Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
The value of North Carolina’s ag and forestry exports already tops $5 billion. Later this week, Commissioner Troxler will be leading a trade mission to try to boost that number even higher.
A delegation of farmers, agribusiness people, commodity association leaders and commerce officials will be traveling to China. The trade mission will focus on tobacco, pork, soybeans and forestry products. These are four of the reasons why China is now the largest buyer of North Carolina ag and forestry exports.
The delegation will meet with current and potential buyers of these commodities in an effort to expand export opportunities. China has become an extremely important buyer of North Carolina tobacco, but there is opportunity for even more growth. China also is the largest soybean market in the world, so the delegation will meet with the three largest companies that buy containerized soybeans. On the lumber front, North Carolina is pretty well established in China’s large cities. On this trip, the team will meet with buyers in smaller cities to expand the N.C. lumber market.
Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda discuss the trade mission and why it’s important for N.C. agriculture.
[Audio:http://info.ncagr.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_4-7.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for April 7]
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