For Immediate Release: Monday, October 25, 2004
Contact: Mark Johnston at 605-773-3212 or Larry Gabriel at 605-773-5425
PIERRE - Gov. Mike Rounds today issued the following statement regarding the upcoming resumption of beef trade between the United States and Japan. “I am pleased that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has been able to work out a framework agreement that will permit the resumption of trade in beef and beef products between the U.S. and Japan,” said Gov. Rounds on the announcement. “We’re committed to raising the standards for beef production in this state and making sure that consumers all around the world know exactly what we are doing. SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef is raising that standard. It is a plan; complete with protocols, accountability, verification and a strong commitment to research and marketing.” SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef is part of our state’s 2010 Initiative – an ongoing commitment to improving our state’s economic future. The SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef program was created to make sure agriculture can continue to be our number one industry and provide new opportunities for our children and for future generations of South Dakotans. To be eligible for the SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef program, producers agree to adhere to animal raising standards set forth in the South Dakota Premium Beef or Premium Natural Beef Protocol Manual. Examples include:
- Cattle must be born after Jan. 1, 2004, raised and finished in South Dakota
- Cattle must be fitted with an electronic identification device (EID tag) prior to weaning or entering commerce, whichever occurs first. Producers must be Beef Quality Assurance certified prior to weaning their cattle entering commerce and be willing to sign an affidavit that their cattle were raised according to Beef Quality Assurance-Critical Management Plan (BQA-CMP) guidelines prior to them becoming certified.
- Cattle must be a maximum of 30 months of age at harvest
- Cattle must be fed a ration of corn and or distillers grain for 120 days prior to harvest
For more information visit southdakotacertifiedbeef.com.
