A team of buyers from major Japanese beef importers recently came to the United States to learn about U.S. beef production practices. The team visited U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) headquarters in Denver before getting an in-depth view of the full beef supply chain at work in Idaho and Kansas.
Jay Theiler (pronounced TYLER), executive vice president of corporate affairs for Agri Beef and USMEF’s current chair-elect, hosted the team for a tour of the True West Beef processing facility in Jerome, Idaho, as well as a nearby feedlot. In the attached audio report, Theiler offers details from his meeting with the buyer team and the importance of the Japanese market to the U.S. beef industry.
The team also visited a cow-calf operation in Idaho and met with representatives from the Idaho Beef Council, Idaho Department of Agriculture, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, Washington State Beef Commission and Oregon Beef Council. They also toured the National Beef processing facility in Dodge City, Kan., and learned about the Kansas ranching and cattle feeding sectors.
Funding support for the team’s activities was provided by the Beef Checkoff Program, the Idaho Beef Council, Washington State Beef Commission and USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program.
For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact me or email John Herath.
