September 1, 2004

US Beef Market Rebuilding After BSE Scare
 

The US beef checkoff program is helping beef producers maintain an ongoing, active presence among foreign beef buyers and consumers. This move comes as prolonged delays in reopening some foreign markets to U.S. beef were seen following the confirmation of a single case of BSE in December 2003.

That was a key message delivered to Texas Beef Council leaders who attended an update on the global beef situation from the U.S. Meat Export Federation August 11 in Denver. The Texas producers were in Denver to participate in the summer conference of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

In 2003, U.S. beef was exported to about 100 countries around the world. About 60 of these nations imposed bans after the BSE announcement. The other 40 countries, which accounted for less than 5 percent of total U.S. beef exports, did not close out US beef.

As of mid-August, about 20 countries have reopened the borders. 40 countries, including the significant Asian markets of Japan, South Korea and China, remain closed to U.S. beef products.