01/05/05 Meatpackers, BSE & Canada

Washington Packers What are the actual effects of the Canadian live cattle import ban on Washington beef packing plants? I'm Jeff Keane and I'll be right back with some details. It's been about 20 months since the Canadian border was closed to live cattle imports; so what has that meant for two Washington meat packing plants? Well, for Tyson Fresh Meats at Wallula, Washington it's been a negative impact for the 1,900 head per day facility. This plant relied on 10% to 38% Canadian cattle, but now Tyson moves beef carcasses from Boise, Idaho to keep the Wallula processing lines operating. Hours have been cut from 40-48 hours per week to a worker guaranteed 32-hour week. Tyson's ace in the hole has been a meat packing plant in Brooks, Alberta, Canada that processes 4,000 head per day, works six days a week, and is able to send part of that meat to the United States. Washington Beef, LLC located in Toppenish, Washington seems to be operating in a pretty-much-business-as-usual mode. The main reason Washington Beef suffered less than Tyson is that they were acquired by Agri-Beef based in Boise, Idaho. Agri-Beef, a diversified cattle operation has several northwest feedlots and was able to supply Washington Beef enough cattle to keep the 1,100 head per day packing plant at near capacity. This facility is actually considering expanding if cattle supplies and markets coincide. Although the Canadian border closure has effected the two Washington plants differently; both would like to see Japan's border re-open to U.S. beefbut then, wouldn't we all. I'm Jeff Keane. Capital Press 12/3/04