Audio from Japan with Iowa-Nebraska Corn-Fed Beef Delegation
(Includes audio with Alan Tiemann (pronounced: TEA-MUN), a corn and soybean farmer from Seward, Neb., is representing the Nebraska Corn Board on the trade mission, and Terri Carstensen, a feedlot operator and grain farmer from Odebolt, Iowa, (pronounced OH-DEE-BOLT) who is representing the Iowa Beef Industry Council.)
June 24, 2009 - A delegation of six producers representing the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, the Nebraska Beef Council and the Nebraska Corn Board has arrived in Tokyo for a trade mission organized by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to promote U.S. corn-fed beef in Japan and South Korea.
The group began its activities June 23 with a briefing at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo and meetings with Japanese meat buyers, manufacturers and retailers. Team members met with more beef industry representatives on June 24, including importers, distributors and cold storage operators. USMEF also held a press conference and beef cutting demonstration that allowed the group to discuss current beef industry issues with Japanese broadcasters and trade reporters and to share their personal histories as family farmers and ranchers.
Alan Tiemann (pronounced: TEA-MUN), a corn and soybean farmer from Seward, Neb., is representing the Nebraska Corn Board on the trade mission. He emphasized the importance of beef exports to the profitability of U.S. corn growers.
Tiemann Audio Clip #1 :20 Outcue: (…moving forward together.)
Tiemann added that it is very gratifying to see USMEF’s promotional efforts paying dividends in Japan.
Tiemann Audio Clip #2 :16 Outcue: (…doing their promotions.)
These observations were echoed by Terri Carstensen, a feedlot operator and grain farmer from Odebolt, Iowa, (pronounced OH-DEE-BOLT) who is representing the Iowa Beef Industry Council on the trade mission.
Carstensen Audio Clip #1 :28 Outcue: (…taste of U.S. beef.)
She added that consumers in Japan are very pleased to meet face-to-face with the family farmers and ranchers who produce U.S. beef, and to have the opportunity to learn more about the products they are purchasing.
Carstensen Audio Clip #2 :23 Outcue: (…then they purchased.)
Both Tiemann and Carstensen feel relief from the 20-month cattle age limit on U.S. beef exports to Japan is needed in order for the market to reach its full potential.
Tiemann Audio Clip #3 :15 Outcue: (…able to do that.)
Carstensen Audio Clip #3 :12 Outcue: (…definitely ready for it.)
Other producers in the delegation are Mark Jagels of Davenport, Neb., representing the Nebraska Corn Board; David Hamilton of Thedford, Neb., representing the Nebraska Beef Council; Merle Unkrich of Winfield, Iowa, representing the Iowa Corn Promotion Board; and Kevin Carstensen of Odebolt, Iowa, representing the Iowa Beef Industry Council. The group will travel from Tokyo to Seoul, South Korea, on June 25 before returning to the United States June 28.
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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.