About Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska

PRESS RELEASE

FROM: INDEPENDENT CATTLEMEN OF NEBRASKA, Box 241, Hyannis, NE 69350

E-MAIL: [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 21, 2005

Contact: Jim Hanna (308) 748-2233

ICON Applauds Senator Nelson for Delaying Imports of Japanese Beef

(Hyannis, NE) - Members of the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska heralded Tuesday's Senate vote preventing imports of Japanese beef as simply a common sense approach to dealing with our trading partners. The amendment, proposed by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), would restrict funding for USDA's plan to re-establish imports from Japan until they agree to accept U.S. product.

"It makes no sense to me...to expand our domestic market for Japanese beef while their market for American beef remains closed," Nelson said Monday from an Omaha grocery store. "U.S. beef is the safest, highest quality beef in the world. Japan has had numerous incidents of mad cow disease in their own herds. We've had two."

ICON president Chris Abbott said, "Recent free trade agreements seem to give increasing opportunities to foreign producers to access our markets. It's high time we recognize that additional trade opportunities for our domestic cattle producers must be realized before we accept additional imports."

"The USDA and the Administration need to demonstrate their willingness to make exports of U.S. beef products a priority," said Al Davis of Hyannis. "We are currently facing unfair and illegal trade barriers in places like the European Union. Until we gain access to additional markets, ICON and its members will continue to oppose trade agreements that are 'one-way streets'."

The Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska is the newest and fastest growing agricultural organization in the state and an affiliate of R-Calf USA. The Office of the Organization is located in Hyannis, Nebraska and membership can be obtained by calling (308) 282-2826 or log on to www.independentcattlemen.com

INDEPENDENT CATTLEMEN OF NEBRASKA
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