Russian Media Team Concludes Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa Ag Tour
Russian Media Team Concludes Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa Ag Tour
A team of five business journalists from Russia has just concluded a weeklong tour aimed at learning more about the U.S. pork and beef industries and the current state of trade with Russia. The group included Lidia Masterenkoof of the Interfax news agency, Nadezda Gerashchenko of the RBC Television Network, Alexey Kuzmenko of RBC Daily, Evgeny Arsyukhin of the Russian Business Gazette and Rinat Sagdiev of the daily business journal Vedomosti.
The journalists began their week in Colorado, with an in-depth look at the programs and functions of USMEF. They also received a presentation from Rich Otley, director of evaluation for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and Dr. Tom Field, executive director of producer education at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Later that day, the group visited Aristocrat Angus Ranch near Platteville and enjoyed a trail ride and chuck wagon steak fry dinner at the Sylvan Dale Ranch near Loveland. The following day included a tour of the Animal Science Department and Veterinary School at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
On Wednesday the media team met with Larry Sitzman, executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NPPA), in Omaha. Sitzman discussed the programs and functions managed by NPPA, explained the importance of pork production and processing to Nebraska’s economy, and discussed several pressing issues currently affecting the industry.
NPPA Executive Director Larry Sitzman (far right) meets with Russian journalists
“I’m very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with these journalists,” Sitzman said. “They asked very challenging questions about our system of animal agriculture, as well as the wholesale and retail levels of the U.S. pork industry. I feel they are gathering a lot of valuable information that they can take back to Russia and share with their readers and viewers.”
Sitzman said NPPA members will be pleased to learn of the positive interaction with Russian media. They consider Russia a critical pork export market, and have been frustrated by plant delistings as well as trade interruptions related to H1N1 influenza.
“I get calls almost daily asking me what we can do to restore pork trade with Russia,” he said. “I realize Russia is trying to be more self-sufficient in its pork production, but they still have a need for imports. If we all work together, I think we can ensure that a solid share of that imported product is U.S. pork.”
Later in the day, the team traveled to Ames, Iowa, for a visit to the Iowa State University Animal Science Department. This included a presentation by Dr. Joe Cordray, professor of animal science and extension meat specialist, as well as an in-depth tour of the ISU meat laboratory, slaughter facility and swine farm.
The Russian media team gets an up-close look at 4-day-old piglets at the Iowa State University swine farm
On Thursday, the media team enjoyed a morning at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, visiting the Animal Learning Center and many other agricultural exhibits. They also visited the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) food concession, where they met with IPPA President-elect John Weber and Leon Sheets, IPPA’s vice president of resources. Weber and Sheets provided the group with extensive information about the mission and functions of IPPA, economic and trade issues currently affecting producer profitability and the importance of pork production to the economy of the nation’s leading pork-producing state.
IPPA’s Leon Sheets (far right) and John Weber (second from right) field questions about issues affecting Iowa’s pork industry during the media team’s visit to the Iowa State Fair
Weber, who visited Russia on a pork industry trade mission in 2007, was pleased with the level of interest and knowledge the journalists showed in U.S. pork production.
“I feel they were sincerely interested in what we’re doing in swine production and in our difficult economic situation, and I was impressed with their high level of interest in the pork business,” he said. “It’s important to have this kind of dialogue. We certainly learned a lot when we were over there (in Russia) and they will learn a lot in turn by visiting Iowa.”
The group concluded its tour with a visit to the National Pork Board headquarters in Des Moines, where they received a presentation from Dr. Paul Sundberg, NPB vice president of science and technology and Dr. Liz Wagstrom, assistant vice president of science and technology. This session included an overview of NPB’s history and structure, as well as an explanation of the major functions and projects funded by the pork checkoff. The group also asked numerous questions related to NPB’s consumer education efforts on H1N1 influenza and the overall impact of H1N1 influenza on pork consumption and pork trade.
