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Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns Archive
Contact:
Heather Vaughan,
The Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns (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 the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). Please feel free to reprint in full or in part. If you would like to include NCBA's logo, contact us at 303-694-0305. | |
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NCBA Chief Economist Analyzes Global Economic Turmoil and its Impact on the U.S. Cattle Business
NCBA's Chief Economist, Gregg Doud, released the following statement on the economy and its consequences for the beef industry:
"Lately, economists and market analysts have been discussing how hourly swings in exchange rates, interest rates, and commodity markets are affecting the cattle business.
"These historic economic times are particularly problematic for U.S. ranchers, who typically market the majority of the calf crop once a year in autumn.
"While all agricultural commodity futures price charts have essentially followed the downward trends of crude oil and the stock market, the cattle market has been particularly hard-hit. The slowing U.S. economy that has taken its toll on wholesale beef prices, which is particularly important since 50 percent of U.S. beef consumption occurs away from home.
"Other key negative fundamentals include an incredible appreciation in the U.S. dollar that has hurt our exports, a collapse in the Russian economy that has hurt U.S. poultry exports and a sudden decline in U.S. pork exports to China. It has been the combination of these factors that has led to a sudden and steep drop in U.S. beef, pork and poultry prices in recent weeks as these supplies back up into the domestic marketplace.
"Since the U.S. exported an all-time monthly record of $150 million in beef and beef variety meats to Mexico in August, the U.S. dollar has strengthened from 10 pesos to the dollar to 13 pesos. This resulted in a dramatic decrease in the buying power of Mexican consumers for items imported from the United States.
"In Korea during this same time-frame, the currency "swing" in buying power has been about 35 percent to the detriment of U.S. beef.
"This clearly sets the stage for a very difficult fourth quarter and probably beyond for cattlemen. Like it or not, we live in a global economy and right now it is imperative that our leaders here and around the world do everything they can to get the belt back on the machine and get it running again. It also means that our ability to export not only beef but also pork and poultry are critical to maximizing the value of the product ranchers bring to market." |
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USDA Adjusts Acreage and Production Estimates For Corn, Soybeans
On Tuesday, October 28th, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released adjusted acreage and production estimates for six field crops, including corn and soybeans. Compared to the October 10th release, USDA is predicting 1.2 percent fewer planted acres of corn and 1.4 percent fewer planted acres of soybeans.
The revised estimates will have no impact on crop support payments for farmers. In a press release discussing the revision, USDA noted that the 2008 corn crop is still predicted to be the second largest on record.
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Department of Interior Releases Bison Management Plan
The Department of the Interior (DOI) released a Bison Conservation Initiative on Tuesday, October 28th. This initiative will create a Working Group comprised of the agencies, states and tribes in the Yellowstone area to develop a workable Bison Management Plan. The Working Group's goals would include working with tribal experts to create Tribal Bison Initiatives; conducting Bison Disease Workshops to address disease concerns; hosting a genetics workshop geared towards discussing Bison genetic issues; working on environmental education; and collaborating with other Bison conservation projects.
DOI currently manages almost 7000 Bison in seven National Wildlife Refuges and five National Parks. This initiative establishes steps to address the health and genetic composition of these DOI bison herds, and acknowledges the ecological and cultural role of bison on the American landscape. It proposed several specific actions to better manage and integrate bison populations on select Interior lands in 2008 and future years. |
| Public Lands Council Meets with Department of the Interior on Endangered Species
On Wednesday, October 29th, Jeff Eisenberg, Executive Director of the Public Lands Council (PLC) and Director of Federal Lands, met with officials from the Department of the Interior (DOI) to discuss the Endangered Species Act.
A review of the sage grouse's status as an endangered species is in progress, and it appears the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will not complete the review before the end of 2008. Key to this review has been a requirement by the court for the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to produce a report on the status of the sage grouse and for the FWS to make a finding at the end of the 12-month status review. "It now appears that the report will not be complete until next June at the earliest," says Eisenberg. "Currently, the sage grouse is not listed as an endangered species, and PLC continues to work to prevent that listing."
Eisenberg said the meeting also addressed the potential delisting of Rocky Mountain and Great Lakes wolves. "While no concrete decisions have been announced, I am hopeful that these wolves can be delisted as distinct population segments," Eisenberg explained. "Wolf predation causes significant losses for our ranchers, which they are helpless to prevent while the wolves are listed as endangered species."
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USDA Approves Additional Visual Tags for Animal ID
On October 22nd, 2008, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) approved three animal identification tags and one premises identification tag.
"Animal traceability during a disease outbreak is important to protecting this country's livestock industry--and animal identification is a key component of traceability," said Bruce Knight, under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs. "By providing producers with a wide variety of approved identification devices, they can choose to identify their animals with the device that works best for their operation, while at the same time increasing traceability."
With the addition of these four new visual tags, producers participating in NAIS can choose from 26 different devices made by 8 manufacturers. They have the option of visual 840 tags, RFID 840 tags, or RFID 840 injectable transponders for individual animal identification of animals born in the U.S.
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USDA Unveils its Vision for Veterinary Services
This week the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) unveiled VS 2015, a strategic vision developed by the Veterinary Service Management Team (VSMT) to guide the organization in making changes that will "better position us to meet animal health needs in 2015."
According to APHIS, "VS 2015 places greater emphasis on disease prevention, preparedness, detection and early response activities; an expanded veterinary health mission that is responsive to not only to issues that impact animal agriculture, but also to public health concerns that arise from zoonotic diseases; and an expanded portfolio of interstate and international certification services that meet the growing expectations of global customers."
