Governor says Russia-Kazakhstan trip a success

"This trip was a great opportunity to show other parts of the world what the Kansas cattle industry has to offer," Brownback said. "It was a successful trip that will prove to be very beneficial to the Kansas economy."

While in Russia, the group met with Russian Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik, attended the Golden Autumn Livestock Exposition, visited with Russian beef producers about U.S. beef genetics and toured farms/ranches in the Tyumen region to see first-hand what Russian beef production looks like, Kansas Farmer reports.

The delegation also traveled to Astana, Kazakhstan for meetings about increasing agricultural exports from Kansas to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is in the process of building the animal agriculture sector of their economy. In the last few years, they have been imported live registered Angus and Hereford cattle as seed stock to rebuild their animal herds. Most of these animals are being air freighted from the United States.

While in Kazakhstan, the group met with about 15 producers during a roundtable discussion hosted by the Kazakhstan Ministry of Agriculture. In addition, discussions regarding how Kansas and Kazakhstan can strengthen trade of livestock genetics, animal health products, feed ingredients and agricultural equipment were had with the Kazakhstan President, Kazakhstan State Secretary, Kazakhstan First Deputy Prime Minister and Kazakhstan Minister of Agriculture.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan has been directed to work with the Kansas Department of Agriculture to determine an action plan for increasing Kansas/Kazakhstan trade relations regarding agriculture.

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