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Nebraska ag director touts trade relationships with focus on Mexico

Nebraska Ag Director Steve Wellman says increasing ag trade with Mexico is becoming a priority for the state. 

But, he tells Brownfield some recent decisions have made it difficult to export grain like white corn. “There’s some policy on glyphosate, policy on biotechnology that is causing some concern for the ability to market food-grade products into Mexico because of the policy decisions that have been made recently and legal decisions.”

Wellman says the state wants to work with countries who are dependable customers. “Somebody that wants us to do business there,” Wellman says. “Like Japan for example, when we go on trade missions to Japan, we just want to say thank you first of all for your long-term business but what more can we do to serve their needs and make it a success for them as much as it is for Nebraska producers.”

Wellman says Nebraska’s top markets are Japan, Mexico, China, South Korea and Canada.

He spoke with Brownfield during the Nebraska Ag and Economic Development Summit on Wednesday.