WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today released the following statement celebrating the first shipment of U.S. beef to Israel in 13 years. The shipment came from WR Reserve, a beef processing plant located in Hastings, Nebraska. 

“Nebraska’s world-class beef is officially on its way to Israel for the first time in 13 years. I was proud to work closely with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, USDA, and our ambassador in Israel to broker this historic agreement. It’s a big win for the Beef State and the people of Israel. Nebraskans feed the world and re-opening this market increases opportunities for our state’s ag producers, communities, and economy.”

In December 2003, Israel banned beef imports from the United States due to a confirmed case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Washington state. Senator Fischer played an instrumental role in lifting this ban. 

During a visit by Senator Fischer to Israel last fall, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro asked her to work with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bring Nebraska beef to Israel. Senator Fischer worked collaboratively with USDA and officials from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to lift the ban on U.S. beef imports. 

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