Russia is looking to Canada, and the southwest, to help improve its beef breeding program.

Last fall, Garner Deobald with Cedarlea Farms in Hodgeville signed an agreement to sell a Russian investment group 10,000 head of Charolais breeding stock. Deobald says one of the investors will be here this week to help finalize some of the details of that first shipment of bred heifers that will go late-summer 2010.

Deobald adds the Russian Government is really focused on improving and increasing beef production and they have some programs in place for producers to take advantage of. He says they continue to work with other breeders across the country to meet the Russian request.