I wanted to go to Hong Kong but business is very, very busy and then there’s that bird flu thing . . . but Sara Wyant is there and she’s letting her subscribers to Agri-Pulse know what’s going on each day. I’ll have more about the WTO Ministerial here as I find time and something worth letting you in on. Here’s an excerpt from Sara’s update today.
Just blocks from my hotel, I found several markets where fresh poultry, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables were being sold. There seemed to be plentiful supplies and Hong Kong cooks were busy going from stand to stand, picking up supplies for their daily meals or to serve in local restaurants. However, when you witness the unsanitary conditions under which some of the meat and fish is being handled, it really makes you wonder how government officials in other countries can question the safety of U.S. food
products. Plus, it didn’t do much for the appetite!
Missouri Beef Producers Benefit From Open Japan Market
With today’s announcement about the opening up of the Japanese market to U. S. beef the Missouri Beef Industry Council wanted to make sure the word got out about what it means on the local level with this release.
MISSOURI BEEF PRODUCERS STAND TO BENEFIT FROM
REOPENING OF JAPANESE MARKET
Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire.AgWired.com) News that Japan is reopening its market for U.S. beef products is good for Missouri beef producers, according to Missouri Beef Industry Council Executive Director Steve Taylor. “With the full export market available to us, there’s an additional 50 to 75 dollars per head added to the value of a carcass, so that translates back to Missouri producers. It does put money on to the value of the cattle that they sell here.” (Full Release)
This is a Talking News Release so you can download the full release which contains the audio links if you want to listen.
Japanese Border Open To U. S. Beef
You’ll be hearing a lot about this today and over the next couple days so I thought I’d give you a heads up. The Japanese border is open to U. S. beef. That’s big news for our cattle producers.
It was just announced this morning and you can hear it directly from U. S. Secretary of Ag Mike Johanns. There was a press conference early this morning. I’m sure more will be held soon by groups like NCBA and others.
Johanns also said “”Japan’s action today provides sets an excellent example for other countries in Asia whose markets remain closed. Now is the time for Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and others to open their markets to U.S. beef. I urge all countries to take a science-based approach and adopt OIE standards for allowing beef trade.”
Post Update: Here’s a comment from NCBA which will be holding a joint press conference with the U.S. Meat Export Federation in a little while: ““While the process has been lengthy, we are pleased to be on the road to regaining this valuable market for U.S. producers,” says Jamie Willrett, Illinois cattle producer and chairman of NCBA’s International Markets committee. “Our cattlemen produce great-tasting, safe beef, and we are eager to give Japanese consumers a chance to enjoy it once again. We’re confident consumers and the Japanese government will find it goes above and beyond their expectations.”
A Quick Lesson On Quickfarm
If you’re considering ZimmComm’s AgNewsWire.AgWired.com service you may be wondering about what we call the Quickfarm network. In fact, you may wonder just what Quickfarm is. Well this week’s ZimmCast will answer your questions. I interviewed Quickfarm’s VP of Sales/Operations, Matt Walsh last week at the NGFA Country Elevator Conference. Matt describes the company, how it got started, where it’s going and what it’s doing with ZimmComm to help distribute news release material directly to farmers.
You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: 
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also now find the ZimmCast on CoolCast Radio.
Missouri Wall of Brands
Here’s another picture from the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Convention that’s concluding today. It’s the Missouri Wall of Brands. I don’t really know much about it except that it looks pretty cool. I don’t know if it contains all the brands in Missouri or what. Anyone know?
Missouri Cattlemen Meeting In Columbia
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association is having its annual convention in Columbia, MO today. I showed up to enjoy some fine Missouri beef for lunch. At least I hope we have some for lunch.
Here’s the MFA Incorporated booth and Lisa the shoeshine lady. I’m in line and hope to be next.
New Finance Man For D&PL
There’s a new Vice President of Finance, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary at D&PL. That’s a lot of titles for one person and Kenneth Avery is just getting started. He’s been on the team of the audit firm that has conducted D&PL audits though so he at least has a very high level of familiarity with the company. He’ll be responsible for accounting and finance and will report to Tom Jagodinski, D&PL President and CEO.
Mr. Avery commented, “I am pleased to be joining Delta and Pine Land, a company I have worked with for 10 years, and I look forward to working with the excellent management team that is dedicated to driving growth and increasing shareholder value.”
Venezuelan Monk Coffee The Best
I don’t know about you but on a day like today (frigid) a good cup of coffee is necessary. I’m only writing this because I know you’re looking for good holiday gifts and maybe you’re a coffee lover like me.
This is the best I’ve found yet and I’ve even had kona beans flown in from Hawaii. I recommend the whole beans and grind your own right before brewing. The best part is the price. For coffee of this quality you would expect to pay twice as much.
This is a fine arabica grown by Trappist Monks in the Andes Mountains of Venezuela. You can read about it directly from their website or you can order from The Monastery Store at their order’s location in Conyers, Ga.
Quickfarm On Display In St. Louis
You know that we’ve teamed up with Quickfarm as a distribution point for AgNewsWire.AgWired.com. Now you can see who they are. I caught up to them earlier this week at the National Grain & Feed Association’s meeting and trade show in St. Louis.
At their booth is (l-r) Jeff Jackson, Elizabeth Wilmes and Matt Walsh. They said the NGFA’s annual meeting will be in Charleston, SC (March 5-7) next year, their home town. I will be planning on attending.
Start The Day At The Farm Gate
The extension specialist quoted in the release for The Farm Gate is the father of Keith Good who publishes FarmPolicy and writes for AgWired weekly on Tuesdays. I guess he saw what the boy was doing and pronounced it good.
“Agricultural decision-makers have a new place to start their day – “The farm gate,” an internet blog updated daily by University of Illinois Extension. “The farm gate is a place to go to find integrated information across a variety of disciplines, including crop and animal sciences, ag economics, ag engineering, and veterinary medicine,” explained U of I Extension marketing specialist Darrel Good. “These disciplines will be addressed as they meet, intersect and often intertwine to shape the environment in which the ag community lives and work.”
The Farm Gate blogger is actually Stu Ellis. This only makes sense!