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Trade missions to China,
Cuba leaving next week
The Associated Press. In-Forum,
Saturday, October 02, 2004.
FARGO, N.D. - An alfalfa processor and
North Dakota State University agricultural
officials are among a dozen people taking
part in a trade mission to China later this
month.
Chinese officials are interested in discussing
how North Dakota can help supply the country's
need for high-quality livestock feed, which
is part of an initiative to build up Chinese
dairy herds. The North Dakota group will
be visiting Henan and Shaanxi provinces
in east-central China.
Ken Grafton, director of NDSU's agricultural
experiment station; Duane Hauck, interim
director of the university's extension service;
and Kim Koch, manager of the Northern Crops
Institute's feed production center, will
be helping to develop farm management and
training programs in China, along with student
exchanges.
"There is significant opportunity
for satellite farm management facilities
in China, through a joint program with one
of their best agricultural universities,"
Koch said.
Mike Bloyed and Frank Moore of Heartland
Feed Inc., a Tioga alfalfa processor, and
state Rep. Bob Skarphol, R-Tioga, who represents
the region, are also part of the group.
Skarphol said the Chinese are interested
in importing alfalfa to feed dairy herds.
"They need forage to feed these animals
while they're being transported to China,
and they need forage to feed these animals
in China over the next four to five years,
while they are developing their own forage
industry, and their dairy industry,"
Skarphol said. "There are just a lot
of logistical things going on."
The delegation is leaving Thursday for
China, and returning Oct. 18.
Separately, Agriculture Commissioner Roger
Johnson said a previously scheduled North
Dakota trade trip to Cuba will take place
next week. The three-person group will leave
Monday for the four-day trade mission, which
will concentrate on selling dry peas.
"This trip was requested by the Cubans
last December to specifically focus on further
North Dakota pea sales," Johnson said
Friday.
The group had intended to visit Cuba Sept.
10-13, but Hurricane Ivan forced the trip
to be rescheduled.
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