The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) elected as chairman for 2004-2005 Ala...

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) elected as chairman for 2004-2005 Alan Smith, of Wichita, Kan., of Cargill Meat Solutions, who formerly represented the Texas Beef Council on the USMEF Board of Directors before becoming one of the federation’s officers.

USMEF also elected officers, named sector representatives and passed one resolution at its Board of Directors Strategic Planning and Marketing Conference Nov. 5 in Albuquerque, N.M.

“I look forward to the challenge of regaining our market share in beef exports and building on our strong position in pork exports,” Smith said after accepting the position from outgoing chairman R.H. “Moe” Mohesky.

John Bellinger, San Antonio, Tex. of Agri-West International, Inc. was elected chairman-elect, Dennis Erpelding, Greenfield, Ind., of Elanco Animal Health was named vice-chairman and Dan Halstrom, Greeley, Colo., of Swift & Company was selected as secretary-treasurer.

Also named were members filling vacancies for representatives for USMEF’s distinct sectors, covering the entire U.S. production, processing and distribution system. USMEF represents beef/veal producers and feeders, pork producers and feeders, lamb producers and feeders, packers and processors, purveyors and traders, oilseeds producers, feedgrains producers, farm organizations and supply and service organizations

New sector representatives named are:

•      Dan Spurling, Austin, Minn. of Hormel Foods International for Packing/Processing,

•      Richard Schwartz of Nebraska Soybean for Oilseeds Producing,

•      Kimberly Sutter, Ankeny, Iowa, of Monsanto Company for Supply and Service, and

•      Rick Harbaugh, Hawarden, Iowa, of American Sheep Industry Association for Lamb Producing & Feeding.

The USMEF Board of Directors passed a resolution for USMEF to petition the Food Safety And Inspection Service (FSIS) to not only continue to certify specific products as “for export only,” but also expand the list of items which may be produced for this purpose and are approved by importing countries. The resolution directed USMEF to compile a list of products which are currently certified for the purpose of “for export only” along with all items which exporters would like to have included under this certification along with scientific background information which details the removal of these items from domestic production, and information that these items do not pose additional food safety risks. FSIS is considering removing the ability of exporters to produce and export products marked “for export only.”

U.S. Meat Export Federation 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, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

– USMEF –