Nebraska trade delegation returns from Mexico

Representatives from Nebraska agriculture, agribusiness, higher education and economic development returned from Gov. Pete Ricketts’s trade mission to Mexico City a week ago.

Larry Tonniges served as the Nebraska Soybean Board’s representative among the 25-person delegation. Tonniges said the main goal of the mission was to strengthen Nebraska’s relationship with trade partners in Mexico.

“The main thing Governor Ricketts tried to do was thank them for their past business and encourage them to keep or increase buying from us,” Tonniges said.

Over the course of the trip, the delegation met with Mexican business leaders, government officials and agriculture producers and importers.

“The people we talked to were very receptive and kind, were glad to see us there and appreciated the thank you,” Tonniges said.

It was a first-time visit to Mexico for Tonniges, who farms in Utica, Nebraska. He encouraged other producers to visit for themselves for a clearer picture of what life is like in Mexico—Nebraska’s second-largest export market.

“The first question someone around here asked me when I got back was, ‘is it as dirty as they say it is?’” Tonniges said. “I said no. It’s very clean and the climate is beautiful. I could live there—if it wasn’t for the traffic.”

For Tonniges, the trip also emphasized the importance of breaking down trade barriers.

“One thing I’d tell any Nebraska producer is that the Mexican people like the products we send them and are eager to have more,” Tonniges said.