KDA Participates in Trade Mission to Peru

Kansans were part of a corn and sorghum trade mission to Peru in August. Pictured (from left): Kyler Millershaski of MK Farms Inc., Lakin; Wayne Cleveland, Texas Sorghum Producers; Jerry Long, Long Farms, Clifton; Thad Geiger, Geiger Farms, Troy; Sue Long, Long Farms, Clifton; Pat Damman, Pat Damman Farms, Clifton; Earl Roemer, Nu Life Market LLC, Scott City; Amy France, France Family Farms, Marienthal; Dr. Joe Hancock, Kansas State University; Max Tjaden, Tjaden Farm, Clearwater; Marri Tejada and Ana Ballesteros, U.S. Grains Council; and Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, Kansas Department of Agriculture.  Manhattan, Kan. - In late August, the Kansas Department of Agriculture participated in a trade mission to Peru, where the team promoted U.S. grain through seminars and meetings with some of the largest end users in Peru. The seminars were organized by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and U.S. Grains Council. The team representing Kansas on the trade mission included: Pat Damman, Pat Damman Farms; Thad Geiger, Geiger Farms; Jerry and Sue Long, Long Farms; Max Tjaden, Tjaden Farm; Earl and Barbara Roemer, Nu Life Market, LLC; Amy France, France Family Farms; Kyler Millershaski, MK Farms Inc.; and Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, KDA international trade director. Millershaski and Roemer had the opportunity to share about corn and sorghum production practices in Kansas. Other topics covered at the seminars and meetings included livestock nutrition as well as export shipping and logistics.  “While things are getting sorted out on the Hill, it puts tremendous pressure on agricultural organizations to start new conversations,” stated France. “It’s humbling and challenging to work on behalf of the U.S. farmer. I look forward to seeing how relationships grow between the U.S. and Peru.” Historically, Peru has been a strong customer for Kansas grain farmers. In the past five years, Kansas has exported over $186 million in goods to Peru with the top export being cereal grains, primarily corn. “While in Peru, the team was able to meet with two of the largest end users of corn. Both had recently started using distillers’ grains in their feed rations and were pleased with their results,” said Ryan-Numrich. “Peru is a very price sensitive market and both companies shared their plans to purchase grain sorghum from the U.S. when the price is right.” The trade mission was organized by KDA, USDA FAS and the U.S. Grains Council. It was funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration using a State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant. KDA strives to encourage and enhance economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy by exploring and expanding both domestic and international marketing opportunities. The Kansas Ag Growth Project identified both corn and sorghum international market development as key components for state growth. For information on this or other international trade missions, please contact Suzanne Ryan-Numrich at suzanne.numrich@ks.gov or call 785-564-6704.