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Mexico Joins Canada in WTO Complaint Against U.S. COOL
 
The Mexican government announced yesterday that it will join Canada in moving forward with a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement process against U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL). Canada and Mexico are our top two trading partners, together accounting for 59% of total U.S. beef, beef variety meat and processed beef product export revenues last year. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is extremely concerned that these WTO cases could lead to damaging retaliatory actions against U.S. beef.
 
NCBA is continuing to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reinstate a joint Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)/Economic Research Service (ERS) study to help gain a better understanding of COOL's effects on U.S. producers and the entire beef chain. The study entitled, "Economic Analysis of Country of Origin Implementation Costs for Producers and Processors in the Beef, Pork and Lamb Industries," was to be completed in cooperation with the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC). Unfortunately, the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill did not direct USDA to reinstate the funding for this purpose.

Jackson also mischaracterized concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFOs) as "some of the biggest threats" to water quality. The truth is, CAFO production areas are required by strict EPA regulations to be zero discharge facilities, except in the most extreme circumstances, and CAFO nutrients are required to be land applied at strict agronomic rates; thus, it's inappropriate and misleading to attribute water contamination issues to these highly regulated facilities.

NCBA Working to Preserve Citizens' Private Property Management Rights  
 
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is working to prevent passage of S.727, the so-called "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009." While the bill was recently hotlined in the Senate, there appears to be enough bipartisan opposition to prevent the bill from moving forward.
 
Sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu (D- LA), S. 727 would ban the processing of horses for reasons other than safety or public health, while providing limited alternatives for the humane management of these animals. While the legislation is intended to protect horse welfare, it would ultimately do more to harm horses than it would to protect them. 
 
Banning the processing of horses will result in more, not less, horse welfare issues, including abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Abusing, starving, or turning a horse loose to fend for itself is not humane, and there are not enough adequate horse adoption and rescue facilities to protect these animals. In addition to creating unintended consequences for horses, this bill would set a dangerous precedent by jeopardizing citizens' private-property management rights. Decisions about animal welfare must be based on scientific facts and solid husbandry practices, not merely emotion. 

Public Lands Council Outlines Priority Initiatives
 
In a letter sent yesterday to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Public Lands Council (PLC) President Skye Krebs outlined current priority issues and praised Salazar for his strong leadership in balancing the needs of America's ranching communities with those of our national public lands. Specifically, Krebs noted the Secretary's decision to delist the wolves in Montana and Idaho as "endangered species" under the Endangered Species Act.  
 
"While our members in Wyoming insist the wolves should have been delisted in that state as well, we believe your steps towards delisting shows your awareness of the need to balance competing interests," said Krebs.  
 
Krebs also cited the Department of Interior's (DOI) proposed Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAAs) for sage grouse habitat in central Idaho. This innovative tool enables ranchers to manage the land for livestock and wildlife in the event a species is at risk for being listed as threatened or endangered.
 
"Without the participation of private landowners, it is difficult or even impossible to achieve meaningful conservation goals. Your issuance of a proposed CCAA is again an effort to balance the needs of landowners with resources," continued Krebs.
 
Finally, Krebs applauded Salazar's comprehensive proposal for managing the ever-increasing population of wild horses and burros on public lands, which "recognizes both the importance of preserving wild horses and burros and the need to maintain productive, healthy rangeland for multiple uses.