Iowa Farm Bureau Federation District Directors Joe Dierickx and Tim Kaldenberg took part in a 20-member trade mission to Colombia recently led by Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke.

Coordinated by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), the mission encouraged trade development, bolstered business relationships and identified opportunities to expand export markets.

“Colombia really needs imports to help feed their growing population,” said Dierickx, who grows corn and soybeans in Clinton County. “They can only produce 20 to 25% of their food needs — the rest...