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Illinois completes deal for hog sale to China
A trade lead obtained on a swine tour sponsored by the
Illinois Department of Agriculture has resulted in a large, $1.7 million hog
sale to China for a central Illinois export business.
Shipment
Ag World, Bloomington, shipped 1,226 Landrace, Duroc
and Yorkshire hogs in late September to South Golden Valley Agri-Husbandry,
Ltd., of Chongqing, consummating a deal that took two years to complete.
"South Golden Valley is starting a hog farm southwest of Beijing and
wants to supply breeding stock to all of Chongqing province, which has been
identified as an ideal location to raise pigs," Bruce Cluver, Chief Executive
Officer of Ag World, said. "The fact it chose Illinois for such an important
purchase demonstrates the quality of our swine genetics and helps explain why
Illinois is one of the top hog-producing states in the nation."
Work on
the sale began in June of 2006 when the department's Bureau of Marketing and
Promotion introduced Cluver to Chinese swine buyers on its Pork Tour, a
programme that promotes exports of Illinois pork products.
New facilitiesThe buyers
informed South Golden Valley Agri-Husbandry of potential trade opportunities
with Illinois and a deal was negotiated that September while Ag World was
exhibiting in the department's pavilion at VIV China. The shipment was not made
until 2008, however, to allow for construction to be finished on South Golden
Valley's new facilities.
Agriculture Director Tom Jennings said,
"Illinois agriculture is an export-dependent industry, and China represents a
lucrative potential trading partner for us. Our challenge now is to turn this
sale into repeat business and grow our market share."
Illinois currently
is the second-leading exporter of livestock to China with sales of $6.5 million
through June of 2008. The $1.7 million hog shipment will boost this year's sales
more than 25 percent.
Related Website
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Illinois Department
of agriculture
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