05/16/06 Update on beef export market efforts

American Rancher May 16, 2006 A team of top USDA officials led by Deputy Under Secretary Chuck Lambert travels to Tokyo this week. They`ll brief Japanese officials on USDA`s audit of Beef Export Verification Program participants. Japanese officials are then expected to visit U.S. beef packing plants to verify the USDA audit. And Greg Doud - Chief Economist for the National Cattlemen`s Beef Association - says the timing could be right for an announcement when Japan`s prime minister visits America next month. Doud: "The Prime Minister of Japan is going to be over here in late June and I think the whole objective here is to get this thing behind us. They have already been open once. They want to see the paper work to make sure they don't get three boxes of veal again that don't have backbone. I think we have some things we can show them that that won't happen again and we will be ready to go." Also, the South Korean government has now issued a formal list of cattle parts it is prohibiting, which was another step needed for it to reopen to U.S. beef. NCBA's Doud cautions there are no guarantees, but; Doud: "I think right now about 82% of what do not have open is Japan and South Korea, so if we can get both these guys going in the month of June, that is a huge step in getting us back to normal." I'm Bob Hoff.