Trade and Development Mission to Romania – Day 3

Commissioner Staples traveled to Romania March 29 - April 1 for a trade and development mission to Romania as an invitee of the Emanuel Agriculture Development Corporation. The trip serves many purposes: to establish a trade relationship that will foster bi-national commerce between Texas and Romania and to assist Romanian farmers and ranchers by sharing ideas that can improve their agriculture industry. Below is a day-by-day account of Commissioner Staples’ visit to Romania.

View a slideshow of his trip here:



The cars may be little and the streets narrow, but the Parliament Building is big – I mean really BIG. As in, second in size only to the Pentagon.

As the Romanian Senate Committee on Agriculture called it, the People's Palace, 12 stories above ground and at least 8 below (not all finished), is a very opulent structure and a marvelous display of many styles of architecture. It’s amazing that it was built only in 1984.

It is also amazing how productive Texas & American farms and ranches are compared to the agriculture industry in this young and new free market economy in a society that makes our country look like the babe it is.

I tried to convey to them our farmers and ranchers set the policy in Texas and the USA. Sometimes it gets out of balance, but an election or two usually sets things straight.

I also tried to explain how farmers and ranchers interact with agribusiness, extension service, career/tech training, higher education and all levels of government to be so productive and, we hope, profitable more years than not.

The group of Texans I traveled with was more than eager to share their expertise and knowledge with those wanting to make positive change. Also, trade and export opportunities for Texas producers and agribusinesses were brought up frequently with the Romanian Minister of Agriculture, senators, and university and academia representatives we met with today. We also met with Department of Commerce, USDA FAS and economic officials at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest. They gave the delegation some terrific ideas and were a very resourceful bunch.

I am anxious to see where all these positive visits lead for Texas agriculture. I am also very anxious to get back to Texas, which I am doing in the morning.

Trade and Development Mission to Romania – Day 2

Commissioner Staples traveled to Romania March 29 - April 1 for a trade and development mission to Romania as an invitee of the Emanuel Agriculture Development Corporation. The trip serves many purposes: to establish a trade relationship that will foster bi-national commerce between Texas and Romania and to assist Romanian farmers and ranchers by sharing ideas that can improve their agriculture industry. Below is a day-by-day account of Commissioner Staples’ visit to Romania.

See a slideshow of his trip here:



An eastern European country just has a different feel to it that is hard to explain.

It is almost like a throw back in time in a way, yet not quite. There is a McCafe on every corner and plenty of BMW ‘s and Mercedes Benz that rapidly pass you by on these narrow pot-holed roads.

Communism was so dominant here for about 40 years. While a democracy has emerged, areas are still struggling. Graffiti is so widespread in downtown Budapest and Bucharest that you have to wonder how this could be allowed to continue. It makes our graffiti problems, as bad as they are, look like child's play.

Yet, the people we meet with have determination and resolve. It is my hope we bring back with us this same determination and resolve and rekindle the fire that burns inside of so many Texans and Americans. We must remind ourselves that we have a responsibility to leave things better than they were when we found them.

Our group expressed every bit of that during our lectures with undergraduate business students about the powerful possibilities of agriculture and the capital investment it brings, along with jobs and food security for a country's citizens.

I guess what we are doing is similar to what every farmer does each season as they plant a seed. They have the knowledge and skills to know they are doing the right thing. Then, they ask God to bless their efforts.

Trade and Development Mission to Romania – Day 1

Commissioner Staples traveled to Romania March 29 - April 1 for a trade and development mission to Romania as an invitee of the Emanuel Agriculture Development Corporation. The trip serves many purposes: to establish a trade relationship that will foster bi-national commerce between Texas and Romania and to assist Romanian farmers and ranchers by sharing ideas that can improve their agriculture industry. Below is a day-by-day account of Commissioner Staples’ visit to Romania.

See a slideshow of his trip here:



Our flight brought us into Hungary ahead of our Texas group. While we waited, we tried to visit the U.S. Embassy located just a stone’s throw off the Danube River, which runs through Budapest. It always sends extra chills down my spine when I see Old Glory flying on a building in a foreign country and am reminded of the sacrifices soldiers have made over the course of time to allow our flag to fly freely. Unfortunately, it was a weekend, and we were unable to get to see the inside.

When the others arrived, we drove for almost four hours into Oradea, Romania, and had a really late dinner with the president and dean of the business school at Emanuel University, both impressive people. The president was a strong proponent of the move toward a democracy and away from communism.

This private college is attempting to incorporate agriculture business classes in its curriculum and has signed a memorandum of understanding with Texas Tech University for professors to come teach. The goal is to establish a dairy or greenhouse operation to use as a teaching and demonstration project.

Romania is a great place to explore new agribusiness initiatives. The country imports 70 percent of its food items. Since the fall of communism 20 years ago, agriculture has not developed as an industry. U.S. agricultural exports to Romania have fallen by about 50 percent since the country joined the European Union.

Emmanuel Agriculture Development Corporation, founded by Stan Ray of Austin (a former state FFA officer and vice president of Farm Credit of Texas) spearheaded the delegation and asked me to participate.

With the proposed and often debated changes to our national farm policy, it is essential Texas farmers and ranchers continuously explore new and expanded trade opportunities to maintain profitability. The Romanian people have come a long way toward embracing a democratic society with free market principles, and by supporting them, Americans can also further their interests.

We have a full schedule for the following two days that I will fill you in on. For now, it has been a long day and even these dorm rooms with single thin mattresses and the hot water already cut off are looking pretty good.