07/28/06 State`s cattlemen like Japan news

Washington Ag July 28, 2006 Japan's announcement Thursday that it was again reopening its market to beef from U.S. cattle 20 months of age and younger brought this reaction from Jack Field, executive vice president of the Washington Cattlemen's Association. Field: "This is outstanding news. Just hope it will stay open longer than it did the first time. I guess you could say we are cautiously optimistic, but having access back into that key export market is a huge day for us." Japan had initially reopened to U.S. beef last December for the first time since BSE was found in the U.S. in 2003, but imports were suspended shortly there after, when some prohibited material was found in a shipment to Japan. And Japan is warning it is going to be more strict about inspecting U.S. beef arriving in its country. Field says the U.S. industry will continue to work to get Japan to open to cattle 30 months of age and younger. Field: "That's what we based the science on here in the United States and that's upheld in the O.I.E and the international community. We would hope Japan would recognize the same science that the rest of the world is." USDA Secretary Mike Johanns says he's asked to meet with Japanese officials this fall on just that issue. In 2003 Japan was the number one export market for U.S. beef. I'm Bob Hoff.