock industry.” Kemp says.
China’s trade team also traveled to a central Iowa farm which he thinks will lead to more exports of soybeans to the Asian nation. “The group toured the Kimberly farm near Ankeny and it just really helps that they can see what we’re doing to produce high-quality soybeans to be shipped internationally,” Kemp says. “Anytime we can improve communications, it makes for better business.”
Memorandums of understanding were also signed by the Chinese delegates with the Iowa Departments of Agriculture and Economic Development. In the deals, the Chinese agreed to a $100 million contract that covers soybeans planted this spring for delivery after harvest. It represents 200-thousand tons of soybeans.
(Reporting by Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton)