SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Meat Export Federation Board of Directors elected of...
SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Meat Export Federation Board of Directors elected officers, announced a new program designed to encourage trade in developing markets and set strategy for red meat export development for fiscal year 2001 during their annual Strategic Planning and Marketing Conference here Nov. 1-3.
George Obernagel, a Waterloo, Ill., corn producer who represents the Grains Sector on the board, was elected chairman. Obernagel is a partner in family farming operations in Illinois, Nebraska and Arkansas; is vice president, trust officer and farm manager for the Union Planters Bank; is a member of the Monroe (Ill.) County Planning Commission; and is actively involved in a number of farm and civic organizations, including Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the Illinois Beef Association.
Randy Sims, a Liberty, Ill., producer who represents the Farm Organizations Sector, was named chairman-elect. Philip Wolfstein of Los Angeles, Calif., an exporter and president of Wolfstein International, Inc., who represents the Purveyor-Trader Sector, was elected vice chairman. R.H. "Moe" Mohesky, a Sharpsburg, North Carolina pork producer representing the Pork Sector, was named secretary-treasurer.
During the meeting, board members approved the launch of the Meat Export Guarantee (MEG) program. MEG is designed to promote trade in developing markets, such as those in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Available to USMEF members and guaranteed with funds from non-checkoff revenues, MEG would help facilitate sales of up to $1.25 million at any one time. MEG would allow a buyer in the foreign country to make the purchase of U.S. meat products with a 25% deposit instead of the normal full payment in advance. Full payment is still due prior to import, and the MEG can be used to help mitigate losses associated in the unlikely event of non-payment.
The board also considered and approved strategic red meat marketing plans for demand-building programs in more than 50 nations. Directors were able to attend four strategic planning workshops – on Japan, Asia Pacific (China, Korea, Taiwan and ASEAN), Latin America (Mexico, Central/South America and the Caribbean), and Europe (EU, Eastern Europe, Russia and the Middle East). These sessions gave board members an opportunity to share in the decision-making process that determines the direction of USMEF programs.
In other action, the board approved an operating budget and named the following to the USMEF Executive Committee (listed as name, sector representing, hometown): Merlyn Carlson, Immediate Past Chairman, Lincoln, Neb.; Ron Mapes, Oilseeds, Stockton, Ill.; Edward Troutman, Packing/Processing, Wyalusing, Pa.; Steve Raftopoulos, Lamb Producing & Feeding, Craig, Colo.; Larry Beyer, Feedgrains, Marengo, Iowa; Glen Keppy, Pork Producing & Feeding, St. Paul, Minn.; Lindsey Larson, Farm Organizations, Jefferson, Iowa; Alan Albright, Beef/Veal Producing & Feeding, Lytton, Iowa; Steve Soderlund, Ph.D., Supply & Service Organizations, Johnston, Iowa; John W. Bellinger, Purveying/Trading, San Antonio, Texas; Alan Smith, At-Large, Amarillo, Texas; Lyndell "Lindy" Whipps, At-Large, Max, Neb.; Mark L. Jagels, At-Large, Davenport, Neb.; Greg Brown, At-Large, Smithfield, Va.; David Levine, At-Large, Greeley, Colo.; Bill Dumoulin, Advisory, Hampshire, Ill.; And Donna Reifschneider, Ex-Officio, Smithton, Ill.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. For its programs, USMEF receives funding and support from USDA, exporting companies and the beef, pork, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs. Headquartered in Denver, USMEF has offices in Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Mexico City and London. USMEF also has special market representatives covering China, the Middle East, South America, the Caribbean and the former Soviet Union.
– USMEF –