Reader: "First USDA said no to BSE testing under 30 months of age. Then, later, after Japanese insistence and likely a better understanding of infectivity and incubation of BSE on the part of the USDA the USDA said yes to 24 months.
How short the memory is."
You are correct Reader, your memory is short.
The USDA negotiated to JAPAN'S 24 month request WITHOUT TESTING!
The results: NO TESTING UNDER 30 MONTHS OF AGE! Same science as always.
Randy,
Sorry, I cannot help you understand that statement without knowing exactly what Japan meant by
"the US must first introduce measures for the testing of all slaughtered cattle".
Too vague!
Sandman: "I can assure you that Japan takes more than 3% of the carcass."
Since you are so confident Sandman, tell me what beef products from the carcass we sent to Japan prior to the border being closed.
Would you please enlighten me on your vast knowledge of our Japanese exports?
Sandman: "Here's a new flash for you, Agman, JAPAN DOESN'T NEED OUR BEEF."
Then why would you think 100% testing would change that?
randy: "Agman has an agenda that matches the mutinational packers (we no pay fo test), and argues very well, but guess what folks, he's no smarter than Sandman, Randy, or even good old SH. Just a guy with an opinion, and a bias one at that."
You are right randy, Agman does have an agenda. That agenda is providing factual information and that is precisely why nobody here can contradict his information with facts to the contrary. Agman's business depends on providing factual information to his many producer clients. If his information is non factual, he's out of business. If your information is non factual, who's hurt? Nobody! Who has more at stake? The answer is obvious.
After being given some very solid marketing advice from Agman in the past that saved me thousands, I have told every non blaming progressive producer I respect to hitch their wagon to him. The manager of one of the most successful and progressive feedlots in the nation told me personally, "I have never seen anyone so accurate with their market forecasts".
When he spoke to a local producers group of forward thinking young cattlemen, all of them thoroughly enjoyed his presentation. One told me personally, "what I respected most about him is that if he didn't know the answer to something, he said so".
I could go on but to save him from futher embarassment, let me just say that he gives us solid marketing information here for absolutely nothing when that's his business. What does that tell you?
If you can surmise that providing factual information to feeders and producers on market factors is "an agenda that matches the multinational packers", you are one wierd packer blamer. Not your run of the mill packer blamer but a wierd one. Your statement makes absolutely no sense in light of the facts.
Funny how anyone who isn't crying in the beer about "packer concentration" and "captive supplies" and "HUGE PACKER PROFITS" becomes a mouthpiece for the packers as opposed to the reality of just being a mouthpiece for factual information.
Mike: "We have shown them numerous articles,papers, etc. showing that Japan will take tested beef."
Consistant with your "theories" and "opinions" on BSE contamination, you have provided numerous articles, papers, etc. that "CLAIMED" that Japan MIGHT CONSIDER tested beef.
What do we know for sure?
The testing option is not even on the table anymore.
That fact really gives credence to your argument doesn't it?
~SH~