09/30/08 CPoW holds annual meeting; retail beef going up

Washington Ag September 30, 2008 The Cattle Producers of Washington, CPoW, hosted its fifth annual meeting recently in Colville. Participants heard from several speakers including U.S. Cattlemen's Association Region I Director Lee Engelhardt and USCA Director of Government Affairs Jess Peterson. CPoW President Ted Wishon said Washington cattle producers have benefited a great deal from CPoW's affiliation with USCA. Director Engelhardt said producers won defining victories on country of origin labeling and the prevention of foreign animal diseases. Jess Peterson said the National Carbon Offset Coalition's carbon credit programs are a great opportunity for ranchers to increase profits by following good grazing and land stewardship practices that are often already in place. The USDA is looking for retail beef prices to be much higher in 2009. Leibtag: "Beef products we expect to increase six to seven percent next year. That's the highest we have in our forecast." USDA economist Ephiram Leibtag who says meat prices are expected to lead food price increases next year. The department sees beef production dropping three percent in the 4th quarter this year and with a half percent reduction in 2009. I'm Bob Hoff.