USMEF welcomes beef agreement with Japan

In a news release today from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), a new agreement that will expand access for U.S. beef to Japan is a positive step for the American beef industry as well as the Japanese trade and consumers.

The change, which takes effect Feb. 1, will allow the United States to export beef from animals under 30 months of age to Japan with the exception of ground beef, which will be phased in after a surveillance period to ensure that the new export protocol is proceeding smoothly. In the aftermath of the discovery of BSE in the U.S. in December 2003, only beef from animals 20 months of age or younger has been eligible for export to Japan.

“This is an extremely positive development that successfully addresses one of the longest standing issues between our two governments,” said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “The U.S. beef industry – from farmers and ranchers to exporters – will benefit from increased exports to this premium market. At the same time, the trade and consumers in Japan will see a wider variety of beef products and improved availability of U.S. beef in the retail and food service channels.

“We are grateful to the governments of Japan and the United States for their efforts to make this agreement a reality,” added Seng.

The U.S. beef industry is working closely with USDA to ensure the smooth implementation of the new agreement. Among the provisions of the agreement are that beef products produced before Feb. 1 must be accompanied by appropriate documentation and produced under the current export verification (EV) program. These products may not be comingled with products produced Feb. 1 or after, which must be produced under the new EV program and accompanied by the new export documentation.

Japan is currently the No. 2 market for U.S. beef exports in terms of value and No. 3 in volume (143,900 metric tons or 317.2 million pounds) valued at $969.8 million through the first 11 months of 2012 – expected to top $1 billion in value for the year for the first time since 2003.

USMEF forecasts that U.S. beef exports to Japan in 2013 as a result of expanded access to the market will increase roughly 45 percent in volume and value, reaching 225,000 metric tons (496 million pounds) and $1.5 billion.

Nebraska corn has a strong history of supporting beef exports to Japan through their support of USMEF. In 2009, Nebraska corn and beef farmers participated in a trade mission to Japan and South Korea to promote high-quality U.S. and Nebraska beef. Also, after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, Nebraska corn and beef farmers went to Japan to show our support of Japan and deliver free beef meals to disaster victims. Those on that trade mission were also involved in the Nebraska grain donation program to the Red Cross to help Japan.

We are excited for the opportunity for Nebraska and U.S. beef to have a greater presence in the Japanese market and will be participating in promotions in the coming year.

Podcast: Thank you for making Red Cross blood drive a big success

This past summer, an idea was hatched for Nebraska corn and pig farmers to join forces with the American Red Cross to "stalk up the blood supply" by allowing those willing to donate blood to pig out!

In this podcast, Mat Habrock of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, gives a review of the blood donation program, which included food catered by Skeeter Barnes, concert tickets, pork coupons and ethanol gas cards.

In total, 8 blood drives were sponsored by the Nebraska Corn Growers and Nebraska Pork Producers Associations. He said 570 BBQ pork lunches were served and in the process the program collected 452 pints of blood, with 47 people donating for the first time. "And most importantly potentialy1,356 lives were saved," he said.

Although the spsonsored blood drives have ended, the need for blood is still great. Habrock  encourages everyone to consider giving blood. You can make an appointment to give blood in your community by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS

Listen for more.

Nebraska Corn Kernel podcasts are also available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.

Podcast: At the State Fair: Blood drive, backpacks, the Beef Pit, fuel discounts and more!

In this podcast, Joel Grams, a farmer from Minden and member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, gives all the details involving corn growers at the 2012 Nebraska State Fair.

In addition to an exhibit in the main exhibition building, corn growers are conducting the final Stalk Up the Blood Supply and Pig Out blood donation drive on August 31 at the YWCA in Grand Island (212 East Fonner Park Road), from 8 a-m to 2 p-m.

NeCGA also partnered with the Corn Board to provide backpack bags to the 3,000 students who are taking part in Nebraska’s largest classroom at the State Fair.

Today (Wednesday, Aug. 29), you’ll find corn farmers in the Beef Pit dishing up prime rib and other good food until 3:15 in the afternoon.

Finally, there are ethanol fuel promotions occurring during the Fair. One was last Saturday but and the other coming up on Monday, September 3rd. The promotions take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Aurora A-Stop on East Highway 30 and Bosselman’s Pump and Pantry at 3355 West Stolley Park Road.

Listen for details.

Nebraska Corn Kernel podcasts are also available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.

Podcast: Help the American Red Cross ‘Stalk up the Blood Supply’

In this podcast, Jay Reiners, a farmer from Juniata and a member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, talks about blood and platelet donation program known as "Stalk up the Blood Supply and Pig Out" that kicks off Monday, July 30.

