Japan Partially Bans U.S. Beef

Japan ordered a partial suspension of imports of U.S. beef Feb. 8 after finding meat that could not be confirmed to comply with its restrictions, officials said, in what was called the 14th violation by U.S. beef producers in four years. The Farm Ministry said it found cattle parts that could not be confirmed to

Beef Plant Gains Russia Access

Russia has allowed beef imports from Cargill’s plant in Guelph, Ontario, as the world’s No. 2 beef importer gradually lifts restrictions it has had in place on Canadian plants since a 2003 discovery of BSE, or mad cow disease in Western Canada. Access to Russia will mean an additional $2 million in annual sales for


Meat Council Supports Border Deal

The Canadian Meat Council says it supports the recently announced shared vision for perimeter security and economic competitiveness between Canada and the U.S. “We have a long history of working very closely with our colleagues from the United States. Our industry is truly a North American one with many of our members operating farms and

Canadian Cattle Herd Reduction Slowing Down

The ongoing cattle herd liquidation in Canada over the past few years may be starting to slow down. But it will take a number of years before the herd reduction trend turns around and a noticeable increase in the herd size could be expected, according to industry analysts. Brenna Grant, a research analyst with Canfax,


Where’s The “Taco Meat Filling?”

Where’s the beef? Not in the taco, according to a class action launched by an Alabama law firm. WSFA News in Montgomery reports that the firm has alleged that fast-food giant Taco Bell uses false advertising when referring to the filling in tacos as “beef.” “Rather than beef, these food items are actually made with

Smallest Cattle Herd Since 1958

Analysts are predicting higher beef prices after the USDA report Jan. 28 put the U.S. cattle herd as of Jan. 1 at 92.582 million head, down 1.3 per cent from a year earlier and the smallest since 1958. “We are headed for record-high cattle, wholesale beef, and retail beef prices in 2011 and again in






Beef Producers Eye European Trade

An agreement recently announced between the Canadian government and the European Union (EU) that will allow duty-free access of up to 20,000 tonnes of Canadian beef into the European market is encouraging news to Canadian beef exporters, but they said actual volumes will fall well short of that quota. Christoph Weder of Prairie Heritage Beef