OFFICIALS from the United States Department of Agriculture are due to meet with Welsh farming leaders near Builth Wells next week.

UK Government officials have been in talks with their US counterparts over re-opening the American market to British beef and lamb producers.

Farming union NFU Cymru says access to the US beef and lamb markets could provide the industry with a £60 million a year export boost.

Merthyr Cynog based lamb farmer John Davies, NFU Cymru’s deputy president and its president Stephen James, are due to meet representatives from the USDA, at the union’s headquarters on the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd on Wednesday.

The union said it will be pressing the importance of opening up the US export market as soon as possible.

Mr Davies said: "Re-opening the US beef and lamb market to UK imports would be an important confidence building measure for the UK livestock sector. "The US is potentially a huge and affluent market that has strong links to the UK as we share history and language.

"Securing access is one thing but building the market is another. We know we have a great product and story to tell and that our grass-fed beef and lamb is up there with the best in the world.

"NFU Cymru asks that all those interested in selling beef and lamb in the US are afforded as much help as they need from the Welsh and UK Governments, and Hybu Cig Cymru, to market the product to US consumers.

"We are currently well placed to exploit any US/EU trade deal and negotiating on our own could delay access."

NFU President Meurig Raymond met with USDA trade officials in America last October to discuss opening up lamb and beef trade .

Following his return he urged the Westminster Secretary of State, Liz Truss, to go to Washington to resolve outstanding US concerns.

The UK submitted a 1,000 page dossier last week to the US Department of Agriculture, detailing the safety and quality of UK beef and lamb.

The union has called for the UK Government and authorities to resolve any technical issues as soon as possible and to involve the whole supply chain.

"The ability to export lamb to the US in 2017 appears to be encouraging - let’s not let a lack of ambition or government support hold this up or delay it," said Mr Davies.

He also said work is needed to prepare for selling in the US: "Average lamb consumption per head in the US is relatively small so targeting our promotion of both PGI Welsh beef and lamb will be critical.

"Identifying the right consumers and areas of the US will also be important. Strategic planning should start now which involves talking to retailers, food service and import agents."