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).

APPLY NOW for National Stewardship Award: The new and improved application for the 16th annual Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) is now available to the public. Applications were sent out to state cattle associations before the Thanksgiving holiday, and anyone interested in applying or nominating someone this year can download the application online at http://hill.beef.org/esap or contact NCBA’s Washington D.C. office.

This national award program recognizes U.S. cattle producers who are proven leaders in conservation and dedicated to inspiring next generations of land stewards.  Established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, LLC, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the ESAP provides an opportunity for the beef industry to showcase the stewardship and business practices that exist together on progressive farms and ranches.

Japanese Beef Embargo Update:  This Tuesday, November 29th marked the end of a 28-day comment period in Japan regarding the reinstatement of U.S. beef trade with Japan. NCBA is encouraged by actions in Japan and expects to see an announcement regarding the re-opening of the market to U.S. beef by the year end. Japan’s Food Safety Commission (FSC) will review the public feedback and submit final recommendation to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).  The recommendation will then be subject to regulatory and possibly legislative review before the market re-opens.

Import Restrictions Rule: This week, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published an interim rule to amend its rule regarding BSE Minimal-Risk Regions and Importation of Commodities.  The interim rule is intended to correct two effects of its January 2005 final rule by removing specific restrictions on (1) who is allowed to break official seals on shipments of Canadian cattle received at feedlots and slaughtering facilities and (2) the transit shipment through the U.S. of Canadian ruminant products and byproducts destined for Mexico.
USDA indicates that this interim rule is effective immediately. However, public comments regarding this rule will be accepted until January 27, 2006.  All comments will be considered in the final rule. Comments can be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov or contact NCBA at 202-347-0228.

South Korea Update: South Korea's animal quarantine advice committee met this week regarding U.S. beef exports to S. Korea. The committee representatives from both the Korean government and industry groups are expected to meet again in two weeks time. NCBA will continue to reiterate the importance of the re-opening of this valuable export market. Prior to BSE in 2003, South Korea was one of our largest export markets worth over $815 million annually, second to Japan.

South Korean Trade Agreement: In related news, NCBA continues its work to garner support for the launch of a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea. For cattle producers, such an agreement could eventually mean the end of sky-high tariffs on U.S. beef going into Korea. Although this market currently remains closed to U.S. beef, when it re-opens the tariffs on beef imports will continue to rank among the highest in the world- at 40 percent. Negotiations are expected to launch in January 2006, and NCBA urges that the current embargo on U.S. beef into Korea must be lifted prior to launching FTA negotiations.

WTO Debate Continue: Major WTO (World Trade Organization) nations continue international meetings this week in an effort to come to a preliminary agreement regarding market access issues before the Hong Kong Ministerial WTO meeting December 13-18. Agriculture is of critical importance and key to the negotiations. Cuts in farm subsidies and greater market access are major negotiating points. WTO officials said this week "Hong Kong is not the end of the round. Hong Kong is to make progress on all fronts. There must be some breakthrough... Breakthrough could be in subsidies, in some market access modalities, in non-agricultural market access formula, in the areas of special and differential treatment and the rules."

A draft Ministerial text was discussed at the WTO Trade Negotiating Committee meeting on Wednesday, November 30 of this week and will be discussed in the General Council on December 1-2. The second draft would come after these meetings. WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said in November that he hoped to present soon a revised version and urged all delegations to "exercise good will and redouble their efforts in order to find all possible convergence in the few hours before us." NCBA will attend the Hong Kong meetings and continues to urge acceptance of the U.S. market access proposal.

CERCLA Bill:  NCBA continues to urge members of Congress to co-sponsor a bill which would clarify CERCLA to exclude manure from regulation under Superfund laws.  The bill was introduced Nov. 17 by Reps. Ralph Hall (R-Texas) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and 28 of their colleagues in the House.  It is important for all cattle producers and livestock operators to clearly communicate to their members of Congress that livestock manure is NOT a Superfund material and cattle operations are NOT Superfund sites.  Furthermore, we must stress that now is the time for Congress to clarify its original intent for the CERCLA/EPCRA statutes.  NCBA producer-members can visit http://capwiz.com/beefusa where they will find more information on how to contact members of Congress to ask them to sign on as co-sponsors of H.R. 4341. 

