Cattlemen Testify Before House & Senate on Marketing Issues: America’s cattle producers are urging the government to promote economic growth and not limit or remove choices in the marketing of cattle. NCBA President and North Carolina cattle producer John Queen told members of the House AND Senate this week, "When it comes to market structure and competition issues, NCBA’s position is simple – we ask that the government not tell us how we can or cannot market our cattle."

Queen pointed to the recently released Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) Livestock and Meat Marketing study which concluded that alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) such as forward contracts, production contracts, packer ownership or custom feeding have provided benefits to some producers without harming the competitiveness of the marketplace.

"The report states that the leading reasons ranchers participate in AMAs are the ability to buy or sell higher quality cattle, improve supply chain management, and obtain better prices," says Queen. "The study concludes that restrictions on AMAs would cause a decrease in the supply of cattle, quality of beef, and feeder cattle prices."

All the policies outlined in Queen’s testimony were brought forward by, debated by, and voted on by NCBA members. "Our membership has consistently said that we want access to business opportunities that will help us improve our bottom line," Queen says. "The opportunity to engage in and benefit from new market innovations is good for the individual rancher as we supply the consumer with the beef products they demand."

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held its hearing Tuesday regarding "Market Structure of the Livestock Industry." The Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, titled "Economic Challenges and Opportunities Facing American Agricultural Producers Today," took place on Wednesday.

Cattlemen Testify Before Congress on Conservation Programs – Illinois cattle producer Steve Foglesong, NCBA’s Policy Division Chair, testified before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research today. Foglesong identified NCBA’s major priorities going into development of the 2007 Farm Bill Conservation Programs.  

"Within the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill, NCBA supports working lands conservation programs. USDA has numerous programs that are currently utilized by cattlemen and we know that these programs will be a large part of the 2007 Farm Bill. We want to see these conservation programs continued and refined to make them more producer-friendly and more effective in protecting the environment in a sensible manner.

"When it comes to implementation of these programs, it is imperative that we ensure adequate support and technical assistance to make these programs successful. Resources must be allocated to maintain adequate NRCS personnel at the local level to provide the technical assistance necessary to implement successful rangeland conservation programs.

"Given the limited resources that are available for the 2007 Farm Bill, NCBA would like to see overlap and redundancy in programs eliminated and efficiency of programs improved. Consolidation and streamlining, as suggested in the Administration’s Farm Bill proposal, is one way to achieve that."

The most popular program among cattlemen is the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, or EQIP. Because the program is so popular and has proven so effective, there still remains a substantial backlog of applications. NCBA supports increased funding for EQIP within the Conservation Title, so that the program is able to provide more producers with financial assistance as they work to implement good conservation practices and projects.

NCBA Comments to House on Water Quality: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hosted a hearing on the Impacts of Agriculture on Water Quality today. NCBA submitted a letter with our comments to the subcommittee. NCBA told House members:

"America’s farmers and ranchers are responsible stewards of our nation’s land, air and water resources. Their livelihoods depend on it. Among the many efforts they make every day to protect these natural resources are significant and expensive efforts to protect our nation’s waters from runoff that may be associated with their operations.

"Indeed, many operations are required to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to build basins or other technologies, for this purpose; and, implement extensive nutrient management plans, subject to public review, comment and hearing, to ensure that nutrients are applied at agronomic rates on land application areas. Violation of these requirements subject producers to substantial penalties and sometimes even imprisonment, depending on the circumstances.

"In addition, we believe nonpoint sources of pollution can be adequately regulated under the current regulatory framework as long as Congress provides adequate funding. NCBA urges Congress to adequately fund and allow the current regulatory framework to work before embarking on any new approach."

More Hearings Happening This Week: On Wednesday, April 18 the House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality hosted a hearing on Alternative Transportation Fuels. Also Wednesday, the House Ag Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organics hosted a hearing on Organic Agriculture Products.

On Thursday, April 19 (today) the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture hosted a hearing on Appropriations for USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service. The Senate Finance Committee hosted a hearing on Tax Incentives for Alternative Fuels and Vehicles. The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenues Measures hosted a hearing on Energy and Tax Policy. And finally today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hosted a hearing on "Renewable Energy Opportunities and Issues on Federal Lands: Review of Title II, Subtitle B – Geothermal Energy of EPAct." NCBA was active in the halls of Congress this week, keeping tabs on all of the hearings and ensuring that cattlemen's voices were heard.

Japan Update: Japanese Prime Minister Abe is expected to meet with President Bush next week at Camp David. In preparation for these discussions, NCBA has strongly emphasized the necessity for Japan to move toward compliance with OIE guidelines for beef trade. "We recognize the possibility that working through the Japanese regulatory process could be time consuming," says NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt. "But if we’re going to get there we’ve got to keep this train moving on down the tracks and right now it is hard to find evidence of any movement."

Russian Ban on U.S. Beef Continues: Further frustration is mounting regarding the re-opening of export markets for U.S. beef, after continued stalling from Russia. Since late last year, the U.S. has had an agreement with Russia regarding a resumption of beef trade as part of their bilateral terms of accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO). The ONLY remaining step involves the visitation of Russian auditors to confirm the operational aspects of the agreement but to date this final step has been elusive. A comment in the media this week by Russian Minister of Agriculture Gordeyev claims that unlike the representatives of some other countries, Canadian specialists understand the requirements of the Russian veterinary service. "In such complicated questions, a positive approach, an understanding of a country’s traditions and problems, and a mutual desire to solve them are very important points." He reported that just such an approach was used at the meetings in Ottawa.

NCBA finds these comments extremely disturbing. The fact that Russia is not yet a member of the WTO makes discussions regarding sanitary and phytosanitary issues in animal agriculture with Russia exceedingly difficult. Before December 2003, Russia was a huge export market for U.S. cattle producers, and since then we have been extremely understanding and patient. This irrational trade barrier has been unremitting for over three years now.

April 22^nd is Earth Day: This Sunday, April 22nd, people from across the U.S. will be celebrating Earth Day. As you know, every day is Earth Day for cattle producers. President George W. Bush, in remarks to NCBA’s Spring Conference, March 28, 2007, said: "I like to remind people, every day is Earth Day if you make a living off the land."

On the anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970, many local groups will be working with the land and some are even partnering with local cattle associations to make a difference in their hometowns. This is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. The nation's air, land, and natural resources are much cleaner today than in 1970 and progress continues.

NCBA awards ‘Earth Day stars’ every year with the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The prestigious annual award program recognizes cattle producers across the nation whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation. The impressive applications for this year’s program are in, and the new winners will be announced this summer.

NAAJ Meeting: The North American Ag Journalist Association took place this week, April 15-17, in Washington DC. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) spoke to participants. In addition, the program included a panel presentation on animal welfare. Panelists included Kay Johnson Smith, Animal Ag Alliance; John Balzar, HSUS; and Dr. Jill Hollingsworth, FMI.

Don't Miss NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen -- Tune into NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) this Saturday for an in-depth report on President Bush's surprise visit with NCBA during Spring Conference in Washington, D.C. We’ll be looking at how and why the executive branch works on issues that affect your operation, and much more. Don't miss this special feature show direct from Washington.

Next week’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen episode, beginning Tuesday April 24th, features a look at spring planting conditions and drought forecasts across the United States. Also, we will feature cattle industry news briefs and an extensive report on working with your veterinarian to make better herd health decisions.