Canada Expands Market Access in Japan for Canadian Beef

Jan 28, 2013

Canadian Government Helps Improve Export Beef Market in Japan

The Government of Canada has reached a new deal with Japan to enhance market access to Canadian beef. The access is for beef cattle less than 30 months of age, which is an improvement compared to the old requirements, which only permitted beef exports from animals less than 21 months of age. Expanding the age requirement will provide Canada will better export access to Japan with exports expected to reach $150 million annually.

"Our Government welcomes this expanded access for Canadian beef into the valuable Japanese market,” said Minister Ritz. "This agreement will put more top quality Canadian beef on Japanese store shelves while strengthening our producers' bottom lines and growing our overall economy.”

The revised regulations will come into effect Feb 1, 2013. Japan is Canada’s third-largest export market for beef. Since the 2003 case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) found in an animal in Canada, government and industry has been working hard to reopen markets - like Japan, which have taken years of negotiation.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.