02/22/06 BSE comments

BSE Comments Just when the BSE commotion was starting to level out new issues confuse things again. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this with some comments. Just when the United States had regained nearly 80% of its beef export dollars, Japan re-closed its borders to U.S. beef imports because an eastern packing plant and USDA inspectors missed one of the guidelines required to import beef into Japan. Oh yeah, Japan shuts down our beef imports even though that country has had 22 confirmed cases of BSE and we have had one case from a native-born cow. But our trade policy still lets Japan export beef of any age into our countrywhy do we negotiate trade agreements so one sided? In a recent speech at Kansas State University, President Bush said he will be more aggressive in reopening markets to American beef. That would be a much-appreciated change. Another recent development in the BSE issue is the new confirmed case of BSE found in Canada. This is the fifth case originating in Alberta if you include the cow born in Alberta and diagnosed in the United States. There are some packers and processors that would like the U.S. to import these BSE high-risk cattle that are over 30 months of age. I think to maintain U.S. consumer confidence in beef, that's one negotiation we should pass for the present time. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 2/1/06 Capital Press 2/3/06