Daily News Update, Feb. 22, 2008

Russian trade update

Russia authorized late last week five more U.S. processors to ship U.S. beef to Russia. Effective Feb. 14, the plants authorized for export to Russia include: JBS-Swift & Co. plants in Cactus, Texas and Hyrum, Utah; Tyson Fresh Meats plant in Dakota City, Neb.; and the National Beef Packing Co. plants in Dodge City, Kan. and Brawley, Calif.

This brings the total to eight U.S. beef processing plants authorized to export U.S. beef to Russia, reflecting the country's increasing demand for foreign beef.

NCBA continues to monitor trade related developments with Russia as it will likely remain the second largest beef importing nation in the world in 2008 at 1.1 million metric tons according to USDA's latest estimates.

Russia's imports of red meat rose 8.2 percent in 2007.