USMEF elects new chairman, predicts meat export increase in 2007

USMEF elects new chairman, predicts meat export increase in 2007    The U.S. Meat Export Federation elected Dennis Erpelding of Elanco Animal Health to be its chairman in 2007.
   Erpelding replaces outgoing chairman John Bellinger of San Antonio, Texas-based Agri-West International.
   During its meeting in Cancun, Mexico, on Nov. 1-3, the USMEF also elected Dan Halstrom of Greeley, Colo.-based Swift & Co., to chairman-elect; Jon Caspers of the National Pork Producers Council to vice chairman; and Jim Peterson of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to
secretary-treasurer.
   USMEF is a trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, lamb, corn, sorghum and soybean check off programs.
   Phil Seng, president and chief executive officer of USMEF, told attendees at the association’s annual meeting that exports of U.S. beef, pork and lamb to other countries are expected to increase in 2007. “Clearly (meat exports are still) one of the largest and fastest growing sectors in all of U.S. agriculture,” he said.
   Seng noted that U.S. international beef sales are expected to be up 36 percent in 2007, while pork is projected to increase 9 percent and lamb up 7 percent. According to the USDA, global beef trade will be up 6.5 percent and pork up 2.6 percent. U.S. chicken exports are expected to realize a 4.1 percent increase.