09/21/05 Farm tour, meet the governor tomorrow

A seven member agricultural delegation from Taiwan will spend a few days learning about the Idaho seed industry, potato harvesting and fruit growing. Today says Idaho Grain Producers executive director Steve Johnson they will be on the go in Canyon County. JOHNSON "Take them on a tour of Idaho farms here in southern Idaho Thursday they will meet with Governor Kempthorne and do a signing ceremony for an agreement to purchase some wheat." The Taiwanese say they are going to buy 62 million bushels of US wheat in the next two years, a purchase that's worth 372 million dollars. Taiwan is the 8th largest buyer of US wheat but they'd like to see a free-trade agreement with the US. That's held up right now over disputes with software, music and video piracy in Taiwan. JOHNSON "From our standpoint we would certainly bring to the table that long standing relationship between Taiwan and the US in terms of agricultural trade." The Taiwanese delegation signed a grain purchase agreement in Washington DC and made stops in North Dakota and Montana prior to coming to Idaho. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott