[This release republished with permission of Iowa Beef Industry Council, see ...
[This release republished with permission of Iowa Beef Industry Council, see contact information below.]
Two Iowa beef producers participated in an Iowa Meat Trade Mission to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in late September. They report that meat importers and processors in all three countries are anxious to reopen trade after U.S. beef exports were halted due to finding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a Washington cow in December 2003.
Dan Petersen, cattle producer from Muscatine, and Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) chairman, and Stan Zylstra, cattle feeder from Hull, and Iowa representative to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, represented Iowa's beef producers.
“Our visits with the hotel / restaurant trade indicate they are ready to purchase U.S. beef,” said Petersen. "According to what the importers told us, their needs are not being met with Australian beef. They like U.S. corn-fed beef. Opening the market to U.S. beef now hinges on government to government decisions. Negotiations are proceeding at different levels in each country."
“Japan prefers high quality U.S. beef in hotels and restaurants, so they are an important market for cuts from the rib and loin. South Korea and Taiwan are more price-conscious, so they prefer the cuts we don’t eat in the U.S.”, adds Petersen. “Beef short plate, short ribs, intestines and tongue are all more valuable in Asia than the U.S. Being able to export these cuts adds more money in the pocket of Iowa and U.S. beef producers.”
Prior to the beef ban, Japan imported 85% of U.S. beef tongues and sold them at almost $5.00 a pound. Most beef tongues now go into the pet food market and are worth very little in the U.S. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) estimates that beef exports are worth $15 per hundredweight on a fed steer.
According to Zylstra, “We listened very carefully to their concerns about the safety of U.S. beef. In Japan there are huge challenges with meeting the regulations for verifying the age of cattle. These issues are being addressed by the Japan Food Safety Commission.”
“My advice to Iowa cattle producers is to be sure they can document the birth date of their cattle. That will be a requirement to export beef to Japan as they will require beef to come from cattle under 21 months of age,” adds Zylstra.
The trade team met with U.S. government and USMEF staff in each market. “It was stressed in each country that the U.S. will need an extensive consumer marketing campaign to bring the consumer back to U.S. beef,” adds Petersen. “Plans for this advertising and public relations campaign are already made thanks to the USMEF offices and staff. Beef checkoff investments from Iowa and the U.S. will help make this effort possible.”
The trip was coordinated by the Iowa Department of Economic Development International Office. Other attendees included members of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and an Iowa State University Meat Scientist, Dr. Dennis Olson. The team met with a variety of meat processors, government agencies, importers and meat industry officials and hosted a reception for importers in each country. Partial funding for the mission was provided by the beef checkoff.
Additional Contact: Brian Waddingham
Iowa Beef Industry Council
P.O. Box 451
2055 Ironwood Ct.
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-296-2305
brian@iabeef.org
(end)
[This release republished with permission of Iowa Beef Industry Council, see contact information below.]
Two Iowa beef producers participated in an Iowa Meat Trade Mission to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in late September. They report that meat importers and processors in all three countries are anxious to reopen trade after U.S. beef exports were halted due to finding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a Washington cow in December 2003.
Dan Petersen, cattle producer from Muscatine, and Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) chairman, and Stan Zylstra, cattle feeder from Hull, and Iowa representative to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, represented Iowa's beef producers.
“Our visits with the hotel / restaurant trade indicate they are ready to purchase U.S. beef,” said Petersen. "According to what the importers told us, their needs are not being met with Australian beef. They like U.S. corn-fed beef. Opening the market to U.S. beef now hinges on government to government decisions. Negotiations are proceeding at different levels in each country."
“Japan prefers high quality U.S. beef in hotels and restaurants, so they are an important market for cuts from the rib and loin. South Korea and Taiwan are more price-conscious, so they prefer the cuts we don’t eat in the U.S.”, adds Petersen. “Beef short plate, short ribs, intestines and tongue are all more valuable in Asia than the U.S. Being able to export these cuts adds more money in the pocket of Iowa and U.S. beef producers.”
Prior to the beef ban, Japan imported 85% of U.S. beef tongues and sold them at almost $5.00 a pound. Most beef tongues now go into the pet food market and are worth very little in the U.S. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) estimates that beef exports are worth $15 per hundredweight on a fed steer.
According to Zylstra, “We listened very carefully to their concerns about the safety of U.S. beef. In Japan there are huge challenges with meeting the regulations for verifying the age of cattle. These issues are being addressed by the Japan Food Safety Commission.”
“My advice to Iowa cattle producers is to be sure they can document the birth date of their cattle. That will be a requirement to export beef to Japan as they will require beef to come from cattle under 21 months of age,” adds Zylstra.
The trade team met with U.S. government and USMEF staff in each market. “It was stressed in each country that the U.S. will need an extensive consumer marketing campaign to bring the consumer back to U.S. beef,” adds Petersen. “Plans for this advertising and public relations campaign are already made thanks to the USMEF offices and staff. Beef checkoff investments from Iowa and the U.S. will help make this effort possible.”
The trip was coordinated by the Iowa Department of Economic Development International Office. Other attendees included members of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and an Iowa State University Meat Scientist, Dr. Dennis Olson. The team met with a variety of meat processors, government agencies, importers and meat industry officials and hosted a reception for importers in each country. Partial funding for the mission was provided by the beef checkoff.
Additional Contact: Brian Waddingham
Iowa Beef Industry Council
P.O. Box 451
2055 Ironwood Ct.
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-296-2305
brian@iabeef.org
(end)