Missouri beef leaders meet with foreign buyers

Fred Ferrell, director of the department, and Mark Hitt, international marketing coordinator, departed for Taiwan on Sunday for a 12-day stay.

Ferrell and Hitt will meet with Taiwanese and Japanese beef buyers to discuss the future of Missouri beef exports. On Friday, Japan reinstated a ban on U.S. beef imports after finding bones in meat shipped from New York. The country had lifted the two-year ban in December, citing new safety measures as adequate protection from mad cow disease.

MDA officials also will discuss the state's quality systems assessment program, implemented in October.

Missouri is the first state to begin a QSA program, allowing producers to sell, source and age verified cattle with third-party verification. The program also allows consumers to track their beef purchases to the farms of origin.

Missouri has certified more than 20,000 head of cattle to date.

Accompanying Ferrell and Hitt are Mark Akin and Jeff Windett, both with Circle A Angus Ranch in Iberia, Mo.

Following the trip, the department will extend invitations to Taiwanese and Japanese beef industry leaders for a visit to Missouri's farms and ranches in May.

The beef mission is partly funded by the Hawthorn Foundation, the Missouri Beef Industry Council, the Missouri Corn Growers Association and the Missouri Soybean Association.