Audio: USMEF Annual Meeting Kicks Off in Nation's Capital

May 20, 2009- The annual meeting of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) board of directors got underway in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, with much of the focus centered on the uncertain economic climate facing the meat industry. With the global economic downturn already impacting consumer activity and depressing the currencies of many trading partners, the interruption in trade caused by the A-H1N1 Influenza outbreak has presented a further challenge for global trade. But USMEF Chairman Jon Caspers, a pork producer from Swaledale, Iowa, said exports of U.S. pork and beef have managed to exceed the expectations of some analysts who had predicted a steep downturn in 2009.

Caspers Audio Clip #1:   :50     Outcue:    (... trade expansion opportunities.)

Caspers acknowledged, however, that the industry faces a very uncertain terrain in its efforts to bolster the growth of U.S. meat exports.

Caspers Audio Clip #2:   :30     Outcue:    (... suffer additional setbacks?)

The keynote speaker for Wednesday’s general session was Jim Miller, USDA under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Miller said the Obama Administration is extremely focused on expanding trade opportunities, and feels strongly that a fresh approach is in order.

Miller Audio Clip #1:      :37     Outcue:    (... exporters face in the world.)

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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.