The U.S.-China High Level Agricultural Dialogue took place last Thursday night at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines. Naturally, one of the main focuses of the event was the agricultural relationship between Iowan farmers and Chinese consumers. Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) CEO Craig Floss spoke about the ability of Iowa producers to meet the wants and needs of those Chinese consumers. He said that, while he didn?t want to be repetitive, it?s important to focus on a friendly relationship between the ag industries of both countries.
Iowa ag leaders felt so strongly about the relationship with China that they chose to send Floss to China on his first international mission with the U.S. Grains Council in 1997. When President Xi Jinping later came on a visit to Iowa in 2012 and expressed their desire to purchase U.S. corn, soybeans, and pork, Floss said that Iowa producers had plenty of supply to meet China?s needs.
While the friendship between the two countries was growing, corn purchases were not. That changed in 2012, and since then, the U.S. has been sending much greater quantities of corn and corn products to China. Floss highlighted the recent record-setting U.S. corn purchases China made just a few weeks ago.
Stay tuned for more coverage to come out this week on the discussions from the U.S.-China High Level Agricultural Dialogue.
