The European Union is lifting a ban that has kept some American beef out of its member countries. The news comes at a good time for Wisconsin farmers. Lactic acid is sometimes used to help kill pathogens on beef carcasses. The EU has banned US beef treated that way over worries that the treatment is not effective. That ban will be lifted later this month. Jeff Swenson is a livestock and meat specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. He says that with the ban lifted, US beef exports to the EU could grow from about $750 million a year to possibly a billion dollars. Some of that money could end up in the pockets of Wisconsin farmers. Swenson says the EU deal comes at a good time for the industry. "With high feed costs going along with tight margins, we look for this to hit their bottom line in a good way." The decision to lift the ban comes as the US and EU are negotiating a massive trade agreement.
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