Middle Eastern Group Bids on Packing Plant

Iowa Quality Beef Supply Cooperative meatpacking plant in Tama, Iowa, has been closed for awhile. But now an investors group from the Middle Eastern country of Qatar is in negotiations o buy the closed plant. Government statistics show the U.S. exported nearly $80 million in beef in the Middle East in 2003. Co-op members also said there is a high demand for high quality beef in Islamic countries. If the plant would re-open it would certainly be a very positive thing for the industry.