Promoting modern beef cattle production practices utilized by Kansas farmers and ranchers and high quality Kansas beef products will be priorities for the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) during an upcoming trade mission to Russia October 23 - November 2.
KDA Agribusiness Coordinator Thad Geiger will join a delegation of officials from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Montana Department of Agriculture on the mission to Russia sponsored by the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc.  The delegation will meet with government officials, including government leaders in Novosibirsk, attend the Agro Expo Siberia and visit cattle ranches in the Novosibirsk region.
As Russia and other Eastern European countries work to rebuild domestic cattle herds, Geiger said Kansas has tremendous potential to benefit. Noting U.S. exports of more than 54,000 breeding cows from the United States to Russia in 2012, Geiger said this mission will help further solidify Kansas’ role as an international leader in the beef cattle industry.
“Kansas is a leader in the beef cattle industry, and many of our state’s seedstock producers are benefiting from increased cattle exports to Russia already,” Geiger said. “As we continue to expand exports to Russia, however, we also have an opportunity to help train and educate Russian cattlemen and women. Not only are good genetics and high quality cattle important, but so too are good herd management, record keeping, animal health and nutrition programs, employee training and risk management tools.”
The Russian federal government has provided support programs aimed at rebuilding the domestic beef and dairy cattle herds. Funds have been allocated specifically for construction and modernization of livestock farms, and the purchase of high quality dairy and beef breeding cattle, semen and embryos.
The KDA Agricultural Advocacy, Marketing and Outreach Team has worked with Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to expand export opportunities in Russia since 2010.