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USMEF to Host Media Conference Call from Japan, Thursday, Sept 6

Published: Aug 31, 2018

Sept. 3-8, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Heartland Team - a delegation of producers and other agricultural industry leaders from several states - will travel to Osaka and Tokyo to observe USMEF marketing activities for U.S. beef, pork and lamb in Japan and assess prospects for further growth in the leading value market for U.S. red meat. The group includes participants from Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Idaho, Missouri and Arkansas.

USMEF will host a media conference call from its Tokyo office on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time that will include remarks from these Heartland Team members:

  • Conley Nelson of Algona, Iowa. Nelson is general manager of Smithfield Foods’ hog production division in the company’s five-state Midwest region. He is a past president of the National Pork Board and currently serves as USMEF chair-elect.
  • Ed Lammers, Nebraska soybean, corn, alfalfa, rye and beef producer, representing the United Soybean Board. Lammers also serves on the USMEF Executive Committee.
  • Kevin Ross of Minden, Iowa, who serves on the board of the National Corn Growers Association and is a past president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.
  • Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO, will lead the conference call discussion.

To access the call, please dial 1-866-519-2804 and enter passcode 770447.

If you are calling from an area that cannot access this toll-free number, please dial 1-719-234-7307 and use the same passcode. No RSVP is required, but if you have any questions, please email Joe Schuele or call him at 303-547-0030.

Other USMEF Heartland Team members may be available for interviews upon their return from Japan, including:

  • Dr. Robert Thaler, professor and swine extension specialist at South Dakota State University
  • Todd Hanten, South Dakota soybean, corn, hay, wheat and beef producer, representing the South Dakota Soybean Association
  • Lee Bradshaw, Idaho cattle feeder and livestock nutritionist, representing the Idaho Beef Council
  • Tom Fanning, Oklahoma rancher and customer cattle feeder, representing the Oklahoma Beef Council
  • Greg Hora, Iowa pork, corn and soybean producer, representing the Iowa Pork Producers Association
  • Dr. Craig Morris, vice president of international marketing for the National Pork Board
  • Dr. David Newman, professor of animal sciences at Arkansas State University who also operates a farrow-to-finish operation in Missouri and serves as vice president of the National Pork Board
  • Doug Temme, Nebraska beef and dairy producer representing the Nebraska Beef Council
  • Kurtis Harms, director of communication for the Nebraska Corn Board
  • Larry Mussack, Nebraska corn producer, representing the Nebraska Corn Growers Association
  • Duane Schumacher, Nebraska soybean, corn and alfalfa producer, representing the Nebraska Soybean Board
  • Gwen Beckman, Nebraska soybean, corn and pork producer, representing the Nebraska Soybean Board
  • Pat Gabel, Nebraska soybean, corn and pork producer, representing the Nebraska Soybean Board
  • Michael Wisnieski, Nebraska pork producer, representing the Nebraska Pork Producers Association
  • Steve Wellman of Syracuse, Nebraska, is director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and a past president of the American Soybean Association

Posted Aug. 31, 2018