VS will evaluate existing rules and regulations to ensure that they are science-based and meet the evolving needs of States and industry. APHIS intentionally did not release details of the plan. The VSMT identified some overarching goals and established a time frame for implementation, but stated that "how those goals are achieved is ultimately up to VS as well as our traditional and new external stakeholders." To help manage implementation of VS 2015, Nora Wineland, with VS' Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health in Fort Collins, CO, has been appointed as the project lead. Wineland will establish work teams and create forums to gather employee and stakeholder input, with more information forthcoming about these opportunities.
NCBA will be actively engaged in discussions with APHIS regarding VS 2015 and will provide input as more information is provided.
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USDA Unveils National Brucellosis Elimination Zone Proposal
This week the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the National Brucellosis Elimination Zone Proposal (NBEZ). APHIS' intent in creating NBEZ is to provide assistance to the three states in the Greater Yellowstone AREA that continue to struggle with brucellosis in both domestic livestock and in the wildlife reservoirs of infection.
According to APHIS, the "establishment of this zone would facilitate the elimination of brucellosis from livestock and provide clear, consistent control and surveillance guidance to livestock producers in the NBEZ, while simultaneously allowing the balance of the United States to be considered free of bovine brucellosis."
In this proposal, Veterinary Services intends to introduce how regionalization concepts would be applied to the Greater Yellowstone Area, justify application of these concepts, demonstrate how this plan would be accomplished and stimulate critical feedback from partners and stakeholders.
NCBA is currently evaluating this proposal and will be actively engaged with APHIS to ensure cattle producers concerns and needs are addressed as APHIS moves forward with this new proposal.
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Aaron Schlagel Joins NCBA's Government Affairs Office
Aaron Schlagel has joined NCBA as the Executive Administrator and Human Resources Manager. Aaron will be serving as the Office Manager for NCBA's Washington, DC branch. Originally from Colorado, Aaron completed his bachelor's degree at Colorado State and went on to earn an MBA and Masters of International Management from the University of Denver. Prior to joining NCBA, Aaron worked in the airline industry.
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USDA Announces Regional Tuberculosis Listening Sessions
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has indicated potential changes to the bovine tuberculosis program to help meet current challenges. To this end, they have scheduled a series of public meetings on tuberculosis to gain stakeholder input. The meetings-which are open to the public-will be formatted as listening sessions, with participants breaking into small groups to discuss innovative ways to address every aspect of the tuberculosis program.
A schedule of the sessions is below:
Michigan - Monday, December 8, 2008
Holiday Inn South Convention Center, 6820 South Cedar Street, Lansing, MI, 48911
Minnesota - Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 66403
Texas - Thursday, December 11, 2008
Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown, 500 North IH 35, Austin, TX 78701
California - Friday, December 12, 2008
Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, 1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Washington, DC - Tuesday, December 16, 2008 Washington Marriott at Metro Center, 775 12th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 |
Codex Office Holds Public Meeting on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
On November 6, 2008, the United States Codex Office will hold a public meeting to discuss agenda items for the 17th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS). The CCFICS will be held in the Philippines from November 24th through the 28th. Ofparticular interest among many of the topics up for discussion at this meeting, are principles and guidelines for the conduct of foreign on-site audits/inspections, guidance for national food safety inspection systems, guidance on traceability, the generic model health certificate and guidance on prevention of intentional contamination of food. Other business and future work will be discussed as well.
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AMS Proposes to Amend Live Stock Provisions of National Organic Program
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to amend the livestock provisions of the National Organic Program. The revisions are intended to provide greater detail for livestock regulations of pasture and ruminant animals. According to the proposed rule, "By specifying in greater detail that producers are to provide ruminants with pasture, recognize pasture as a crop, and incorporate pasture into their organic system plan, producers will have better records and tools for managing pasture and demonstrating compliance with the livestock regulations. Certifying agents will have better tools for measuring compliance with the livestock regulations ... [The] proposed rule would also clarify the replacement animal provision for dairy animals ..." Comments on the rule are due by December 23rd, 2008, and NCBA Chief Veterinarian Elizabeth Parker will develop and submit comments on behalf of NCBA.
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Agricultural Chemicals Subject to Anti-Terrorism Standards
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released draft Risk-Based Performance Standards for Chemicals Used at Agriculture, Food and Healthcare Facilities (e.g., Ammonia/Chlorine). Under the new guidelines, facilities would be required to complete Security Vulnerability Assessments (SVAs), develop Site Security Plans (SSPs), and implement protective measures."
Comments on the draft guidance are due by November 26th, 2008. NCBA has been working with DHS and other agriculture organizations to address livestock producers concerns regarding this program.
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Don't Miss NCBA's Award-Winning Cattlemen to Cattlemen
Don't miss NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen! On the show airing from October 28th through November 2nd we take a look at how to best identify and treat trichomaniasis on your operation. Plus, we'll bring you part two of our Walk a Mile in My Boots series. And we'll cook an easy to make beef meal perfect for a cool fall day.
Next, we sit down with experts from Land O'Lakes Purina Feed to talk about feed options that help manage costs while keeping your herd healthy.
NCBA'S Cattlemen to Cattlemen debuts Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. The show also airs Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and on Sunday at 12:00 a.m. (All Times are Eastern) Don't forget, you can watch NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen online anytime by visiting CattlemenToCattlemen.org.
NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country. It airs every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, with repeat episodes on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Sundays at midnight (all times Eastern).
The program's sponsors include Purina Mills, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer Animal Health and McDonald's.
For more information or to check out past episodes, visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org.
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NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20004 | |
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