A spokesman for Iowa beef producers expects little impact from Wednesday’slifting of the worldwide ban on British beef. Joel Brinkmeyer, executivevice president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, says that ban lastedthree years due to mad cow disease.Brinkmeyer doubts much British beef will be sent to the U-S or any othernations that are Iowa’s chief customers. The European Union faces116-million dollars in U.S. tariffs which were approved this week by theWorld Trade Organization. The move is retaliation for Europe’s ban on U-Sbeef. Still, Brinkmeyer says the penalty WON’T likely make the E-U morereceptive to buying American meat.While there’s been much news about suffering pork, corn and soybeanproducers, little is heard about beef producers. Brinkmeyer says that’sbecause the cattlemen do NOT plead for government handouts.He says Iowa cattle producers experienced 18 months of serious losses butare finally seeing some profits since the late spring.
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