A Chinese province plans to build a demonstration farm, mimicking Iowa?s agricultural practices.
United States and Chinese officials launched the U.S.-China Friendship Demonstration Farm Saturday. The farm will cover approximately 1,330 hectares and mimic a farm near Maxwell, Iowa, operated by Rick and Martha Kimberley, and son Grant. Grant Kimberley said it is an honor to be a part of the demonstration farm.
?It?s an interesting opportunity, and one were honored to be a part of,? Kimberley said. ?Overall, this helps facilitate additional goodwill between Iowa and Hebei, China and the United States. It also provides a better foundation, helps improve trade relations and (provides) a better understanding and education of the benefits of modern farm practices. We?re honored to play a small role in facilitating U.S.-China relationships.?
The demonstration farm will encompass six centers and highlight different aspects of agriculture such as advanced seed systems, machinery and technology. Kimberley said the demonstration farm will help China in modernizing its agricultural practices.
?They have an aging farm population; they?re going to have less people returning to the farm. A lot of the young people are moving to the cities. Right now, they are very small farms. Down the road, they are probably going to get more efficient use of technology. To be able to maximize what they can produce with the land they have, they?ll need to grow their sizes, combine some acres and utilize technology like we do in the United States,? Kimberley said.
The demonstration farm is the result of Iowa?s sister relationship with the Hebei province, formed in 1983.
