AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Agriculture is a huge part of the Texas economy and it plays a big role here in the Panhandle. That's why a group of farmers and ranchers from New Zealand and Australia are here this week.
The agriculture professionals are taking an eight country tour, and we are country number six on the list of countries. They're part of a farmers scholars program and they are here to learn how we do things here in Texas.
The National Resource Conservation Service will take them around the area showing them thing like how we handle water shortages, and how farmers here irrigate, as well as learning how our dairy farms operate. They hope to learn these things and apply it in their countries.
A couple of the people from the group say this is a once in a lifetime experience.
"My eyes are wide open, I just want to look at what I can do and relate it back to my own business. And what I can implement and maybe able to pick up something from a rancher or what programs they use, my eyes are wide open," said Ben Hooper an Australian bee farmer.
Helen Thomas, an Australian sheep farmer says they are looking wide range of issues.
"We're looking for a range of ag issues and diversity, cause were a diverse group and we want to see how it's done on a bigger and better scale."
The group will be traveling across the Panhandle until Friday, before they move onto Fort Worth. They then plan to head to China and the Philippines before returning home.
