The delegation accompanying Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Andy Miller left yesterday for the start of a food and agricultural trade mission to Mexico. This is the seventh trade mission led by either the Governor or Lt. Governor of which agriculture has been a focus – it is the third agriculture specific trip led by the Lt. Governor.

Why an agriculture trip to Mexico? Mexico is an increasingly important market for U.S. (and Indiana) agricultural and food products. Driven by population growth, an expanding economy and an increasingly market-oriented agriculture sector, Mexico is now our second largest trade partner (just behind Canada) and accounts for roughly 14% of total U.S. ag exports (about $12 billion) and 10% of our imports. More than two-thirds of Mexico's imports are sourced from the United States. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has enabled the United States and Mexico to greatly develop this complementary trading relationship.

The 26 members of the delegation hail from our major farm associations, our biotechnology industry, consulting and legal firms, and also some of our leading higher-education institutions.  The assembled group represents the state's broad agricultural interests in Mexico.  It also seeks to explore ways to bring stronger relationships between Indiana's Hispanic community and one particular Mexican state, Hidalgo. Indiana and the state of Hidalgo have a long history of working together with a large number of Mexican immigrants in Indiana from this state. A delegation led by Hidalgo's Secretary of Agriculture also visited Indiana just last summer and was hosted by Indiana Farm Bureau.

Yesterday was devoted to travel from Indianapolis to Mexico City and our arrival coincided with Mexico's Constitution Day – their national Independence Day.  Mexico City is the capital of the country and is a large city with nearly 19 million inhabitants.  The schedule afforded plenty of opportunity for the delegation members to interact with one another, exchange objectives for the trip and generally prepare for the week's meetings and events.  The warm weather and an entertaining traditional Mexican dinner made our adjustment to Mexico City an easy one.

We start this morning with a briefing by U.S. embassy staff on the political, economic and agricultural dynamics of the U.S. relationship with Mexico. This is intended to provide context for much of what we'll learn and the personalities we'll meet in this week's meetings. The rest of the day will be filled with extensive discussions on biotechnology and also tours of grain and feed mill facilities.

Beth Bechdol, Director of Agribusiness Strategies, is not licensed to practice law in any state and does not provide legal services.