Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts announced plans Monday morning for a new trade mission to the UK and Ireland August 20-28. “Trade is very important to the state of Nebraska. In a given year we will export $10 billion in goods and services,” Ricketts says.
“Obviously, it’s been a challenge with the pandemic to be able to travel. By and large most of our trips have been curtailed.” The trip coincides with Nebraska football’s season opener against Northwestern in Dublin.
Ricketts says Nebraska is responsible for 40% of the nation’s total beef exports to the European Union. “The United Kingdom and Ireland are key trading partners for Nebraska,”
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Ag Service shows that exports from Nebraska to the United Kingdom and Ireland totaled around $1.065 billion from 2010-2020.
NDA Director Steve Wellman said he sees room for growth in Nebraska’s agricultural exports to the UK and Ireland, and he encouraged the farming and ranching community to attend.
Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Steve Wellman says there’s a lot of room for growth in ag exports to the United Kingdom and Ireland, particularly in beef, pork, corn, and distillers grains. “Farmers and ranchers are the best people to tell the story of Nebraska agriculture and show consumers and agribusiness leaders the quality ag products that Nebraska has to offer. I encourage Nebraska agriculture representatives to consider joining us on this upcoming trade mission.”
Companies based in the UK also employ about 4,500 Nebraskans in 21 communities around the state. Businesses interested in participating in the trade mission should contact DED’s Cobus Block at cobus.block@nebraska.gov to apply.