9-23 IAN Taiwan

Taiwan is the sixth largest market for U.S. wheat, and they have purchased 520 million bushels of U.S. wheat valued at $3.27 billion since 1998. Idaho Wheat Commission Chairman Ned Moon said a recently signed letter of intent to buy much more wheat is important for U.S. farmers because "it means that we know we have a place for our wheat to go. For Idaho wheat producers, it is a big deal to have somebody already ready to buy their wheat." A large portion of the wheat Taiwan purchases from the U.S. is grown in Idaho and although the letters of intent have become a biennial event, Gem State farmers said they do not take them for granted. the Idaho Wheat Commission's executive director, Blaine Jacobson talked to me about the importance of this transaction: "Taiwan is a wonderful customer. They come in every other year and renew their letter of intent and the total deal is for $484 million worth of wheat. A good part of that, not all of it, will come out of Idaho but certainly the soft white portion of what they need will come from Idaho. Taiwanese officials said the cultural ties and friendship between the two nations is a big reason their country purchases U.S. wheat