11/17/05 Preparing for reopening in Japan

Idaho based Agri-Beef is looking for quality cattle under 21 months of age. STOTT "We believe as part of our commitment to the Northwest cattle industry that we're willing to step out front and offer $1.50-per hundredweight which is a little more than 15 bucks an animal to incentives people to qualify under our BEV program." As they prepare for the reopening of the Japanese and other Asian markets Agri-Beef's Rick Stott says that incentive is open to producers in Idaho, Oregon and Washington for beef export verification. The Japanese are in the middle of a comment period following a scientific report that American BSE controls and guidelines were equal to Japan's. It will be late next month before Japan will announce a date to reopen the border to US beef less than 21 months of age but not before they clear up the controversy over Japan insistence on randomly checking US packing plants. STOTT "And the implication is that they don't trust those processes and they don't trust USDA to certify and to manage and to audit these operations." Getting part of the door open to Japan may help companies like Agri-Beef try to regain a market lost for the past two years. For Agri-Beef that was 20 percent of their sales revenue. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott