Going to Japan

Going to Japan. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's trip to Japan this week will include discussions about expanding the Japanese market for U.S. beef and easing restrictions. He wants to listen carefully. VILSACK: The Japanese made a concerted effort some time ago with a suggestion of focusing on beef 30 months or younger. Initially the reaction of the previous administration was not to engage in those discussions in a significant way. I think there is an opportunity for us to listen intently and closely in this next visit and see if there is a way in which that conversation can be continued. The U.S. is still working to ease trade restrictions put in place after the discovery of BSE seven years ago. USDA Livestock Analyst Shayle Shagam says those restrictions have had a big impact on U.S. producers. SHAGUM: Back in 2003 the Japanese were about 31% of total U.S. exports. Last year you were down to about 11%. So, I mean, Japan was an important part of U.S. exports, they are less so now and to the extent that we can recover exports to Japan would obviously be beneficial to the livestock sector. Shagam says there has been some steady improvement since Japan started reopening its market in 2006. SHAGUM: In 2009 we shipped about 274-million pounds on a carcass weight basis to Japan. That's an increase of about 19% over 2008 however it does remain considerably below the 918-million pounds that we shipped to them in 2003 prior to the discovery of the cow with BSE in the United States. Interestingly Vilsack will be in Japan for the 50th anniversary of a "hoglift" operation that sent U.S. hogs to Japan after a major natural disaster. VILSACK: I'm looking forward to reconnecting with the folks in the Yamanashi prefecture. Iowa has an interesting relationship with the Japanese, it was 50 years ago that the Japanese were struck with a horrible typhoon which destroyed a good part of their livestock. An Iowa farmer took it upon himself to begin a hoglift to reestablish the hog industry in Japan and that hoglift developed a relationship that resulted in a sister state relationship with Yamanashi and Iowa. I was fortunate to be Governor when we celebrated the 40th anniversary of that hoglift and I look forward to returning to Yamanashi as Secretary of Agriculture to celebrate the 50th anniversary. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.