Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns

February 15, 2007

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.

Premises Registration Takes Focus in Animal ID Talks:  This week, NCBA met with Bruce Knight, USDA’s under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs, Burton Eller, USDA’s deputy under secretary, and other USDA officials to discuss continuing efforts regarding premises registration as part of a National Animal Identification System. 

USDA is reaching out to livestock groups to get their help in promoting premises registration to their producer-members as a necessary next step toward implementing a National Animal Identification System.  “It’s clear that USDA is focused on premises registration and is trying sincerely to work with all the livestock sectors in a slow, deliberate process so producers can best understand how they need to participate,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt. 

USDA’s National Animal Identification System (NAIS) User Guide and updated premises registration materials are available online at: http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais. There is also current premises registration information such as the number of premises registered to date by state.  As of February 12, USDA has registered 359,854 premises.

FYO7 Appropriations Bill Moves to President’s Desk:  The Senate approved February 14 a $463.5 billion appropriations bill to fund all government programs for this fiscal year which ends September 30.  The vote was 81-15.  The bill now goes to the White House, where President Bush is expected to sign the measure before the current continuing resolution expires at midnight.

NCBA’s Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Colin Woodall says this continuing resolution is not the most desirable way to handle the appropriations impasse.  “A continuing resolution does not provide for new projects or increased funding of many important research and extension activities that are important to the cattle business,” said Woodall.  “But it was well thought out and will allow us to work even harder to secure funding for fiscal year 2008 that will help the cattle industry.” 

TPA Must Be Reauthorized: Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) is set to expire June 30, 2007, unless reauthorized by Congress. NCBA members were leaders in the fight for Congressional passage of TPA in 2001-2002.  With TPA, the President has the authority to efficiently negotiate trade issues while continuing to consult with Congress. Congress then votes on the final agreement as negotiated with no opportunity to amend. Other nations view TPA as necessary before they will seriously deal with U.S. negotiators. 

Before its final passage in 2002, the Executive Branch had not had TPA since 1994, and America’s foreign competitors took advantage in the interim. The rest of the world was moving forward, signing trade deals that excluded the United States. In 2002, there were over 150 preferential trade agreements in the world, and the United States was a party to only three (the European Union was a party to 31 and Mexico was a party to 10). U.S. cattlemen are urging that this not happen again. Increased trade is vital to our ability to grow our businesses and U.S. economic security. The way to break down barriers to U.S. beef is for U.S. negotiators to come to the table fully empowered with TPA.

Senate Hearing Discusses Trade Agenda: The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing today, February 15th on the Bush administration's 2007 trade agenda. U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab testified. Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said of Trade Promotion Authority, "Fast-track expires in June. I believe that we must seize the opportunity to renew fast-track. And just as importantly, we must seize the opportunity to rethink it." 

Ranking Member Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) agreed that TPA needs to be reauthorized this year.  “Every president should have Trade Promotion Authority. Without it, I think the chances that we’re going to get meaningful market access commitments from our trading partners are between zero and none," said Grassley.  Grassley also voiced support for implementing pending trade agreements with Peru and Colombia, soon to be joined by Panama.

South Korea Trade Talks at a Standstill for U.S. Beef: The seventh round of talks on the U.S. South Korea free trade agreement (FTA) concluded this week, with no new progress for U.S. beef exports. Negotiators are expected to meet again for the eighth round of talks March 8-12 in Seoul. U.S. cattlemen will NOT support a free trade agreement until the current protectionist ban on U.S. beef is resolved. The South Korean market must be reopened. Korea’s continued refusal to accept shipments of U.S. beef – despite an agreement announced in January 2006 and implemented in September 2006 – has put this FTA in jeopardy. To take advantage of Trade Promotion Authority, which is set to expire June 30, FTA talks must be concluded before the end of March, so negotiators are running out of time to resolve the beef trade dispute.

U.S. Senators Take Stand for U.S. Beef in Senate Dining Room:  According to media reports, Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester are protesting an entree of Japanese Kobe beef they recently noticed on the menu in the Senate Dining Room. "We were puzzled that the United States Senate Dining Room featured Japanese beef instead of homegrown Montana beef," said the senators in a letter to the restaurant's general manager.

NCBA and U.S. government officials continue to urge Japan to open its border to U.S. beef from cattle up to 30 months of age.  Currently, Japan currently only accepts shipments of U.S. beef from cattle 20 months of age or younger.  Japanese restaurant groups have urged for more U.S. beef, saying restrictions on U.S. beef exports to Japan have left supplies low and prices high.  Prior to December 2003, Japan was one of the United States’ largest beef export markets valued at over $1.4 billion.

NCBA Joins with Industry Groups for Renewed Death Tax Fight:  The Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, (FBETC) sent a letter to President Bush on February 9 thanking him for continuing his support of family businesses and farms by retaining the Death Tax repeal in his formulation of the Fiscal Year 2008 budget.  NCBA is a founding member of the FBETC, a grassroots group dedicated to full, permanent repeal of the Death Tax.    

NCBA has long supported full and permanent repeal of the Death Tax because of the hardship it places on America’s farming and ranching families who wish to pass on their operations to the next generation.  The U.S. House of Representatives has passed meaningful Death Tax repeal legislation many times, but the bills have historically failed in the Senate.  In the 110th Congress, proponents of full and permanent repeal of the Death Tax include Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) and John Salazar (D-Colo.).  “As members of the House Agriculture Committee and as representatives of farmers, ranchers and family-owned businesses, we know and understand the harsh reality of the death tax,” says Musgrave and Salazar.  “The message we are sending is this: If you work hard and build your business or farm, instead of passing it along to your children, you may have to dismantle it to sell assets to appease the Internal Revenue Service.”

