On The Cattle ***
The NCBA says that it will not support finalization of the rules to allow
Japanese beef to be imported until Japan reciprocates. Whatever happened to
their science-based philosophy? If there is no science-based reason to block
Japanese imports then the NCBA is protectionist. The Japanese test all their
cattle for BSE so maybe the NCBA wants to ban tested beef from being sold in
this country because it might find a market. There is a market in Japan for
BSE-tested beef but the NCBA/USDA refuses to allow such testing for export.
With Asian beef markets closed to both the U.S. and Canada, the increase in
aggregate North American beef supply will weigh on the cattle market unless
demand expands accordingly. The most significant benefit to demand would occur
from reopening the Japanese market. Prospects for that happening anytime soon
are slim to none
The NCBA says that it will not support finalization of the rules to allow
Japanese beef to be imported until Japan reciprocates. Whatever happened to
their science-based philosophy? If there is no science-based reason to block
Japanese imports then the NCBA is protectionist. The Japanese test all their
cattle for BSE so maybe the NCBA wants to ban tested beef from being sold in
this country because it might find a market. There is a market in Japan for
BSE-tested beef but the NCBA/USDA refuses to allow such testing for export.
With Asian beef markets closed to both the U.S. and Canada, the increase in
aggregate North American beef supply will weigh on the cattle market unless
demand expands accordingly. The most significant benefit to demand would occur
from reopening the Japanese market. Prospects for that happening anytime soon
are slim to none
