Dustin Vande Hoef
Communications Director
515/281-3375 or 515/326-1616 (cell)
or Dustin.VandeHoef@IowaAgriculture.gov
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today left for a trade mission to South Korea and Japan to promote continuing trade with two of the largest export markets for Iowa agriculture products. During the trip Northey will also participate in events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Yamanashi “hog lift” and the sister state relationship between Iowa and Yamanashi providence in Japan.
“Japan and South Korea are key markets for our agricultural products and this trip is a great opportunity to continue to strengthen our trade relationship,” Northey said. “It will also give us an opportunity to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Yamanashi ‘hog lift,’ which help jumpstart trade between the U.S. and Japan.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will join the group in Japan for the 50th anniversary Celebrations. Also participating in the trade mission will be officials from the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Beef Industry Council, and Iowa Sister States.
Japan and Korea are two of the largest export markets for Iowa meat products, particularly pork. Japan buyers have purchased $288 million in Iowa pork during the first seven months of 2009, which is a record pace. Korea is an important market which will grow with the refinement of the cold chain and the introduction of chilled US pork.
Yamanashi “Hog Lift”
The Yamanashi “hog lift” in 1959 was the result of Iowa farmers and the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service assisting Yamanashi in rebuilding its hog industry after two typhoons hit the region. Iowa farmers sent swine breeding animals and corn to feed them.
This event helped to create the U.S. Grains Council, the U.S. Meat Export Federation, and the Iowa-Yamanashi sister state relationship, the oldest such relationship in Japan. Today, Japan is our largest export market for feed grains and pork. More information about he “hog lift” can be found on the Iowa Sister States website at http://www.iowasisterstates.org/HistoryOfTheBell.html.
Reports from the trip will be available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov. The reports will be available by clicking on the “South Korea and Japan Trip” link under the “Hot Topics” section.
Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his first term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are promoting the opportunities available through renewable energy, encouraging conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture.
