11/22/05 Agri Beef preparing for Japan

American Rancher November 22, 2005 In anticipation of the re-opening of the Japanese market to U.S. beef under 21 months of age, Agri Beef is offering a premium for cattle that will meet Japanese requirements. Agri Beef's Ric Stott explains. Stott: "We are right now introducing a new program that will provide a premium for anybody that sells cattle to our Washington plant of a buck fifty a hundredweight. That equates to about 15 bucks an animal." Stott says that provides a tremendous incentive for producers in the Pacific Northwest to become Quality Systems Assessment or QSA certified. Stott: "And we will do that for them. It doesn't cost them anything. We do that through our Agri Beef QSA program." Stott says the Washington Beef plant in Toppenish, Washington, which Agri Beef owns, is becoming ISO certified just as the company's feedlots are and that will create marketing opportunities in the Far East and even Europe. Stott: "And so we want to extend that which we know and what we know down into the production level into the feedlots. All the feedlots we deal with not just Agri Beef's but our other partners. And then also down into the cow-calf production and provide them an opportunity to get value for those cattle that are QSA certified." A public comment period currently underway must be completed in Japan before the Japanese government makes its decision on resuming imports of U.S. beef I'm Bob Hoff.