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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.
Russian Media Team Concludes Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa Ag Tour
A team of five business journalists from Russia has just concluded a weeklong tour aimed at learning more about the U.S. pork and beef industries and the current state of trade with Russia. The group included Lidia Masterenkoof of the Interfax news agency, Nadezda Gerashchenko of the RBC Television Network, Alexey Kuzmenko of RBC Daily, Evgeny Arsyukhin of the Russian Business Gazette and Rinat Sagdiev of the daily business journal Vedomosti.
The journalists began their week in Colorado, with an in-depth look at the programs and functions of USMEF. They also received a presentation from Rich Otley, director of evaluation for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and Dr. Tom Field, executive director of producer education at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Later that day, the group visited Aristocrat Angus Ranch near Platteville and enjoyed a trail ride and chuck wagon steak fry dinner at the Sylvan Dale Ranch near Loveland. The following day included a tour of the Animal Science Department and Veterinary School at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
On Wednesday the media team met with Larry Sitzman, executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NPPA), in Omaha. Sitzman discussed the programs and functions managed by NPPA, explained the importance of pork production and processing to Nebraska’s economy, and discussed several pressing issues currently affecting the industry.
NPPA Executive Director Larry Sitzman (far right) meets with Russian journalists
“I’m very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with these journalists,” Sitzman said. “They asked very challenging questions about our system of animal agriculture, as well as the wholesale and retail levels of the U.S. pork industry. I feel they are gathering a lot of valuable information that they can take back to Russia and share with their readers and viewers.”
Sitzman said NPPA members will be pleased to learn of the positive interaction with Russian media. They consider Russia a critical pork export market, and have been frustrated by plant delistings as well as trade interruptions related to H1N1 influenza.
“I get calls almost daily asking me what we can do to restore pork trade with Russia,” he said. “I realize Russia is trying to be more self-sufficient in its pork production, but they still have a need for imports. If we all work together, I think we can ensure that a solid share of that imported product is U.S. pork.”
Later in the day, the team traveled to Ames, Iowa, for a visit to the Iowa State University Animal Science Department. This included a presentation by Dr. Joe Cordray, professor of animal science and extension meat specialist, as well as an in-depth tour of the ISU meat laboratory, slaughter facility and swine farm.
The Russian media team gets an up-close look at 4-day-old piglets at the Iowa State University swine farm
On Thursday, the media team enjoyed a morning at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, visiting the Animal Learning Center and many other agricultural exhibits. They also visited the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) food concession, where they met with IPPA President-elect John Weber and Leon Sheets, IPPA’s vice president of resources. Weber and Sheets provided the group with extensive information about the mission and functions of IPPA, economic and trade issues currently affecting producer profitability and the importance of pork production to the economy of the nation’s leading pork-producing state.
IPPA’s Leon Sheets (far right) and John Weber (second from right) field questions about issues affecting Iowa’s pork industry during the media team’s visit to the Iowa State Fair
Weber, who visited Russia on a pork industry trade mission in 2007, was pleased with the level of interest and knowledge the journalists showed in U.S. pork production.
“I feel they were sincerely interested in what we’re doing in swine production and in our difficult economic situation, and I was impressed with their high level of interest in the pork business,” he said. “It’s important to have this kind of dialogue. We certainly learned a lot when we were over there (in Russia) and they will learn a lot in turn by visiting Iowa.”
The group concluded its tour with a visit to the National Pork Board headquarters in Des Moines, where they received a presentation from Dr. Paul Sundberg, NPB vice president of science and technology and Dr. Liz Wagstrom, assistant vice president of science and technology. This session included an overview of NPB’s history and structure, as well as an explanation of the major functions and projects funded by the pork checkoff. The group also asked numerous questions related to NPB’s consumer education efforts on H1N1 influenza and the overall impact of H1N1 influenza on pork consumption and pork trade.
# # #
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.