Beth, I would guess that the €1/kg greater returns compared to current  
European markets create a situation where not much financing is  
required. The bottom line is that we have huge untapped demand for  
beef (especially grassfed beef) in the eastern US that is not  
currently being supplied. If we can't (or don't) produce a consistent,  
quality product in adequate volume to meet that demand, someone else  
will step in who can. Enter Australia, New Zealand, and now, Ireland.  
I would also guess that the American market is sustainable for the  
Irish as long as current prices hold, which are unlikely to change  
much unless the U.S cattle inventory increases, in this case  
particularly within the grass finishing sector.

Joe
-- 
Joe Emenheiser, PhD
University of Vermont Extension
Livestock Specialist
278 South Main Street, Suite 2
St. Albans, VT 05478-1866
(802)524-6501 ext. 434



Quoting Beth Pratt <[log in to unmask]>:

> Better question is who is financing them and what is that entity's  
> financial gain?  Will this be a sustainable incursion is yet to be  
> seen with weather swings but New England sends 140,000 beef to  
> market so it bears watching.  Thanks for the heads up Joe.  Beth Pratt

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