Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts is leading a trade mission to Japan to promote Nebraska’s quality agriculture products and to encourage Japanese officials to invest in the Cornhusker state.  Ricketts and other trade delegation officials will meet with Japanese government officials and business leaders to promote Nebraska beef, pork, ethanol, and other ag products.  Delegates on the mission include representatives from ag businesses, state commodity and farm organizations, along with officials from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Nebraska Department of Economic Development.  Nebraska beef will be top on the list to encourage Japanese officials to purchase.  This week’s visit to Japan is the first trade mission following the Japanese legislature action to approve new beef tariff levels.  Ann Marie Bosshamer serves as the Nebraska Beef Council executive director.  She says Japan has been a good customer of Nebraska beef.  The Nebraska beef official says the Japanese prefer to do business on a face-to-face relationship.  Bosshamer believes more Nebraska beef cand be exported to Japan since the tariff levels have changed.  Nebraska Beef Board director, Ivan Rush is participating on the Japan trade mission.