News
Minnesota farmer encouraged upon return from SE Asia
A northwest Minnesota farmer is encouraged following a trip to Taiwan and Cambodia.
Austen Germolus of Ada recently visited southeast Asia as part of a Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership program.
“Things in the past probably haven’t been the best between the U.S. and Taiwan, (but) I think we’re progressing there. Taiwan alone has 23 to 24 million people in a small area, and they import a majority of their food products. So I think the potential is pretty great.”
He tells Brownfield Cambodia doesn’t have the population of Taiwan, but the country is growing.
“I believe there’s 8 million people in Cambodia, and you compare that to 24 million in Taiwan. There’s a lot of possibility there for U.S. ag products.”
Germolus grows spring wheat and soybeans. He sees Taiwan as a strong export market because of bread and noodle demand.
With Cambodia, he says a burgeoning aquaculture industry will need soybeans for feed.
