Kato got a new job!

[rkaiser]

Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ryozo Kato indicated to members of the American Meat Institute that Japan will reopen its market to U.S. beef in mid-December, now that the public comment period on Japan's risk assessment of U.S. beef has ended.

With the Japanese government due to announce conditions for resuming importation of U.S. beef, AMI also discussed with Kato the need for both countries to move promptly on the issue of Japan's so-called 21-month rule, which would only allow U.S. beef product from younger animals.

[silverback]

It is the only thing one can resort to when they cannot reply in a reasoned, responsible way, insults. There have been all kinds of ways to try and get reasonable logic to come forth, but if someone can recall when Vader has been insulted like that, I would like to know.

[WoolyBear]

Only US Beef? How did they manage to do that?



PS......Litle Boy, Fat Man and Big Steer?

[Lifer]

If the CWB was established to prevent farmers from competing with one another, Why are farmers allowed to negotiate rent on land without CWB permission. Shouldn't the CWB control more of what farmers do in order to protect them from themselves?

At some point does it really matter why the CWB was established in the first place?

How can the CWB be relevant today and into the future?

Can the CWB offer contracts up that allow people to plan there future crops.

[JD4ME]

Actually I believe a definition of insanity is attempting the same task over and over again and expecting a different result, kinda like farming.

[TOM4CWB]

JD4ME;

We must enjoy it, or we wouldn't keep doing it!

There is nothing much more political than wheat!

Insanity would be: to expect wheat trade to be non-political and logical!

[Vader]

Lifer,

I said "compete against each other in export markets". Please don't take me out of context.

Why does it matter for what reason the CWB was formed? Because the same problems exist today that drove the farmers to form the CWB back in the 1920's.

You asked some inteligent questions.

"How can the CWB be relevant today and into the future?"

I think that the CWB is evolving with producer payment options, innovative marketing strategies, risk management, market development programs, and farmer advocacy in transportation and grain handling. But above all the relevance of the CWB into the future may simply be farmer empowerment. What other vehicle exists in this industry which is becoming more and more dominated by a few very large players.

You also asked,
"Can the CWB offer contracts up that allow people to plan there future crops".
I think that this is entirely possible. It may require a substantial move away from the traditional price pooling model. It would also require finding forward pricing opportunities with customers, and would probably be supported by a continued focus on a highly differentiated premium product.

[WoolyBear]

Now, will this beef have to be produced in the US or could it possibly be Canadian beef slaughtered in the US ?

[Lifer]

There are positive attempts to give farmers more options from the CWB.

The CWB needs to be very careful in the area of farmer advocacy since there are questions around who it really represents.

Isn't consumer demand for more understanding of where their food comes from a potential driver to help the big players cooperate more with those that produce the commodity or food.

It would be very helpful to understand how the basis used in the ppo's is calculated.

If a solution is on differentiated premium product we may have taken a step back by relating PPO to American wheat price mechanisms.

[kato]

Busted!

I have actually been infiltrating the Japanese government for several years now. They never even noticed my blue eyes and Scottish freckles! Or the fact that I don't eat fish, especially raw. YUK!!

But seriously folks, I bet the same position will be held for Canadian beef. It's just that Canadian news is never reported on south of the border, what with the world ending at the 49th parallel and all.

[Joe-2]

Is this the same "Kato" that was Inspector Clouseau's assistant in the Pink Panther movies???

[cowman]

I presume the Japanese have some sort of standard for age verification of US beef? I read that dentification can't verify under 21 months only 24 months?
I find it strange that a country that can't even identify where an animal came from can somehow guarantee age verification?
Maybe it was a good idea to age verify calves through the CCIA program? How does Japan view that program? Do they accept it as a viable age verification system?

[kato]

TOKYO, Dec 06, 2005 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Japan will ease its two-year-old ban on U.S. and Canadian beef next week, a move that could put American steaks on Japanese plates by the New Year, news reports said Wednesday, as the country's food commission prepared a report on the embargo.

The government had already indicated it would resume some imports with a go-ahead from the commission. Tokyo has sent Washington a schedule for easing the ban by Dec. 12, next Monday, the Asahi newspaper reported.

Similar reports also appeared in the Nikkei and Mainichi newspapers, and Kyodo News agency.

The Food Safety Commission on Thursday is to present its report stating that there is little difference in the risk of mad cow disease between North American and Japanese beef, said commission spokeswoman Akiko Hosokawa.

The commission's report will be presented to the Health and Agriculture ministries, which will then make their recommendations to the government, she said.

The U.S. has been pressuring Japan hard to lift the ban on beef imports. The ban was put into place in December 2003 after the first discovery of mad cow disease in the U.S. herd. Before then, Japan was the most lucrative overseas market for U.S. beef.

The ban is to be eased to allow the import of beef from American cows younger than 21 months old. No case of mad cow has ever been proven in animals of that age.

Both the Asahi and Nikkei newspaper said Wednesday that U.S. beef could reach Japanese consumers before the year's end once the ban has been removed.

"Note from Kato.... looks like my hard work infiltrating the highest levels of government have paid off. LOL No thanks necessary. Cheques or money orders accepted gladly."

Boy it's nice to have a reason to crack a joke for a change. Calves were selling higher in Brandon today. I wonder if this might be the reason? We sent five steer calves over to help fill the trailer that only had a couple of fat heifers in it. They averaged 692 pounds @ 1.2328 for an average price of $853.08. This has to be the strangest market ever. We just also finished buying a bunch of pretty decent bred cows for an average of $585.00. Go figure.

(And yes ... the name does come from me being a loyal Pink Panther fan... when I'm not infiltrating foreign governments. LOL)