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Minnesota ag leaders join USDA’s largest trade mission

Minnesota was well represented during USDA’s largest-ever trade mission.

State Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen and southwest Minnesota farmer Bill Gordon were part of a delegation led by undersecretary Ted McKinney to Colombia, Panama, and Peru the first week of June.

Petersen tells Brownfield he’s excited about the connections made.

“We met with top buyers and importers. A lot of interest in our corn and soybeans.”

Gordon, who grows both corn and soybeans near Worthington, calls Peru, Panama, and Colombia important markets because of their locality.

“The transportation costs out of the Gulf, or out of the western coast or even Panama Canal, we have a technological transportation advantage because of the Panama Canal over Argentine or Brazilian soybeans or corn.”

Gordon is also vice president of the American Soybean Association.  He says a growing middle class in that region wants American products.

Food and farm exports to Colombia have nearly tripled since 2012, increasing from just over $1 billion to $2.9 billion in 2018.

Thom Petersen audio:

Bill Gordon audio: