PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
February 15, 2007 www.agr.ne.gov		Contact: Christin Kamm (402) 471-6856 office

LINCOLN - Beef producers are invited to a free seminar that will highlight the steps necessary to raise age- and source-verified animals for export.

The International Beef Market Opportunities Seminar will be held on Wednesday, February 28 at the Holiday Inn in Kearney. The program begins at 3 p.m. It is open to cow-calf producers, feedlot managers, and others interested in learning more about age- and source-verification of cattle for export. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, and the Nebraska Beef Council are sponsoring the seminar.

Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said the event has been designed to educate farmers and ranchers about the basic requirements, and potential benefits, of producing cattle for overseas markets.

“We want cow-calf producers to be aware of all their options as calving season moves into full swing,” Ibach said. “Through our outreach efforts, we know there is great opportunity for Nebraska beef in Asia and Europe. It’s a matter of securing enough qualified livestock to fulfill demand.”

The two-hour seminar will include presentations from representatives of the United States Meat Export Federation, a Nebraska beef processor, two Nebraska feedlots, and an animal identification product specialist.

“Our goal is to lay out for producers the basic pieces of information they need to make a decision about raising livestock for foreign market export,” said Ann Marie Bosshamer, Executive Director of the Nebraska Beef Council. “I think there is a great deal of interest among producers, but many aren’t quite sure how to get started.”

The seminar also will serve as a training function for University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educators. Elbert Dickey, Dean And Director of UNL Extension, said Extension faculty from across the state will attend and then later share what they learn with livestock producers in their local areas.

This event is free and open to anyone interested in beef production for foreign markets. Seminar attendees who also are interested in attending the Governor’s Ag Conference, which begins with a reception that evening, are encouraged to call the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 800 831-0550 for more information.