Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
February 22, 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.

USDA Proposes Risk-Based Inspection:  USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond announced this week a departmental proposal to transition to a risk-based inspection system in some meat processing plants. 

The new system, scheduled to be implemented in April, will only cover processing facilities (slaughter establishments will continue to operate under the existing inspection system) and will affect 30 locations representing about 254 establishments, potentially expanding to approximately 150 locations by the end of 2007. 

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says by taking into account the relative risk of what each processing plant produces and how each plant is controlling risk in its operations, it can more effectively allocate inspection resources to those processing plants needing it the most, while continuing daily inspection at all processing facilities.

NCBA is reviewing the proposal.  Improving our nation’s food safety system has long been a top priority at NCBA, and we must be sure that our beef products continue to be as safe as they are today.  This new approach must improve our current food safety system, not hamper it.

FSIS will hold a summit in late March to review information on the transition and take public comment.  More information is posted at www.fsis.usda.gov.

GIPSA Report Released: The long-awaited “Livestock and Meat Marketing Study" was released on February 16th by USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). The report gives quantitative support for what NCBA members have known all along - that a market-driven system works. The study was based on transactions representing more than 58 million cattle sold between October 2002 and March 2005.

During debate of the 2002 Farm Bill, concerns from producers about packer concentration led NCBA members to ask Congress to study the livestock and meat marketing complex. In 2003, Congress authorized $4.5 million to conduct an independent study and provide a report that would be the definitive answer on this issue. The debate has raged for years in the industry and on Capitol Hill as to what the impacts of packer ownership and alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) are on the bottom line of every rancher.

“We’re all concerned about packer concentration and keeping the marketplace competitive,” says NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud.  “This study shows these restrictions can hurt the very people they are intended to protect.  In today's marketplace, producers need the freedom and flexibility to market their cattle in ways that provide the best return on their investment.”  NCBA remains committed to allowing the market to drive our industry and will fight government attempts to restrict how producers market their cattle.

The interim and final reports, including peer reviewers' comments and additional information about the study, are available on GIPSA's website at www.gipsa.usda.gov.

Congressional Schedule:  Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate are out of session this week for the President’s Day recess.  Congress is scheduled to reconvene Monday, February 26, 2007.

ESA Reform Bill Aims to Strengthen Recovery Efforts with Landowner Input:  Efforts to reform the Endangered Species Act (ESA) – a priority issue for U.S. ranchers – have been revived in the 110^th Congress thanks to a bill that seeks to strengthen species recovery while providing for local community input.  Senators Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.), who both serve on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced the Endangered Species Reform Act of 2007 (S. 658) on February 16th.

“One of the key concerns we hear from our members is that they want more say in the listing and recovery process,” says Jeff Eisenberg, NCBA’s director of federal lands and executive director of the Public Lands Council.  “Since ranchers are out on the land every day, they can offer a first-hand account of how a species is being managed and recovered.”

For ranchers, the bill aims to put in place a number of much-needed reforms including giving impacted states a larger voice in the listing process, allowing for more hearings and public comment opportunities, and considering landowner input in listing and delisting decisions.  Senators Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), and Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) are all co-sponsors of the legislation.  The bill has been reported to the Environment and Public Works Committee where it awaits further action. 

Senator Dole Praises John Queen:  NCBA’s new President John Queen was lauded on the Senate Floor by his home-state senator, Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), on February 8th.  Queen, who is a cattle producer from Waynesville, N.C., was officially congratulated by Senator Dole who called him “a family man, a successful businessman, and a proven leader in his community and the beef industry.” 

“With his extensive knowledge and experience as a member of the beef industry, John Queen is the kind of leader the beef industry needs right now,” said Senator Dole. “In the coming months, a new Farm Bill will be written that will impact our livestock producers. As a producer, John Queen understands these issues firsthand, and he will have the opportunity to serve as an advocate for his fellow livestock producers.”

Dole also acknowledged that the beef industry is at a pivotal crossroads. “As Congress works to secure fair and open markets in Europe and Asia, the beef industry must continue to work diligently to foster consumer confidence in one of our nation's largest export commodities. As we continue to work with the Canadian Government and governments in Asia to reopen their markets to U.S. beef, we will need diligent and creative leaders such as John Queen to help promote our beef to consumers around the world.”

Industry Coalition Works to Support TPA Reauthorization:  NCBA has joined a wide array of companies and associations from nearly every sector of the U.S. economy in support of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) as part of the "Trade for America" coalition.   

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. 

Peru, Colombia Trade Deals Will Be Boon for U.S. Beef Producers:  NCBA, along with 44 other food and agriculture industry groups sent a letter to Congress on February 20th urging lawmakers to approve free trade agreements with Colombia and Peru. The Colombia and Peru Trade Promotion Agreements are widely viewed as the best ever negotiated on behalf of U.S. agriculture.

“These agreements reduce – and eventually eliminate – all tariffs for our beef, giving U.S. producers the ability to compete aggressively against Argentinean and Brazilian beef in these markets,” says NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud.  “In addition, negotiators have worked to eliminate key sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to U.S. exports, including lifting inspection barriers to our beef products.” 

ESAP Region VI Families Accumulating Environmental Honors:  2006 Region VI winners of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program, Diablo Trust Ranches of Coconino County, Arizona, have been selected to receive the 2006 National Rangeland Management (Out-Service) Award sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service.  The award recognizes efforts made by Diablo Trust in meeting both the agency’s and the public’s trust in managing and restoring native ecosystems on public and private lands. 

The Diablo Trust has amassed many other honors recently including the Sheldon D. Gerber Award for Excellence in Environmental Planning, the Governor’s Excellence in Rural Development Award for Innovative Economic Development Practices and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Environmental Protection Agency on Earth Day. 

As managers of the Diablo Trust Ranches, the Prosser and Metzger families are dedicated to promoting the social, biological and economic sustainability of the 426,000 acres of federal, state and private land comprising the Flying M and Bar T Bar Ranches.   The Trust is accomplishing its goals by engaging in a collaborative stewardship process that is in harmony with the natural environment and the broader community.  Congratulations to Diablo Trust and the Metzger and Prosser families!

ESAP Deadline Less Than Month Away:  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 1st, 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. 

All New Cattlemen to Cattlemen TV Shows: Premiering each Tuesday evening and re-running throughout the week, NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country. This week's show, first aired this Tuesday, February 20th, gives an in-depth look at how ethanol is produced, plus tips from the experts on how to protect and maintain herd health, as well as industry news briefs. Next week's Tuesday, February 27th episode will feature an interview with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and offer a special feature from Capitol Hill on lobbying on behalf of the cattle industry. The show is rebroadcast 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.  For more information, visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org or contact Tanya Augustson Camarra tacamarra@beef.org or 202-347-0228.

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.