Here in Japan, beef sales have dropped, to half of what they were.
So when a crisis surfaced that struck directly at beef sales, it had a plan.
It is too early to tell what effect the announcement will have on beef sales.
It already accounted for 20 percent of his total beef sales.
For months, beef sales were down as much as 40 percent.
Total beef sales to Japan last year were $250 million.
Nationwide, beef sales are the largest revenue source for agriculture.
American beef sales fell from 201,000 tons in 2003 to zero, the ministry said.
Japan made up 27 percent of Tyson's international beef sales in fiscal 2003.
Argentina now earns nearly $1 billion a year from beef sales abroad.