02/14/05 Tyson to resume suspended operations

American Rancher February 14, 2005 Tyson Foods has announced plans are underway to end the temporary suspension of operations at beef plants in the Upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest that were implemented last month. The affected plants, which included a Boise, Idaho, facility and a second shift at Pasco, Washington, will resume production on a staggered basis over the next two weeks. Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson, says they are optimistic market conditions will improve. Mickelson: "While cattle numbers remain tight we believe supplies going forward will improve, especially as the imports of Canadian cattle resume. Beef demand has been weak largely because of high beef prices and the value of competing meats, but we typically experience seasonal improvement in beef sales as we move into the spring and summer months. So we anticipate that market conditions will improve in the weeks ahead and that is why we have decided to go ahead and resume operations at our plants." And what if the Canadian border is not reopened March 7th as USDA plans? Mickelson: "If for some reason it does not. Say there is some time of legal action that is taken that prevents that from happening, we will have to assess our options at that time." Washington insiders don't see congressional efforts to stop USDA's rule succeeding, but there is a hearing scheduled March 2nd on R-CALF USA's motion for a preliminary injunction against USDA's rule. I'm Bob Hoff.