Like for the Japan and Pacific earthquake and tsunami relief program that brought in more than $60,000, the Nebraska Corn Growers Association is partnering with the American Red Cross on this effort. This time, however, the Nebraska Pork Producers Association and Skeeter Barns have joined in the effort.

"Demand for blood doesn’t go down during the summer, but donations due," Reiners said, adding the the blood supply remains tenuous. This makes the Stalk Up the Blood Supply program timely.

As part of the Stalk up the Blood Supply program, all presenting donors will receive a complementary meal from Skeeter Barns at special blood drives across the state. There’s also additional prizes, handouts and the opportunity to win concert tickets at some drives.

Just visit click here to discover all the details.

The special Stalk Up the Blood Supply drives kick off in Lincoln on Monday, July 30. Use the link above for the location and times.

Other drives:

• Wednesday, August 8 in Holdrege, Hastings, Kearney and Grand Island.
• Tuesday, August 14, in Norfolk
• Wednesday, August 15 in Columbus
• Friday, August 31 in Grand Island

All this information – all the locations, days, times and more – can be found at the link above.

"And please note," Reiners said, "these blood drives are open to anyone and everyone, so come on out, donate blood and then enjoy a complementary meal.

Nebraska Corn Kernel podcasts are also available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.

Grain donation program nets $66,588 for Red Cross earthquake, tsunami relief

On the main stage in the Nebraska State Fair's Exhibition Hall on Sunday, the Nebraska Corn Growers Association presented a $66,588.07 ceremonial check to the American Red Cross. The check represented money raised through the Nebraska Corn Growers grain donation program that supported Red Cross relief efforts in Japan and the Pacific following the earthquake and tsunami there in March.

Nearly 9,000 bushels of grain – mostly corn – was donated and sold through the program, with money being sent to the Red Cross every couple of weeks. Some cash-only donations were also received.

Joel Grams presents the check to Susan Epps of the Red Cross.

“Nebraska farmers came together in a big way to support Red Cross relief efforts in Japan. For many years Japan has been one of our top global corn customers, but it’s also an important market for many other Nebraska ag products, including beef and pork. Supporting people there through the Red Cross was a great way help our neighbors in the global market, and we appreciate all who contributed,” said Joel Grams, a farmer from Minden who is vice president of the Nebraska Corn Growers.

The grain donation program began April 1 and ran through July 30. It was launched by the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Aurora Cooperative and the American Red Cross, with farmer-owned KRVN rural radio also supporting the initiative. Cooperative Producers Inc. (CPI) also joined in the effort by accepting grain at all of its locations.

“Response to the grain donation program was simply tremendous and we appreciate everyone who contributed. Money raised through the program was passed directly to Red Cross efforts in Japan and the Pacific where it helped make a difference for so many,” said Susan Epps, executive director of the Cornhusker Community Chapter of the American Red Cross, who was on hand to accept the check.

John Willoughby (left) and Bill Schuster.

As part of the program Sunday, farmers John Willoughby and Bill Schuster shared some of their photos and stories gathered while taking part in a mission to Japan in July. They and several others went to promote U.S. beef but also to prepare and deliver meals to evacuees. For more on their mission, click here.

For a compilation of posts relating to the Red Cross efforts, click here, and for photos from the presentation, click here.

U.S. corn-fed beef brightens spirits of Japan disaster evacuees

You're traveling through the Japan countryside, through beautiful, green rice paddies and tree covered mountains when you turn the bend and see the coast. You can easily see the water two miles away because what once was thriving coastal cities, is now a layer of debris, mostly flat except for the piles that workers have begun to sort the wreckage.

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan was March 11 — 122 days ago — and the disaster area is still very devastating to see. Buildings flattened, cars crushed, hundreds of boats inland. It was a very emotional sight, but the Nebraska Corn and Beef teams had a great mission in front of them - to cook and feed 500 servings of U.S. beef to evacuees.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation team set up at a hotel that was on top of a hill near a fishing village on the coast that was spared. The hotel owner opened up the hotel as a shelter for people from the area - some full families, some individuals. This shelter was open to feeding the people staying there, as well as local cleanup workers to come and enjoy a free meal.

The team cooked U.S. sirloin steaks that were donated by many U.S. companies through USMEF for the relief effort. Sam Harada, USMEF senior director, said they have partnered with trade organizations like food service, wholesale, processors, etc., to lead the cooperative relief effort. They have gone to more than 30 locations, served more than 93,000 servings of beef and pork and have a goal of serving more than 100,000.

"The relief efforts are very important to lead to a recovery of the meat market," said Harada. "It is great for the Japanese people, but also to help show the compassion of U.S. beef and pork producers."

