01/10/06 Lochsa, a new Idaho hard white wheat

For two years Japanese consumers have gone without US beef. Because of a single case of BSE in Washington State Japan and other Asian markets were closed and some believe it will be hard of the US to regain those markets that were worth nearly four billion dollars. US Meat Export President Phil Seng says Japanese consumers know quality when they see it. SENG "Oh, there's tremendous pent up demand for US beef so we're working very aggressively in this area to get back our rightful market share and that's going to take some time but we're up to that task." It has to help companies like Idaho based AgriBeef which got 20 percent of its revenue from the Japanese market before the BSE case. Ranchers like Mark Harris of Soda Springs thinks the value of his 900 head of cattle will increase. HARRIS "Overall it's very positive. It's always good to have extra markets, new markets and old markets open back up." The US also has permission from Hong Kong to resume shipments of boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months of age. In 2003 the US exported 90 million dollars in beef and beef products to Hong Kong, the fifth largest market. Idaho and the US now have access to 74 percent of the 2003 export market. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott