News Update

News Update
June 27, 2007

BIF Conference Site Updated

Coverage of the 39th Annual Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Annual Meeting is available at www.bifconference.com. Additional summaries and photo galleries have been posted to the site within the last two days.

Visit the site, developed by Angus Productions Inc. (API), to access reports and discussions regarding the latest advancements in the beef industry. Coverage includes session synopses, PowerPoints, audio files, proceeding papers, award winner coverage and recently updated photo galleries.

API’s BIF coverage, at www.bifconference.com, is sponsored by Biozyme Inc.

June Board Meeting Highlights Available

Highlights from the most recent American Angus Association Board of Directors meeting are available. A review of meetings of the Association, as well as API, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), and the Angus Foundation are available at www.angus.org/pr/Jun_board_07.pdf.

Japan, U.S. Conduct Trade Talks

Japanese and United States officials are meeting today as part of a two-day technical meeting regarding U.S. beef imports.

According to The Associated Press (AP), officials are meeting in Tokyo, where Japanese representatives will review U.S. data submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The organization last month deemed the U.S. a “controlled-risk” country in matters pertaining to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials have stated they hope the designation advances trade progress.

S. Korea Lifts Tyson, Cargill Suspensions

South Korea lifted a suspension yesterday on beef imports from two U.S. processors, AP reports.

During the last several weeks, the country suspended imports from Tyson and Cargill plants — six in all — after it mistakenly received shipments of U.S. beef intended for the domestic market.

According to AP, South Korea’s Agriculture Ministry released a statement saying authorities “determined that six Cargill and Tyson processing facilities had nothing to do with the export of beef intended for domestic consumption.”

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.