All of the evacuees were very grateful for the U.S. beef, as many of them did not have meat for more than one month after the disaster. It was humbling to walk through the line of evacuees waiting for the beef bowl lunch and receive handshakes, thank yous and big smiles.

This was also a great experience for John Willoughby and Bill Schuster to see how their efforts through the Nebraska grain donation program went into effect.

"The Red Cross has a huge role in helping in the cleanup and recovery process," said Schuster, "Nebraska farmers have been a significant part of that."

Grain donation program passes $60,000 for Red Cross earthquake, tsunami relief in Japan

Nebraska farmers have gone well beyond an initial $50,000 goal as part of a grain donation program to support Red Cross efforts to help those impacted by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the Pacific.

Grain donations through July 1 have sold for a total of more than $60,000 in support of the initiative, said Carl Sousek, a farmer from Prague who is president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association.

“Response to the program has been tremendous but we want to finish strong and continue to encourage farmers to donate additional bushels,” he said. “Corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum are all welcome.”

Donations will be accepted through July 30 at all Aurora Cooperative and Cooperative Producers Inc. (CPI) locations. Farmers can deliver grain and designate it for the Red Cross effort or contribute bushels they have in storage at the cooperatives by contacting their grain merchandiser and transferring ownership to the Red Cross.

“Money raised through the grain donation program is so appreciated,” said Susan Epps, executive director of the Cornhusker Community Chapter of the American Red Cross. “There continues to be a tremendous need in Japan and Pacific, and it is wonderful to pass this support along where it will do a lot of good.”

Sousek also noted that while those involved want to raise additional funds for relief efforts in Japan, they also want to encourage farmers and others to support Red Cross efforts here in Nebraska. “Between flooding and other local needs like blood donations, there are a lot of opportunities to help,” Sousek said.

Epps said there is always a need for blood, especially in the summer.

“Local blood drives in some parts of the state have stopped because of flooding, creating additional demand for blood from other areas,” she said. “We also encourage volunteers to go through Red Cross training so they can help respond in an emergency or other disaster. Financial support, of course, is always needed, especially as we provide food and other resources to those impacted by flooding and other disasters.”

For background on the grain donation program, click here.

For the past week, a couple of Nebraska corn growers have been in Japan to promote U.S. beef and pork -- and to help deliver meals to evacuees. For information on that mission, click here or for a compilation of posts, click here.

Corn mission to promote U.S. beef, pork in Japan, meet some impacted by tsunami

The Nebraska Corn Board said in a news release yesterday that it is sponsoring a team to travel to Japan with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) July 5-12 to promote Nebraska corn-fed beef and pork and to see first hand how Nebraska farmers, through their grain donation program, are supporting Red Cross efforts to help those impacted by the earthquake and tsunami in the region.

Curt Tomasevicz is going on the mission to Japan.

Several Nebraskan's will be on the mission, including Nebraska Corn Board spokesman and Olympic gold medalist Curt Tomasevicz. He'll be along to help promote U.S. corn-fed beef and pork as part of a balanced diet.

"Curt’s role makes this USMEF mission different than those we’ve supported in the past," said Kelsey Pope, ag promotion coordinator with the Nebraska Corn Board, who is also going on the mission. "His status as a top-performing athlete will be exciting to those we meet with, including the kids sports teams we will be visiting. He will talk about eating U.S. red meat as part of a healthy, balanced, athletic diet."

While in Japan, the group will make a side trip to the Tohoku area where they will meet with earthquake and tsunami evacuees, distribute free meals that include U.S. beef and meet with local media.

Others going on the mission include John Willoughby, president of the Buffalo/Hall County Corn Growers Association and member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, and Bill Schuster, chairman of the Aurora Cooperative board of directors. Willoughby and Schuster were instrumental in launching the grain donation program with the Nebraska Corn Growers and KRVN to support tsunami relief efforts in Japan and the Pacific.

The relief effort began in April after Japan experienced the devastating earthquake and tsunami. As part of the effort, Nebraska farmers donate bushels of corn or any grain at Aurora Cooperative or Cooperative Producers, Inc., locations. The grain is sold and proceeds go to the Red Cross.

Donations continue to be accepted through July 30.

“Even though this mission to Japan with USMEF began as a Nebraska corn-fed meat promotion, it was a natural fit to include representatives from the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and Aurora Cooperative. It will give them an opportunity to deliver meals to those displaced by the tsunami and see how the grain donation relief program is supporting people in Japan,” said Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board.


We're hoping to include mission updates here throughout the mission — so check back!

