Taiwanese Delegation Visits Cooperative Extension Service State Office

RYAN MCGEENEY

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

A delegation of about 25 Taiwanese officials met with Cooperative Extension Service experts on Sept. 19 as part of a visit intended to strengthen agricultural trade relationships with Arkansas and the United States.

The Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach and education arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, was represented by its director, John Anderson, extension senior vice president for agriculture, as well as three extension researchers.

Morgan Haas, a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, accompanied the delegation during their tour of Arkansas agricultural sites.

“The delegation is here to deepen partnerships in agricultural trade, including the signing of letters of intent to purchase corn and soybeans,” Haas said. “This is the delegation’s first visit to Arkansas.”

Mike Daniels, extension distinguished professor of crop, soil and environmental sciences, spoke to the visitors about the Discovery Farm Project, in which Division of Agriculture researchers work with farmers to measure agricultural runoff and develop plans to minimize waste.

"It was an honor to speak to the Taiwan Delegation about how we address natural resource sustainability with the Arkansas Discovery Farm program,” Daniels said. “Concerns about water quality and quantity and how it is affected by agriculture, climate and its interaction with soil is shared universally around the globe.  Exchanges like this allow us to learn from one another's experiences." 

Jason Davis, extension application specialist, spoke about the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles in agriculture.

“I valued the open discussion with the Taiwanese delegation,” Davis said. “We discussed how Arkansas farmers efficiently manage seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers with high-tech equipment across large fields. While we focus on uniformity over broad acreages, they prioritize precise, plant-level care in smaller fields.”

Haas said the other Arkansas locations the delegation visited included Origami Sake in Hot Springs, the Arkansas Taiwanese Association, Bruce Oakley, Inc., Bearskin Farm & Granary, the Arkansas State Department of Agriculture, the State Capitol and the Bill Clinton Presidential Library.   ∆

RYAN MCGEENEY

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS