SQJ Taipei

Or is it Taiwan news in Nebraska?

I have a few RSS feeds about Taiwan in my reader and it was cool to see Nebraska show up in several headlines yesterday.

They were linking this article from the Omaha World-Herald.

Taiwanese vow to buy Nebraska products

I wish I’d known that Gov. Heineman was here on the island… I’d have certainly invited him over for steaks on the grill and we’d probably have talked some Husker football and that would no doubt lead to this question, “What does it feel like to be one of only a handful of people to ever defeat Tom Osborne?”

I seriously would have contacted his “people” had I known he’d be here… who knows what would have transpired. I’d be a better tour guide than anyone else he had anyway, IMO.

But enough about that… let’s talk some Nebraska Agribusiness.

According to the article…

Taiwanese officials signed a letter of intent to purchase corn, wheat and soybeans worth between $375 million and $462 million over the next two years.

The letter of intent calls for purchases of Nebraska corn valued at $150 million to $200 million, soybeans valued at $105 million to $112 million and wheat valued at $120 million to $150 million.

The total would more than double the current $125 million annual average of grain and soybean sales to Taiwan, the governor said.

Heineman said he is confident that Taiwanese officials will follow through with the purchase agreement. He said Taiwan, which ranks as the sixth-largest export market for U.S. agricultural products, has a history of living up to its agreements.

With all the soy products here… I knew the beans had to come from somewhere. I’m glad to know that some are from Nebraska. I’m sure the ones from Nebraska will taste better than the ones from Missouri and Iowa. lol

Actually, as a guy who spent summers detasseling and walking beans… this agreement is a nice slice of home.

Now… could we please get an agreement for some Nebraska Beef?

 
Photograph by Peter Miller/Getty Images

Photograph by somebody standing in the middle of a corn field