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Nebraska ag director says overseas trade missions critical for state export markets
Nebraska Ag Director Steve Wellman says he’s making overseas trade missions one of his priorities next year to help grow the state’s ag economy.
He tells Brownfield even with international travel being disrupted from COVID-19, Nebraska remained competitive on the global market. “South Korea has been a great customer the last couple of years. They’ve grown the amount of beef they’ve purchased from Nebraska,” Wellman says. “Japan is our leading export customer for Nebraska products. When you have good customers like that, you always want to stay in touch with them and stay connected with them and say thank you and what more can we do.”
Wellman says his department will also host reverse trade missions. “We have a lot we can show, and I think that gives a good, lasting impression on potential customers. When they can come to Nebraska and see the care and determination and the persistency of Nebraska farmers and ranchers – how they care for their products and the pride they put into it.”
And he says, “When we’re talking about beef or any other Nebraska agriculture product, we’re talking about a product that’s safe, a product that’s high quality and that’s reasonably price. Nebraska products are sought out worldwide because of those three reasons.”
Nebraska is #1 in red meat exports and #2 in beef exports.
Brownfield interviewed Wellman at the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Convention.
