03/07/08 Bean seed sales to Mexico increase

The effort that started eight years ago is beginning to bear fruit, or in this case certified dry bean seed. The Global Trade Information Service says Idaho's bean seed exports in 2006 increased 125 percent from 2005 or from 637 thousand dollars to 1.44 million. In 2007 the bean seed sales jumped nearly 24 percent to 1.78 million and it's expected that exports this year will increase another 50 percent. Chairman of the Idaho Bean Commission Bill Bitzenburg of Twin Falls says with trade missions, seed tests, field days and trade shows Idaho has been able to show Mexican growers the advantages of using certified, disease free seed. BITZENBURG "It's a process. You've got to convince people why our seed is better than the seed that they're using which typically they just save a certain amount back and replant it which fosters bad genetics and disease." Bitzenburg says now that all import quotas on commercial beans into Mexico have been eliminated by NAFTA there are more opportunities for Idaho. The Idaho Bean Commission has already been invited to participate in an expanded Ag Expo in Sinaloa next year and Bitzenburg says dealers should come prepared to write orders. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott