Research Institute Develops Way to Check Origin of Beef

Research Institute Develops Way to Check Origin of Beef

Korean Times

SEOUL (Yonhap) _ A South Korean state-run research institute said Tuesday it has discovered a way to identify the origin of beef and so prevent false labeling as the country prepares to reopen its market to U.S. imports.

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US agrees to extra training for workers handling beef exports to Japan

US agrees to extra training for workers handling beef exports to Japan

(Updated 02:06 p.m.)
2006/3/29
The China Post
TOKYO (AP)

The United States has agreed to require further training of American workers handling beef exports to Japan, U.S. agriculture officials said Wednesday.

The U.S. delegation, led by Chuck Lambert, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, finished two-days of talks in Japan in hopes of lifting Tokyo’s ban on U.S. beef.

Lambert told reporters that the U.S. would provide additional training to beef workers and follow-up to make sure they know what meat products are prohibited in Japan and which are allowed.

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U.S. Will Push Japan to Accept Beef Amid Debate Over Mad Cow Test

U.S. Will Push Japan to Accept Beef Amid Debate Over Mad Cow Test

Tristateobserver.com
National News / National News
Date: Mar 29, 2006 – 12:00 AM

FORT WORTH, TX – The United States is sending a technical team to Japan this week to press for the reopening of what was the largest export market for American beef.

After halting U.S. beef shipments in December 2003 over a mad cow discovery in Washington state, Japan resumed imports in December 2005 o­nly to suspend them five weeks later when a New York veal company shipped prohibited bone-in cuts. The Japanese, who consumed $1.4 billion worth of U.S. beef in 2003, remain extremely wary of the disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, particularly since they have had 23 cases in domestic cattle.

On Thursday, Creekstone Farms of Arkansas City, Kan., sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has forbidden the company from testing each Black Angus steer for BSE in a move to win back customers in Japan.

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Australian beef – it’s what’s for dinner in Japan

Australian beef – it’s what’s for dinner in Japan
Canada ranchers also filling void left by ongoing ban on U.S. beef.

By YURI KAGEYAMA
Pueblo Chieftain / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP PHOTO/ITSUO INOUYE
A Japanese college student eats a bowl of rice topped with beef from Australia, raw egg and spicy sauce at a Sukiya fast-food restaurant in Tokyo.

TOKYO – Like many other Japanese, Kenji Miyoda, savoring one of his favorite lunches – a bowl of rice topped with beef from Australia, raw egg and spicy sauce – feels Australian beef is far safer than American beef.

‘‘It tastes OK, it’s cheap, and it fills me up,’’ the 27-year-old banker said gobbling down his $4 meal at Sukiya, a nationwide chain that placed a full-page newspaper ad to declare it’s opposed to serving U.S. beef because of safety concerns.

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Senators beef about test guide

Senators beef about test guide
Material is anti-farmer, lawmakers say.

Columbia Daily Tribune
Published Tuesday, March 28, 2006

HANNIBAL (AP) – Two senators want to ban standardized test preparation materials from a Connecticut company because they say they contain “anti-meat, anti-farmer messages.”

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U.S., Japanese officials hold second day of beef talks

U.S., Japanese officials hold second day of beef talks

MSN News

A U.S. technical team on Wednesday headed into a second day of talks with Japanese officials to discuss Tokyo’s concerns about the safety of U.S. beef and press for a resumption of Japanese imports.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture team of specialists is meeting with Japanese foreign affairs, health and agriculture ministry officials in Tokyo.

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Lawmaker wants state to opt out of electronic cattle tracking

Lawmaker wants state to opt out of electronic cattle tracking

WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN

Tennessee would opt out of the national electronic cattle tracking system designed to prevent the spread of mad cow disease under a bill being considered by the state House.

State Representative Frank Niceley of Strawberry Plains, the measure’s sponsor, said today that electronic tracking is too expensive.

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Aggressive PETA faces backlash

Aggressive PETA faces backlash

MARK HOLMBERG
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST

Overlooking Norfolk’s scenic harbor sits the monolithic, sort-of-tombstonelike headquarters of PETA, the animal-rights giant known, feared and increasingly mocked around the world. Nosy, sanctimonious, fearless, relentless, and absolutely impossible to ignore, the nonprofit People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals attracts enough love to operate a $28 million annual budget and enough hate to fuel a growing and feisty anti-PETA movement.

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High cattle numbers softening retail beef prices

High cattle numbers softening retail beef prices

Tuesday, March 28, 2006, 3:39 PM

by Tom Steever
The Brownfield Network

The grilling season is getting closer and a government economist says consumers should find beef prices to be lower. The latest cattle on feed report indicates that feedlots have plenty of cattle.

Good demand is overshadowed by a plentiful supply and retail prices are already lower than they were a year ago, says Ron Gustafson, economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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Cattlemen disappointed with court decision

Cattlemen disappointed with court decision

Tuesday, March 28, 2006, 3:08 PM

by Lane McConnell
Brownfield Network

On Monday the United States Supreme Court permanently overturned a federal jury’s $1.28 billion ruling of a group of cattle producers who sued Tyson Fresh Meats for illegal cattle buying practices to manipulate beef prices. The federal judge’s decision to reject the jury decision will stand due to the unsuccessful appeal of Pickett verses Tyson.

Mike Callicrate, a Kansas cattle feeder, was one of the original plaintiffs and says the Supreme Court is making a political decision and has decided to turn on justice.

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Should the government really be telling you to eat prime rib?

Should the government really be telling you to eat prime rib?

Kumar Chandran and Sarah Wally
Issue date: 3/29/06
Tuftsdaily.com

“Ahh, the power of cheese.”

“Counting carbs? Pork’s perfect.”

“Beef: It’s what’s for dinner.”

While you may be familiar with these oft-heard slogans, you may not know that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports these advertisements. In fact, the federal government not only approves these messages, it also requires that farmers pay for the ad campaigns.

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