Industry Groups Want CRP Acres for Corn Production:  NCBA, along with 28 other agriculture and food industry groups, sent a letter this week to Ag Secretary Mike Johanns and Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner regarding the issue of renewable fuels production, especially as it relates to corn-based ethanol and the use of CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) land. 

“We are disappointed to note that the only ‘flexibility’ announced by the administration for the use of CRP land was for the harvesting of biomass from these 27 million acres,” the letter said. “Without additional acreage being made available to the marketplace to plant those crops most needed by all grain users in the market, not only will U.S. livestock, poultry and food sectors be less competitive, but the President’s renewable fuels goals outlined in the State of the Union Address and the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget would be in jeopardy.”

Farm Bill Hearing:  The House Agriculture Committee hosted a hearing on February 14 to review the Administration's Farm Bill proposal.  Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns testified.  Commenting on the Secretary’s Farm Bill proposal, Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) said he supported many of USDA’s ideas including “adding new initiatives that will revitalize rural America and help our country achieve energy independence.”  

In regards to the energy title within the Farm Bill, NCBA members recognize the value and growth of conventional and renewable energy.  But NCBA wants the ability to monitor and evaluate any energy source that is based on, or impacts, agricultural commodities, waste, and/or byproducts to determine their effects on the marketplace, land, water, and the profitability of cattlemen.  Secretary Johanns' testimony and the Committee Oversight plan are available on the Committee website:  http://agriculture.house.gov.

ESAP Committee Looking for 2007 Nominations:  Nomination forms for the 2007 Environmental Stewardship Awards Program (ESAP) are due on March 17, 2007. Any organization, group, or individual can submit a nomination on behalf of a U.S. cattle producer.  Sponsored by NCBA, Dow AgroSciences and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the annual ESAP awards honor cattle producers whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation.  On February 1, Wyoming-based Thaler Land & Livestock Company was named the 2006 ESAP National Winner.  Go to www.beefusa.org/esap for more information and to download an application, or contact NCBA’s Washington, D.C. office at 202-347-0228. 

NCBA hosts Nebraska LEAD Program: NCBA’s Washington D.C. office hosted the Nebraska LEAD fellows on February 12. The Nebraska LEAD program fellows are involved in production agriculture, agribusiness, or a closely related occupation, and are selected for the two-year LEAD program based on their proven leadership potential, capability, and a demonstrated commitment to Nebraska.  NCBA’s Director of Legislative Affairs Stacey Katseanes briefed the group on legislative and regulatory issues NCBA is addressing in Washington D.C. 

Society for Range Management:  NCBA’s Federal Lands Manager Maggie Beal attended the 60th Annual Society for Range Management Annual Meeting, February 9-16 in Reno, Nevada.  Attendees discussed management of livestock, wildlife and recreation on America's rangelands, and met with top officials within the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service and other professionals and scholars about the latest in rangeland management.  For more information, visit:  www.rangelands.org.

Virginia Cattlemen’s Meeting:  NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud will attend the 2007 Virginia Beef Industry Convention and Trade Show, February 15 - 16, 2007, in Blacksburg.  Doud is scheduled to brief the group on key issues being addressed by NCBA including environmental issues, Farm Bill development, renewable energy development and status of pending trade agreements.

Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Meeting:  NCBA’s Manager of Legislative Affairs Jason Jordan was in Oklahoma City this week for the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Conference, February 11-13, 2007.  Jordan gave attendees a glimpse of how NCBA's Washington office represents them in Washington, D.C., and a first-hand report on the general political landscape for 2007.  Specific issues discussed include NCBA’s work on Farm Bill development, Superfund issues, disaster assistance programs, and trade negotiations.  Jordan also gave a similar presentation to the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Board of Directors.

All New Cattlemen to Cattlemen TV Shows:  Now premiering each Tuesday evening on RFD-TV and rerunning throughout the week, NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country.  This week's show, first aired on Tuesday, February 14, gives reports from the 2007 Cattle Industry Convention and special Valentine's Day features. Next week's (Tuesday, February 20) edition will offer an in-depth look at how ethanol is produced, and what it means for the marketplace. The February 20th show will also give news updates on trade issues and offer tips from experts on how to protect the health of your herd.

After each Tuesday airing, the show is rebroadcast on Wednesdays at 4:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Make sure YOU tune into NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on channel RFD-TV, Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m.  All times are Eastern.  Visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org for more information!

NCBA Preps for Spring Conference:  NCBA’s Washington staff is now planning and preparing for NCBA’s Spring Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., March 26-30.  Each year, hundreds of NCBA’s most politically-active members come to Washington for a week of intensive one-on-one meetings with members of Congress and agency officials.  This conference examines in-depth the wide scope of policy issues NCBA works on every day including farm policy, trade, food safety and nutrition, federal lands issues, air and water issues, and tax reform. 

Media Contact:

Tanya Augustson Camarra or Karen Batra at 202-347-0228, tacamarra@beef.org or kbatra@beef.org.

This publication is funded by cattle producers and other industry supporters through their voluntary membership contributions to NCBA. To join the tens of thousands of cattle producers from across the U.S. in working to preserve our legacy, contact NCBA Member Services at 1-866-BEEF-USA or Membership@beef.org.