A team of buyers from major Japanese beef importers recently visited U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) headquarters in Denver to learn about U.S. beef production practices. After that visit, the team also got an in-depth view of the full beef supply chain at work in Idaho and Kansas. Jay Theiler, 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.
The team also visited a cow-calf operation in Idaho to meet with various Northwest U.S. ag representatives and toured the National Beef processing facility in Dodge City, Kansas, to learn about the Kansas ranching and cattle feeding sectors. Theiler said maintaining a strong relationship with Japanese meat buyers is key for the U.S. beef industry.
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 more information, visit usmef.org.
