New Trade Relationship With Ecuador Benefits Texas Ranchers (5/20/2015)

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently hosted a delegation of agriculture leaders from Ecuador and the United States to facilitate the trade of cattle between the two nations. Ultimately, the meeting has led to the sale of Brahman cattle from Texas ranches to Ecuadorian producers. The  formalized agreement will have a significant impact on exported products such as beef, sheep and goats.

“I’m excited to see leaders from different countries working together to improve trade relations and grow opportunities for Texas producers to market and sell their goods at home and abroad,” said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. “These types of trade agreements help Texas ranchers by opening new markets and showcasing the quality of Texas breeding programs.”

As the No. 1 cattle producing state in the nation, with more than 11 million head of cattle roaming the state’s land, Texas stands to benefit from the new trading partners in Ecuador.

“The Ecuadorian breeders are known for demanding quality cattle,” said Sloan Williams, owner of V8 Ranch. “We are so honored that the Ministry of Agriculture officials came to Texas ranches to select our highest quality bulls for this historic exportation. I am certain that these Texas-bred bulls will be an asset to the agriculture industry of Ecuador, and I look forward to seeing their impact." 

While in Texas, Minister Javier Ponce Cevallos, Ecuador’s undersecretary of livestock, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Texas A&M AgriLife Research (AgriLife), which establishes a technical and scientific cooperation in agricultural matters between the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries (also known as Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia, Acuacultura y Pescado in Ecuador, or MAGAP) and AgriLife. As the state of Texas’ premier research and technology development agency in agriculture, natural resources and the life sciences, AgriLife is a great resource and partner for the Ecuadorian trade group.

This significant trade mission sets the precedence for more successful trade relations between Texas and Ecuador in the future. Agriculture Commissioner Miller is committed to building impactful international relationships and facilitating trade opportunities for Texas agricultural producers.