RFA Ethanol Podcast

R-Calf USA Team To Central America

Chuck Zimmerman

R-Calf USAThis is going to be a toasty trip. I’d take along some sunscreen! I’m betting they won’t find a steak as good as you’ll find here in the midwest.

R-CALF USA to Send Fact-Finding Team to Central America

(Billings, Mont.) – R-CALF USA International Trade Committee Co-Chairs Dennis McDonald and Brett DeBruycker announced today that a four member fact-finding team will be dispatched to Central America on June 24, 2005, to research and analyze the support for, and impact of, the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) amongst Central American nations.

The team is charged with four primary goals: 1) obtain what level of support exists for CAFTA-DR amongst the populace and grassroots producers of Central America; 2) research true production numbers for agricultural products in those nations, with a special emphasis on beef production; 3) discover the actual potential for expansion in beef production; and, 4) gain overall insight into food safety conditions in processing plants.

The fact-finding team will depart for Central America on June 24 and is currently scheduled to visit Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras. Meetings and tours will include meat-processing facilities, ranching operations, cattlemen’s groups, embassy and trade officials, and the team is scheduled to appear at a cattle show in Liberia, Costa Rica. The team will return to the United States on July 2. A national tele-news conference is being scheduled following the conclusion of their trip.

For more information contact Shae Dodson.

Ag Groups, Beef