Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and a group representing the state's commodity organizations and several of Iowa's government agencies departed Des Moines on March 29, flying overseas to join in commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of an historic event in Japan.

The Iowans are participating in the 50^th anniversary of the Yamanashi "hog lift" and the sister state relationship between Iowa and Yamanashi province in Japan. Another reason for the trip is the Iowa group is on a trade mission to Japan and South Korea, promoting continued trade with two of the largest export markets for Iowa agriculture products. 

"Japan and South Korea are key markets for our ag products and this trip is a great opportunity to continue to strengthen our trade relationship," says Northey.  "This trip also gives us an opportunity to recognize the 50^th anniversary of the Yamanashi 'hog lift,' which helped establish trade between the U.S. and Japan."

In 1959, 50 years ago, a typhoon hit Yamanashi province in Japan and wiped out much of that region's agriculture, in particular their livestock, primarily swine herds. Some Iowa farmers got together and with the help of the state government of Iowa and USDA, sent 35 sows over to Yamanashi to repopulate the province's swine herd. The Iowans also sent corn to Japan to feed the hogs. This "hog lift" of 50 years ago, accomplished by flying the sows to Japan on an airplane, led to the establishment of the U.S. Feedgrains Council and the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the market development efforts of today.

Vilsack, other Iowans also in Japan commemorating anniversary

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joined Northey and the rest of the Iowa group in Japan for the 50^th anniversary celebration. In addition to Vilsack and Northey, also participating in the trade mission are officials from the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Beef Industry Council, and the Iowa Sister States organization.

"This is a big event, with a parade and other activities in Japan to commemorate the help that the group of Iowa farmers and the state of Iowa gave the citizens of Yamanashi 50 years ago, and the establishment of Iowa's first sister state relationship," says Northey. "On this part of the trip we will also meet with Japanese government trade officials and Japanese business representatives and discuss mutual concerns and regarding agriculture trade." The group is also spending time in South Korea promoting continued exports of Iowa ag products.

Japan and Korea are two of the largest export markets for Iowa meat products, particularly pork. Japanese buyers purchased $288 million in Iowa pork during the first seven months of 2009, a record pace. Korea is an important market which will grow with the refinement of cold chain shipping methods and the introduction of chilled US pork into the South Korean marketplace.

People of Japan remember and appreciate Yamanashi "Hog Lift"

"The Yamanashi "hog lift" in 1959 was the result of Iowa farmers, our state government and the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service assisting Yamanashi in rebuilding its hog industry after two typhoons hit the region," says Northey. "The people of Japan remember and appreciate what those Iowa farmers, the state of Iowa and the American government did to help them by sending the swine breeding animals to Japan and corn to feed them."

That event 50 years ago helped create the U.S. Feedgrains Council (now known as the U.S. Grains Council), along with the U.S. Meat Export Federation, and the Iowa-Yamanashi sister state relationship, the oldest such relationship Japan has with a "sister city." The foresight of those Iowans and their willingness to help people in need has paid dividends over the years. "Today, Japan is our largest export market for feed grains and pork," notes Northey.

More information about the "hog lift" can be found on the Iowa Sister States website at http://www.iowasisterstates.org/HistoryOfTheBell.html.

Trip reports are available online

Reports from the trip are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov.  The reports are available by clicking on the "South Korea and Japan Trip" link under the "Hot Topics" section.