(Le Mars) — Area cattle producers will be meeting in Le Mars this week for their summer regional meeting. The Iowa Cattlemen Association has held regional meetings across the state during this week, with the last meeting scheduled for Thursday at Le Mars. Katie Olthoff serves as the communications director for the Iowa Cattlemen Association and says rather than cattle producers traveling to Ames or Des Moines, the “Beef Meets” are designed to go to the cattle producer.
Olthoff says registration for the Beef Meets is just $35. She says one topic certain to be discussed is the new agreement with China which will allow U-S beef to be exported to the oriental nation for the first time in over a decade.
The cattle organization spokesperson says while it is good news that U-S beef will again be exported to China, she explains some of the requirements the Chinese people have requested for beef to enter their country.
According to Olthoff, the first shipment of U-S beef is expected to arrive in China in mid-July, about the same time Governor Kim Reynolds will be leading an Iowa agricultural-based trade team to China. Olthoff says there are several members of the Iowa Cattlemen Association, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council, that will be accompanying Reynolds on that trade mission. Olthoff discusses some of the educational seminars that will be featured during the Le Mars meeting.
