Cattle Industry News
Border Openings, Trade Negotiations Good News for Cattle Producers
Thanks to border opening announcements and trade negotiations, U.S. beef exports are beginning to pick up, which is good news for beef producers in Missouri and throughout the United States.
Mexico, which opened its border to U.S. boneless beef products last month, has recently agreed to allow the importation of tallow, veal, and variety meats, including liver, tongue, heart, and kidney. Acceptance of a wider variety of U.S. beef products means exports to Mexico are now expected to reach 75 percent of 2003 export levels. Mexico is traditionally the second largest export market for U.S. beef.
Negotiations with the United States’ largest beef export market, Japan, are also progressing. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney traveled to Japan April 10-12 and was urged by a group of U.S. senators, including Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.), to encourage Japanese officials to reopen their market to U.S. beef. At the conclusion of the visit, Cheney announced that officials from Japan and the United States are expected to meet later this month to discuss Japan’s ban on U.S. beef. Cheney is hopeful the talks will lay the groundwork for a resolution to the trade dispute. Previous negotiations between the U.S. and Japan ended in early April when Japan criticized the United States Department of Agriculture for attempting to resolve the ban through international arbitration.
Although Japan and Mexico have traditionally been the largest export markets for U.S. beef, smaller markets are also beginning to open. According to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Nicaragua hasre-opened its doors to U.S. beef and additional countries in Central America, including Panama, are expected to follow suit very soon.
Finally, Taiwan officials recently announced that they will likely end a ban on U.S. beef in the near future. The United States Department of Agriculture is now focusing its efforts on key Asian markets for U.S. beef including Hong Kong, China, and South Korea. USDA is also focusing on two beef variety meat export markets: Russia and Egypt.
Missouri Cattlemen’s Association News
Help Beef Up Missouri Troops in Iraq – Cull Cows Needed
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Beef Industry Council, Missouri Association of Meat Processors, and the Missouri Farm Bureau are teaming up to send beef to Missouri troops in Iraq. The plan, set forth by the Missouri Association of Meat Processors (MAMP), calls for one pound of Missouri Beef Jerky to be sent to every Missouri National Guardsman in Iraq. Missouri’s troops include 1175 soldiers in 9 units. Donations of both cattle for processing and money for postage are needed to make this program a success.
MCA members, county associations, and businesses are encouraged to donate cattle, preferably lean cows, which may be delivered to any participating USDA plant that belongs to MAMP. Cash donations are also needed to help cover the cost of postage. Find out how you can help our Missouri troops eat beef by contacting Brent Bryant at (573) 499-9162 or Ronnie and Roger Alewel at (660) 827-0005.
May is Beef Month
May is Beef Month in Missouri! This year, the Missouri Beef Industry Council will be using checkoff generated funds to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the hamburger during Beef Month, and all Summer Long. Activities include a competition for Missouri’s Best Burger Joint, a promotion covering all of Southern Missouri at select grocery chains, a burger recipe contest, and, of course, coordinated promotions with county groups across the entire state. MBIC is offering up to $500 to County Cattlemen’s and Farm Bureau groups wishing to extend Beef Month Promotions. The allotment may be used for newspaper or radio ads, grocery store promotions, health awareness functions or any promotional materials to extend the efforts of the Missouri Beef Industry Council. Approval forms may be obtained by contacting Dawn Thurnau at the Missouri Beef Industry Council at 800-4416242 ext. 223 or dawn@mobeef.com.
Beef Council and CattleWomen Host 2004 Beef Cookoff
While each of us implement the best production practices to raise top quality beef, staff at the Missouri Beef Industry Council are implementing programs to keep our product center of the plate for Missouri consumers. This weekend, MBIC is teaming up with Missouri CattleWomen to host the 2004 Beef Cookoff. This competition between 13 teams, all culinary students pursuing a career as executive chefs or restaurant managers, will be held on Saturday, April 17th at the Country Club Hotel and Day Spa in Lake Ozark, MO.
Each Team (8 from High School Culinary Programs and 5 from Missouri Colleges) will compete in two categories: Beef Dish and Meaty Mystery. The Beef Dish competition will consist of a recipe created by each 3-student team. The “Meaty Mystery” will consist of mystery ingredients that students must put together to create a beef dish (entrée, appetizer or salad.) Students will be competing for over $5000 worth of cash and prizes. The event is co-sponsored by US Foodservice, a food distributor company based out of St. Louis.
If you would like to attend the competition, it will be held at the Country Club Hotel and Day Spa in Lake Ozark, Missouri from 8 am to 3:00 PM on Saturday, April 17, 2004.
Membership & Recruiting Update
MCA Membership Continues to Grow – over 920 new members since October! In addition to our dedicated recruiters, direct mail campaigns have been successful in increasing awareness of MCA and bringing in new memberships. For those of you keeping track, here are the top five counties and recruiters as of 4/15/04:
Top 5 Counties (New members since 10/1/03):
Top 5 Recruiters (New members recruited since 10/1/03): Wayne Seider, Macon County Junior Cattlemen’s Association, David “Blue” Geier, Sam Hostetler, and Tim Love.
Congratulations!
Calendar of Events
June 12-13 MCA All-Breeds Junior Cattle Show – State Fairgrounds, Sedalia
June 15 MCA Board of Directors meeting – Cattle Industry Headquarters, Columbia
Cattlemen’s Steak Fry, hosted by MCA Past Presidents – Cattle Industry Headquarters, Columbia
June 16 Cattlemen’s Classic Golf Tournament - Lake of the Woods Golf Course, Columbia
June 17 Missouri Cattle Women Board of Directors meeting - Columbia
County Meeting Notices
4/17/04 Audrain County – Sale Barn, 7:15 a.m.
4/26/04 Benton County – Classic Grill, Cole Camp, 7:00 p.m.
The Fine Print
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