Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig was wheels up early this morning as he headed out on a state trade mission to Southeast Asia. The delegation will spend the next several days in Vietnam and Indonesia, two fast-growing markets that continue to show strong interest in Iowa corn, soybeans, ethanol, and pork. Naig says the goal is simple. Meet customers face to face, answer their questions, and strengthen the kind of relationships that help Iowa agriculture build long-term, dependable demand around the world.
Naig says this mission is about connecting directly with buyers who rely on Iowa agriculture to fill a wide range of needs. From corn, soybeans, DDGs, and soybean meal to strong demand for Iowa pork and beef, both Vietnam and Indonesia have become important customers across the board. He says the trip is a chance to answer questions, clear up misconceptions, and look for ways to grow those relationships even further.
I asked the secretary why these face-to-face conversations matter so much for Iowa farmers. He says it is not just about showing what we do here, but also about listening to what buyers overseas need from us. Those meetings often turn into honest conversations where Iowa farmers can explain how they raise crops and livestock, clear up rumors, and build trust in a way that simply cannot happen over email or through a third party.
Vietnam and Indonesia have earned that attention for good reason. Naig says both markets have been steady, reliable buyers of Iowa grain, protein, and even ethanol. With ongoing tariff work and efforts to ease non-tariff barriers, he believes there is real room for growth. Both countries have expanding populations, rising incomes, and a growing appetite for more diverse and higher-quality food products, which puts Iowa farmers in a strong competitive position.
When we talked yesterday, the conversation also touched on the recent meeting between President Trump and President Xi. Naig says the new framework is a positive step because it gets both sides talking again and lowers the temperature, but it is far from a finished deal. More importantly, he says it reinforces why these one-on-one trips matter. Relying too heavily on any single market creates risk, and building broader relationships across Asia helps protect Iowa agriculture when larger trade partners become uncertain.
As the trade mission gets underway, Naig says the focus will stay on building trust, answering questions, and looking for practical ways to expand Iowa’s footprint in these fast-moving markets. Vietnam and Indonesia already value what Iowa produces, but face-to-face conversations can turn good markets into great ones. Naig says Iowa farmers compete well on quality, consistency, and reliability, and this trip is another chance to show that in person while opening the door for even more opportunities ahead.
