By Robert Pore
robert.pore@theindependent.com

Merrell, a member of the Nebraska Corn Board, recently was in Mexico as part of a fact-finding trade mission sponsored by the Nebraska Corn Board.

He was accompanied on the trip by Russ Vering of Howells, a member of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association board of directors, and Larry Smith, a cattle producer from Ashland and president of Nebraska Cattlemen.

Merrell said it's important for U.S. producers to understand the Mexican marketplace and the continued opportunities there.

"The importance of corn exports via meat is not lost on Nebraska corn producers," Merrell said. The trip, which wrapped up March 15, was organized through the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), a Denver, Colorado-based organization that promotes U.S. meat exports.

Merrell said the Nebraska Corn Board has supported USMEF since it was founded and contributed about $300,000 to its efforts this past year.

"We want to see all Nebraska producers, from corn to cattle to hogs, be successful and profitable, which is why we believe it is important to promote the exports of meat and meat products," he said.

While in Mexico, they toured several beef and pork processing facilities, cattle yards and a boutique meat retailer. Merrell said they wanted to better understand the local marketplace and its potential.

According to USMEF, in 2006, Mexico was the largest international market for U.S. beef and beef variety meat, with exports of 371,087 metric tons and a record value of $1.1 billion.

Mexico is the No. 1 market for U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports on a volume basis and second to Japan on a value basis. In 2006, USMEF said, U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports to Mexico totaled 356,418 metric tons, valued at $557 million.

Merrell said there's still a lot of potential in selling more Nebraska-based agricultural products to Mexico.

While in Mexico, they visited Mexico City, which is the world's largest city with more than 28 million residents.

Merrell said the majority of Mexico City residents still buy their meat from wet market vendors who sell mostly domestically raised meat products.

But while in Mexico, he saw boxes of beef that were from Nebraska packing houses.

"The livestock industry is still a major customer for corn," said Merrell, who raises both crops and livestock.

Vering, the pork producer from Howells, also said there is still room to grow for American ag products in Mexico.

"It was good of the Nebraska Corn Board to pull corn, cattle and hog people together on a trip like this so we can all better understand where we fit in the marketplace and how we all need to work together," he said.