February 25, 2005
NDSU and NCI Animal Experts Present Seminars in China
Dr. Kim Koch, (left) Northern Crops Institute feed production center manager, Dr. Charles Stoltenow, (center) NDSU associate professor in the Animal and Range Science Department, and Dr. Vern Anderson, (right) animal scientist at the Carrington (N.D.) Research Extension Center, will provide technical assistance and highlight northern U.S. crops in China.
Fargo, ND -- Three NDSU animal scientists are traveling to Henan Province, China, to provide technical assistance in dairy and beef production and to highlight the value of the region's crops as feed products.
Dr. Vern Anderson, animal scientist at the Carrington (N.D.) Research Extension Center, Dr. Kim Koch, Northern Crops Institute feed production center manager, and Dr. Charles Stoltenow, associate professor in the Animal and Range Science Department, leave February 26 for Henan Province and Beijing, China, and return March 11.
During the trip, Anderson, Koch, and Stoltenow will provide educational programming to students and faculty at Henan Agricultural University, Henan Extension Station, and the China Agricultural University, Beijing (Ministry of Agricultural Feed Industry Center). They will also provide on-site technical assistance at commercial operations in Henan Province. U.S. Grains Council—Beijing Office, one of Northern Crops Institute's global partners, will host the group for a briefing. In Beijing, the scientists will visit with the Ministry of Agriculture (International Economic and Cooperation Center).
“China promises tremendous market potential for our agricultural products,” said Koch. “During this trip, we plan to demonstrate the value of our region's grains, oilseeds and co-products when placed into the product mix of Chinese food and feed suppliers.”
Program topics will include beef and dairy cattle reproduction, nutrition, genetics, herd increase, herd health, feed management technology, forage and pasture management, and animal management systems.
Technical information provided during these visits will assist the Chinese in improving livestock and poultry performance. "These meetings and seminars will open the doors to discussions on uses of northern grown U.S. crops for feed,” according to Dr. Patricia Berglund, Northern Crops Institute Director. "One desired outcome of this program is to bring Chinese to North Dakota for programs offered at the Northern Crops Institute and NDSU that will demonstrate the appropriateness of incorporating regionally grown crops into the Chinese product mix."
"This is a great opportunity for North Dakota producers, NDSU, and NCI. Our educational programs will focus on identifying ways for Chinese farmers to utilize North Dakota-grown products in their livestock rations,” says Dr. Ken Grafton, NDSU Dean of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources and Director of N.D. Agricultural Experiment Station . "Also, we can create a tremendous opportunity for our educational institutions in the state to help educate students from China. Their needs are great and our ability to provide for those educational needs would provide an influx of money into the state. This is truly the beginning of a win-win relationship for the state of North Dakota and the Chinese people."
Les Knudson, President, Superior Grains, Crosby, ND, will also travel to China at the same time on a related mission. He will visit potential Chinese customers for a new feed ration developed with Koch and Anderson at the Northern Crops Institute Feed Production Center. Knudson says, “The feed will not be based on corn or soybeans, but rather on crops grown in NW North Dakota. We feel we can be competitive with standard feed sources and have some added benefits not typical to feeds. It is too early to talk about formulations or project market size; however, we are very excited about this opportunity. We appreciate the help and cooperation of NDSU and NCI in helping to develop these rations and are looking forward to working together as the markets come to fruition.”
Henan Province Foreign Affairs Office invited the group to China and will provide in-country sponsorship.
The trip results from the October 2004 trade mission sponsored by the office of North Dakota Governor John Hoeven and the North Dakota Export Office. During the earlier trip, NDSU representatives from NDSU including Grafton and Duane Hauck, NDSU Extension Director, signed a memorandum of academic cooperation with Henan University. Northern Crops Institute was invited to propose training programs and opportunities to educate Chinese farmers on how to use North Dakota feed ingredients.
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