Podcast: Grain donations for Red Cross top $31,000 in two days, still coming in

In this podcast, Rick Gruber, a farmer from Benedict and member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, reports that in the first two days, farmers donated more than $31,000 in grain to the Red Cross, which will use the funds to directly help those impacted by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the pacific.

Even before this radio report aired last week, however, donations had passed $41,000 and bushels were still coming in to to Aurora Cooperative or CPI locations.

Farmers can continue donating corn, wheat, soybeans and sorghum through July 30.

The program was developed by the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, the Aurora Cooperative and the American Red Cross. KRVN rural radio is also supporting the initiative.

"We’re excited to have CPI join the program, and would like to have other cooperatives across the state join in, too," Gruber said, adding that others who are interested can contact Mat Habrock at the Nebraska Corn Growers for more information.

For more on the program, click here and here.

Nebraska Corn Kernel podcasts are also available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.

Grain donation program nets $31,000 for Red Cross in first two days

Trucks at Aurora West ready to dump corn
for the Red Cross on April 1.

Nebraska farmers delivered more than 4,600 bushels of grain that sold for a donation in excess of $31,000 in the first two days (April 1-2) of a grain donation program to support Red Cross efforts to help those impacted by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the Pacific.

The program was announced early last week, and since then donations locations have expanded to include Cooperative Producers Inc. locations.

Donations at just Aurora Cooperative locations as of mid-day today added more than 1,300 bushels to that for a total of more than $41,000, said Aurora Cooperative's Dawn Caldwell. She said the first check will go to the Red Cross late today or tomorrow.

“We’ve seen an incredible response to the grain donation program. It’s the largest program we’ve ever had in our chapter, and dollars generated will go directly to the Red Cross international relief effort,” said Renae Foster, chief operating officer of the Central Plains Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross. “The need in Japan is staggering, and the Red Cross will continue to provide assistance in terms of food, medical care, emotional support and general supplies in response to what may be the largest natural disaster in history.”

Farmers can continue making donations to support the initiative through July 30. Grain donations can be made at Aurora Cooperative locations, and also at all CPI locations.

Farmers who are storing grain at either cooperative can also contribute by contacting their grain merchandiser and transferring ownership to the Red Cross.

“Japan is one of our important customers, buying more than $370 million in Nebraska agricultural products like corn, beef and pork, last year alone,” said Lynn Chrisp, a farmer from Kenesaw and member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. “This is a great way for farmers to help them during this disaster, to be a good neighbor to one of our most important global customers.”

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association said it was excited to see CPI join the program and encouraged other cooperatives to join in, as well.

“The more locations there are to deliver corn, the bigger impact we’ll have,” Chrisp said. “In fact, we’re hoping the grain donation program is adopted in other states, too.”

The grain donation program was developed by the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Aurora Cooperative and the American Red Cross, with farmer-owned KRVN rural radio also supporting the initiative. It began April 1 at three Aurora Cooperative locations and expanded to other company locations the following day.

For more information, interviews and details from various news outlets, click here, here, here, here, here and here.

Nebraska farmers can donate grain to Red Cross, help those in need in Japan

Nebraska farmers can donate bushels of corn or any grain to the Red Cross and directly help those impacted by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the Pacific thanks to a program developed by the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Aurora Cooperative and the American Red Cross. Farmer-owned KRVN rural radio is also supporting the initiative.

According to a news release, donations are being accepted at Aurora Cooperative locations in Keene, Sedan and Aurora West (near Aurora) in Nebraska beginning Friday, April 1, and all other cooperative locations beginning April 2. Donations will continue to be accepted through July 30.

“The idea of helping those dealing with this disaster came up during a meeting and we contacted the American Red Cross in Nebraska, who were very supportive,” said John Willoughby, a farmer from Wood River, Neb., and a member of the Buffalo/Hall County Corn Growers Association. “Japan has been our top global corn customer for years and is a key market for many agriculture products produced in Nebraska and across the country. It just seemed right to find a way to help our neighbors in the global market.”

The Aurora Cooperative said it has 19 grain delivery locations across and that all are participating in the program.

“Farmers often help out a neighbor in need. This is a great way to extend that generosity,” said George Hohwieler, chief executive officer of the Aurora Cooperative. “Farmers can simply deliver grain to one of our locations and designate the entire load or a percentage of the load to relief efforts. Farmers will get a receipt for their contribution and 100 percent of the dollars from the sale of that grain will go to the Red Cross.”

Renae Foster, chief operating officer of the Central Plains Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross, said, “Those in agriculture are incredibly giving and we are thrilled to be part of this program and appreciate everyone’s efforts and contribution. They will directly support our disaster relief efforts and help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.”