Idaho bean seed sales to Mexico up
By Scott Kraus, Ag Weekly correspondent
Friday, March 14, 2008 3:12 PM CDT
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| Bill Bitzenburg, left, chairman of the Idaho Bean Commission, and Kathy Stewart-Williams, University of Idaho Foundation Seed Manager visit a bean farm during their trip to Mexico. Courtesy Photo |
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — The value of Idaho bean seeds sold into Mexico rose 23.7 percent to $1.78 million in 2007, according to the Global Trade Information Service.
And that comes atop a rise of 125 percent n to $1.44 million n in 2006.
The increases follow in the wake of the Idaho Bean Commission’s efforts to develop markets in Mexico, according to commission member Brent Zeyer.
“We’re optimistic about that, and we’re still working on that,” Zeyer said.
In the past several years, the commission has grown test plots of seed in Mexico and participated in trade trips. Members have also organized tours of Idaho for Mexican bean industry representatives and attended agriculture events in Mexico.
Idaho is known for producing top-quality, disease-free bean seeds, said Zeyer, who runs Melmont Bean & Seed Co. near Nampa. Mexico, where bean disease can be an issue, offers a potential strong market.
“There’s a large amount of need down there for our seed,” he said.
The Mexican industry has seen the advantages of the Idaho seed, said to W.K. “Buck” Moore, of Moore’s Inc., in Hansen.
“They have seen the better yields, better quality and better resistance to disease with Idaho seed beans,” he said.
Commission Chairman Bill Bitzenburg, who grows beans near Twin Falls, recently attended the Expo Agro Sinaloa 2008 in Mexico with Kathy Stewart-Williams, coordinator for the Idaho Foundation Seed Program. He found a lot of interest in Idaho seed.
“I think something is clicking,” Bitzenburg said.
But Moore said he worries about the potential impact of higher bean seed costs. He is seeing some large increases.
“Seed is going to go up,” Moore said. “They’re paying some phenomenal prices to get seed in the ground.”
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