AMES —Iowa beef producers Dan Cook, of New Providence, and Daryl Strohbehn, of Boone, participated in the meat segment of an Iowa Trade Mission to Panama and Colombia in early February.
Cook, past chairman of the Iowa Beef Industry Council, said the mission was an attempt to learn more about the market for U.S. quality beef in Central and South America.
The team learned that Central and South America are excellent opportunities for U.S. beef exports.
The common theme heard from visits to importers and retail outlets was "We are open for increased meat business, especially when it comes to high quality U.S. beef," said Strohbehn, treasurer of the Iowa Beef Industry Council.
Panama is experiencing vigorous construction growth in many sectors, including those associated with the completion of the bigger addition to the Panama Canal. Panama's economy grew by 8.5 percent in 2013 and more than 10 percent in 2012.
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"Central American tourism is a large growth industry," Strohbehn said. "With increases in tourists and business-oriented clients comes a demand for improved quality in dining experiences and along with that a trust that U.S. meat can deliver on that requirement."
The meat mission was the firstto Colombia.
"The growth potential for U.S. beef is slower, but there is good potential given their larger population," Cook said. "The beef industry learned that relying on one major export market is risky, after experiencing the closure of the Japan market in 2003."
Recent free trade agreements with both Panama and Colombia give the U.S. beef sector an excellent opportunity for increased marketing of beef grades low Choice and higher.
Both countries are price sensitive, but with economic growth, they represent great beef market opportunities for the United States.
Recent export reports from the USMEF show that 13.2 percent of total U.S. beef production was exported in 2013. Export value reached a record high for 2013, returning a value of $244.96 per fed slaughter steer. December set a record high value of $279.16 for a fed steer.
