Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns - April 15, 2004

Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns

April 15, 2004

The CCC is a weekly report from Washington D.C. giving an up-to-date summary of top policy initiatives concerning the cattle industry; direct from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Japan:  In meetings this week with Japanese officials, Vice President Dick Cheney urged Japanese agricultural officials to lift the ban on U.S. beef imports. A cross-agency team of respected U.S. government and technical officials will be in Japan beginning April 24 to review U.S. regulations as they pertain to BSE, the changes that have been made to U.S. regulations since Dec 30, 2003, and most notably those pertaining to specified risk materials. The two sides are then expected to begin the process of agreeing upon a science-based resolution that resumes beef trade between the two countries. Also this week, the Japanese government has held meetings to obtain input on the best approach regarding BSE surveillance. Prior to the December 23 finding of an isolated case of BSE in Washington State, Japan was the number one export market for US beef, which represented almost a third of its beef consumption.

Mexico:  Mexico re-opened its border this week to U.S. beef variety meat products, including trimmings, liver, tongue, lips, heart and kidneys. According to the USDA, the newly allowed cuts will have to come from meat packing plants approved by Mexican authorities, and will have to come from cattle under 30 months of age who have never been exposed to ruminant-derived feed. A ban still applies to live animals. Mexico is historically the second-largest foreign market for U.S. beef, and our top market for variety meats. In 2003, the Mexican beef export market was worth $818 million and the beef variety meat markets accounted for $271 million in value.

China: In related news, USDA Undersecretary J.B. Penn has been in China this week discussing agricultural trade issues including a resumption of beef trade with that country. China and Hong Kong bought $119 million worth of U.S. beef and beef variety meats in 2003 and was our seventh largest customer. 

Morocco:  The office of the USTR has given the President and Congress reports from 32 trade advisory committees on the recently completed U.S./Morocco FTA. Some NCBA producer members are members of these trade advisory committees, which voiced broad support for the agreement.  The senior-level Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) said the FTA "will improve opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports...new tariff rate quotas will assure access to Morocco's markets for U.S. common and durum wheat, beef, and poultry."  Particularly strong support was voiced by agricultural advisory committees for meats, grains, and processed foods.  The full text of the advisory committee reports are available on the USTR website, www.ustr.gov. 

Dominican Republic:  USTR released this week the draft text of the U.S./Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (FTA.)  The Dominican Republic has agreed to adhere to the text of the Central American FTA (CAFTA) but, like all CAFTA participants, has negotiated country-specific schedules for market access in some sectors. Fact sheets, news releases, and the draft text of the CAFTA are available on USTR’s website at www.ustr.gov. 

DeHaven Announcement:  USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced last Friday that Ron DeHaven will succeed Bobby Acord as administrator of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  Since April 2002, DeHaven has served as deputy administrator of APHIS for Veterinary Services, where he provided leadership in safeguarding animal health, most notably managing the detection and investigation of the December 23 BSE case in Washington State. 

Johnes Research:  USDA Secretary Ann Veneman announced Wednesday that USDA will contribute $8.8 million to two international research collaboratives seeking to control and eliminate Johne's disease in cattle, sheep and goats and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, or PRRS, in swine.  Johne's disease is a chronic, infectious, wasting disease of cattle.  Symptoms include chronic diarrhea and weight loss, decreased milk production, reduced fertility, and eventually death. An estimated 22 percent of all U.S. dairy herds are infected with Johne's disease.  The USDA will be partnering with the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine on these projects.  Funding for the research was provided by USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA's leading research and education funding agency. 

Sage Grouse:  Key members of the Senate are sending letters to Appropriations Committee leadership and USDA requesting funding be set aside within the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) program for efforts related to sage grouse in the eleven affected states (California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Montana, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.)  The letter, currently signed by Senators Allard (R-CO), Baucus (D-MT), Burns (R-MT), Craig (R-ID), Crapo (R-ID), Ensign (R-NV), Enzi (R-WY), Hatch (R-UT), Reid (D-NV), G. Smith (R-OR), Thomas (R-WY), and Wyden (D-OR) asks for $5 million for Sage Grouse conservation projects.  NCBA and the Public Lands Council are working to illustrate that positive steps are being taken to conserve the bird and show the ESA listed is not needed. 

Wolves: NCBA/PLC, along with the American Sheep Industry and American Farm Bureau Federation are hosting a Wolf Summit in Denver on Friday.  The groups are inviting their members in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming to participate.  The groups will brief attendees on a wide variety of delisting, litigation, state management planning, Section 10j, and federal funding issues affecting gray wolf management in this region. 

Congressional Schedule:  The House and Senate are out of session this week for Spring Recess.  Both houses of Congress are scheduled to reconvene next week, April 19.

Media Contact:
Tanya Augustson or Karen Batra at 202-347-0228 taugustson@beef.org or kbatra@beef.org

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