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Welcome to the Marketing Minute, highlighting the
marketing and development activities of the
Minnesota Department of Agriculture |
MN ag products destined for Korea
This week the U.S. Congress passed free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the passage of these agreements means over $2.3 billion in additional agricultural exports and an additional 20,000 jobs.
The agreements come just weeks after Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton led a trade mission to Korea which included business and agriculture delegations. Ag delegates included members of the Minnesota Corn Growers, Minnesota Soybean Growers, Midwest Dairy Association, IMQ for MN F.I.R.S.T., AURI, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Farm Bureau, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).
Outgoing United States Ambassador to Korea, Kathleen Stevens, hosted a welcome reception for the delegation at which time Minnesota-based Earthclean Corporation signed a contract with a Korean buyer to sell and represent their product in that market. Earthclean sells a patented fire retardant product made with corn starch.
"The trip gave these businesses a chance to learn more about the market for their ag products in Korea," said MDA International Marketing Specialist Brian Erickson. "There was a lot of interest expressed for our dairy products, especially cheese, as well as pork and soybean oil."
Along with the Director of the U.S. Embassy's Agriculture Trade Office, Michael Fay, the Minnesota ag delegates participated in ceremonial meetings with representatives of both the Korean Agriculture Ministry and their National Ag Finance Co-op. The delegates also met with the Hormel Korea Representative and the US Meat Export Federation Korea Director at "Good Morning Foods" - a Korean-owned butcher shop/convenience store that features a variety of Hormel products. With 13 stores in Seoul, the company plans to open one new store front every month in that market for the next year.
Other ag-related meetings and tours included Cheil Jedang Group's soybean crush plant and feed mill (a large buyer of US grains), Taeyoung Grain Terminal (a Cargill partner) and the new Pyeontaek port facility which is a potential development site for Cargill/Purina soy oil facility. Additional opportunities that may develop as a result of the trade mission may include pork processing investment and product sales, soy and soy oil, and new markets for specialized soy-based fish food for Korean aquaculture producers.
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World Dairy Expo never dissappoints!
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA) Livestock Development Team had a great trip to the 2011 World Dairy Expo, which had the largest attendance in recent memory. The annual event in Madison, Wisconsin attracts over 65,000 visitors and international guests from nearly 90 countries. The latest in feed handling and storage, dairy nutrition, milking technology and animal care is featured in nearly 800 exhibits.
This is an important event for MDA because of the opportunity to promote Minnesota as a great place to run a dairy.
"We can reach out to people who are considering relocating their dairy, wanting to buy a dairy or are looking for land to start a dairy," said MDA Livestock Supervisor Curt Zimmerman. "The number of people we can talk to over the 5-day event is phenomenal."
Some of the visitors to the MDA coliseum booth included Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Ben Brancel and interested producers from Colorado, North Dakota, Illinois, Great Britain, Germany and Canada. Minnesota industry representatives helping staff the booth included Minnesota Milk Producers, Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Anez Consulting, First District and Ridgewater Community College. |
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MDA receives more than $700,000 to
promote specialty crops
Minnesota specialty crop producers and programs are getting a boost from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the form of more than $700,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grants. The grants will be used to help strengthen the market for specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, and nursery crops.
USDA selected 11 Minnesota projects that support local and rural agriculture interests, increase the competitiveness of small producers, and promote or create direct marketing opportunities for specialty crop producers. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will administer the grants and partner with several organizations, including:
- Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association to increase the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) through workshops and demonstrations in an effort to improve food safety;
- Minnesota Grown Promotion Group, Inc. to improve efficiency and reduce costs of distributing the Minnesota Grown Directory by developing a mobile friendly version of the online directory ;
- Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy to create new selling opportunities for Minnesota growers of fresh fruits and vegetable by addressing key barriers in the K-12 school marketplace;
- University of Minnesota to reduce the barriers for specialty crop growers by educating consumers about locally grown specialty crops and creating incentives for school programs to serve more Minnesota specialty crops;
- Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association to promote and increase sales of Minnesota Grown regionally- adapted landscape plants and trees;
- Minnesota Turf Seed Council to introduce and market fine fescue grass seed into Minnesota in an effort to provide a reduced input grass variety that has economic benefits for growers and consumers alike.
A complete list of the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Awards is on the USDA website. |
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Upcoming events
11-17-18 Northland Inn, Brooklyn Park
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AG STATS
According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin in the world was 1,810.5 pounds, grown in New Richmond, WI.
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Apply now to exhibit at MN Organic Conf.
Dates for the annual Minnesota Organic Conference have been set for January 13-14, 2012 and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) invites applications from sponsors, exhibitors, and program advertisers.
This two-day conference provides the opportunity to reach an audience of more than 500 farmers and business people who are connected to the organic sector.
Applications from both private companies and public sector organizations are welcome. Sponsors can choose from a variety of contribution options including underwriting a keynote speaker, breakout session, meal or break. The trade show was full for the past several years, so in 2012 conference organizers are expanding the trade show area to accommodate up to 100 exhibitors.
Apply today with Jessica Rovie at 651-201-7170 or jessica.rovie@state.mn.us
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Minnesota Grown features family friendly fall fun
"Visiting a farm is a great way to experience fall in Minnesota," says Paul Hugunin, Coordinator of the MDA's Minnesota Grown Program.
Minnesota families will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy fall on the farm during the annual Education Minnesota (formerly known as MEA) conference October 20-21 when thousands of children will be out of school.
Hugunin says many of the more than 1,000 Minnesota Grown members offer fall activities such as hayrides, corn mazes and pumpkin picking.
"It's a great way to build family traditions that the children will enjoy, while supporting local farms at the same time."
The MDA's popular Minnesota Grown Directory lists hundreds of farms statewide that offer fall activities.
The free Minnesota Grown Directory is available online or by phone at 1-800-657-3878.
The online directory also offers Google maps making it easy to find the farm and direct links to the farm's website for all the details about the activities they offer.
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