10-5 IAN TAIWAN FLOUR

 Lt. Governor Brad Little presided as Taiwan Flour Mills Association representatives and Idaho wheat industry officials signed an agreement supporting U.S. wheat exports over the next two years – a deal worth $484 million. Taiwan Flour Mills Association Director General Daniel Liao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle said “Taiwan and Idaho have always had a strong partnership, built on a foundation of cooperation, trust and prosperity. Taiwan has consistently been one of Idaho’s top 10 export markets for food and agriculture.  In the first half of 2011, exports are up nearly 20 percent.” The total U.S. wheat exports over the next two years – the deal worth $484 million is going to be very lucrative to Idaho. Executive director of the Idaho wheat commission, Blaine Jacobson had this to say about the deal with Taiwan: “ A good portion of the wheat and the deal will come out of Idaho and be exported out of the Port of Portland.”

 The agreement is particularly important to Idaho, which exports approximately 50 percent of its wheat. Wheat is one of Idaho’s top commodities. Grown on more than 1.4 million acres in 2010, Idaho's wheat crops were worth more that $672 million, second only to potatoes in cash crop receipts.