Trade delegation signs deal in Taiwan for Nebraska crops

Nebraska Corn Board chairman Alan Tiemann, a farmer from Seward, is in Taiwan this week as part of a trade delegation.

The trade delegation and their Taiwanese counterparts.
(Alan Tiemann is seated on the right.) Click to enlarge.

Today, an announcement from Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman said the team had inked a deal with Taiwanese representatives for an estimated $436 million to $516 million in future sales of Nebraska crops to the country. The agreement pledges the future purchase of 800,000 to 1 million metric tons of corn, valued at $176 million to $220 million; 300,000-320,000 metric tons of soybeans, valued at $120 million to $128 million; and 500,000-600,000 metric tons of wheat, valued at $140 million to $168 million.

The agreement was signed by Tiemann; Dennis Fujan, vice-chairman of the Nebraska Soybean Board; Dan Hughes, past chairman of the Nebraska Wheat Board; and witnessed by Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach, who is leading the delegation.

Taiwanese representatives included indiviuals from the Taiwan Feed Industry Association, Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers’ Association and Taiwan Flour Mills Association. The agreement pledges to purchase crops through negotiations between importers and private suppliers over the next two years.

The nine-member trade delegation is exploring opportunities for agricultural exports in Taiwan and Hong Kong during the trade mission. While in Hong, the delegation will also promote Nebraska beef.