Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
August 14, 2008

Contact: Heather Vaughan, 202-347-0228, or hvaughan@beef.org

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.

USDA Releases Fall Crop Report: Despite severe flooding throughout the Midwest, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is forecasting the second largest corn crop on record, and the fourth largest soybean crop. 

On August 12, 2008, USDA released its projections for fall 2008, which include 12.3 billion bushels of corn production at an average yield of 155 bushels per acre.  Although this represents a six percent drop from 2007’s record production, it remains 17 percent higher than production levels of 2006.  Soybeans are projected to reach 2.97 bushels, with an average yield of 40.5 bushels per acre. 

President Signs ADUFA into Law: Earlier today, President Bush signed the Animal Drug User Fee Amendments for 2008 (ADUFA).  ADUFA was originally passed in 2003 and was set to expire on September 30, 2008, by signing this bill ADUFA has been extended until 2012. 

ADUFA amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to authorize the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees to expedite and improve its review of applications for new animal drugs so that safe and effective new products will be available.

Department of the Interior Releases Proposed Rule Modifying the Endangered Species Act: On August 13, 2008, the Department of the Interior (DOI) released a proposed rule modifying the federal government’s responsibilities in regards to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 

Federal agencies are required to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before they undertake an action that may affect an endangered species. Such consultation may involve either a formal written request or it may be an informal conversation between the agencies.

The proposed changes are designed to help clarify processes under the ESA, improve the informal consultation process, define when formal consultation is necessary, and update the rule in light of new developments, such as climate change. 

DOI is updating the rule to “help avoid misuse of the ESA to regulate climate change” and to better define the consultation process that is followed by the agencies consulting with Fish and Wildlife Services under the ESA.

“ESA consultations in the 21st century address increasingly complex issues. We need a regulatory framework to guide those consultations that is consistent with the ESA and will address new challenges such as climate change,” said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. 

In May of 2008, Kempthorne listed the polar bear as threatened under the ESA, but said, “the ESA was not the right tool to set U.S. climate policy or regulate green house gas emissions.” 

Dale Hall, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service explained, “We are not being good stewards of our resources when we pursue consultation in situations where the potential effects to a species are either unlikely, incapable of being meaningfully evaluated, wholly beneficial, or pose only a remote risk of causing jeopardy to the species or its habitat.”

Don't Miss the Award-Winning NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen:  On this week’s edition, airing August 19 through August 24 we’ll learn more about this year’s corn crop with analysis from CattleFax.  We’ll spend a day in the life of a Colorado cattle feeder and learn more about premises registration.  Plus, we’ll show you how The Beef Checkoff is playing an important role in developing new beef cuts!

Next week’s episode, on from August 26 through August 31, we’ll hear from cattle producers from across the country as they discuss the 2008 Presidential Election.  Also, we’ll learn more about how to treat Bovine Respiratory Disease, or shipping fever, in your cattle herd.  Plus, we’ll introduce you to the winners of this year’s W.D. Farr Scholarships.

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.

###