Feed Rule Comments:  NCBA is finalizing its comments on FDA’s proposed expansion to their feed rules designed to minimize even further the risk of BSE in the Unites States.  Deadline for comments is December 20, 2005. NCBA encourages all producer organizations to submit comments regarding this proposed rule, “Substances Prohibited from Use in Animal Food or Feed,” Docket No. 2002N-0273 at http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets.

Budget Reconciliation Passes:  The House finally passed its budget reconciliation bill before leaving for the Thanksgiving holiday, detailing around $50 billion in mandatory spending cuts over the next five years.  After extensive debate, the package passed by a vote of 217 - 215 with two Democratic members not voting.   On November 3, the Senate passed its package including around $35 billion in mandatory cuts. Having passed differing packages, the two chambers will go to conference to resolve their differences after the current holiday recess.
Jay Truitt at State Meetings:  NCBA-DC’s Jay Truitt is traveling to South Dakota and Utah this week to speak at meetings including the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Convention and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association Convention. Truitt is giving local cattle producers an update from Washington DC regarding current hot policy issues, including the Japanese market closure and re-working of the Endangered Species Act.

Colin Woodall at State Meetings:  NCBA-DC’s Colin Woodall will be traveling to Columbus, Ohio for the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association County Presidents & Policy Development Day, Saturday, December 3.  Included as part of the meeting will be a policy development session to seek input from county affiliates on policy issues and identify areas where OCA needs to establish policy.  Woodall will give a National Legislative & Regulatory Overview on cattle industry policy issues on Saturday morning. 

NCBA Career Fair at Convention: If you are looking to hire employees with experience in the cattle industry, or are looking for a job yourself, there’s a new way to do it! At the 2006 Annual Cattle Industry Convention in Denver, Colorado, the Human Resources department of NCBA will be hosting a “Career Fair” booth. 

We will be recruiting for open positions at NCBA and in the cattle industry nationwide and be available to assist convention attendees with job-search training tips.  NCBA is encouraging industry groups, organizations, producers, and/or anyone looking to fill open positions to contact us ASAP so we can include you info in publications/listings during the trade show. Send the job opening specs or your personal resume to Erica Spiegle espiegle@beef.org or call Erica at 202-347-0228

NCBA-PAC Team Penning: Also at the upcoming Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in Denver this February, NCBA-PAC/PEF will be hosting a team penning competition on Friday, February 3rd beginning at 6:30pm.  It will include the team penning finals, and a delicious steak fry dinner followed by a barn dance with live entertainment by James Lann and Branded, a talented country band from Texas.  The event is sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health. Space is limited so don’t forget to order tickets when pre-registering for the 2006 Convention.  NCBA Members are also encouraged to ride in the team penning which begins at 8:00am on Friday February 3rd.  All skill levels are welcome!  If you are interested in riding please contact Erin Vincent at 202-347-0228 or evincent@beef.org.

NCBA-PAC/PEF to Hold First Annual All-Breed Bull Auction:  Don’t miss your chance to bid on some of the best beef genetics and seed stock in the nation while supporting NCBA-PAC.  In conjunction with the 2006 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show, NCBA’s PAC/PEF will host a bull sale during the “exclusive trade show hours” on Thursday, February 2 at 2:00pm next to booth #2330. Attendees will be provided a detailed sale catalogue including pedigree, ultrasound data, and EPD information for each lot (where applicable). Donations of seedstock and sale credits will be accepted until Friday, January 13, 2006. To make a donation please contact Erin Vincent at 202-347-0228 or evincent@beef.org. 

Participation in Local FSA Elections Urged: December 5 marks the deadline for casting ballots in Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is urging America’s farmers and ranchers to vote! “FSA county committees provide producers with the opportunity to help implement federal farm programs in their communities,” said Johanns.  “It is vital that all farmers and ranchers, especially women and minorities, participate in the elections process to ensure the opinions expressed in committee meetings reflect an area’s agricultural sector.” Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by the close of business on December 5. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office January 1, 2006. For more information about FSA county committee elections, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/elections/Default.asp.

BSE Surveillance:  USDA’s Enhanced BSE Surveillance Program continues, having already tested over half a million high-risk animals for BSE since June 1, 2004.  As of today, the program has tested 534,879 targeted animals at highest risk for BSE and has found only one confirmed case, evidence that our firewalls are working and the prevalence of this disease in the U.S. is extremely low.  Testing 268,500 animals can detect BSE at a rate of 1 in 10 million adult cattle at a 99 percent confidence level.

Congressional Schedule:  Congress remains on recess this week after the Thanksgiving holiday and is expected to return to Washington on Monday, December 5.

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