U.S. beef exports are up 14 percent over last year and officials are hoping that trend continues.   Nebraska Rancher Mark Jagels is Chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. He says he’s encouraged by how exports are moving so far this year.

Jagels says its important negotiators reach a successful conclusion to the Trans Pacific Partnership Talks which are currently mired by Japan’s refusal to lower its tariffs to zero like every other country involved in the deal.

Jagels says the challenge on the pork export side is the U.S..dealing with heavier weight product.