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).

NCBA Submitting CAFO Comments This Week:  NCBA is finalizing comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on their proposed rule to extend the Clean Water Act compliance deadlines for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to March 30, 2007. 

While NCBA is pleased with the EPA proposed extension, we don’t believe the proposal goes far enough.  Specifically NCBA says “We believe the proposed deadline extension to March 30, 2007 is unreasonable for CAFO compliance with a rule that has not yet been promulgated.  We urge the EPA to consider a more reasonable deadline of no sooner than one year after EPA approval of an individual CAFO’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, including an EPA-approved nutrient management plan (“NMP”).  Such an approval is unlikely to occur prior to May 2009 or May 2010, depending on state ability to craft appropriate legislation and regulations addressing the many issues that must be addressed in rulemaking as the result of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the Water Keeper Alliance et al. v. EPA case.”  

In February 2005, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision in the Water Keeper Alliance et al. v. EPA case which challenged portions of the Clean Water Act CAFO Rule.  The Court’s decision will require substantial modifications of some parts of the CAFO rule and has created confusion and uncertainty about cattle producers’ responsibilities under the Act.  NCBA maintains “producers are owed the benefit of a final rule addressing the issues of the Second Circuit decision, and final state government action incorporating any required changes, before being asked to make substantial financial investments to meet permit requirements that may or may not apply to them.”  Deadline for comments is January 20. 

Singapore to Lift Ban on U.S. Beef:  Singapore says it will resume the import of U.S. boneless beef products from animals under 30 months of age according to an announcement today, January 19 from USDA Secretary Mike Johanns. Before the ban, the United States exported $5.9 million of beef and beef products to Singapore in 2003. NCBA is pleased with this development and looks forward to exporting our top-quality beef into this market as soon as possible. Since the discovery in late December 2003 of a BSE-infected cow in the United States, USDA estimates a potential $4.8 billion worth of U.S. beef and beef product exports internationally have been banned. And as of now, it is estimated that markets accounting for $3.8 billion have been recovered.

Progress in Korea, but Partial Ban Still Remains: It is predicted that U.S. beef could be headed to South Korea by March, after USDA Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman announced January 13 that Korea and the United States have agreed on an initial import protocol.  South Korea will accept U.S. boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months of age, but will continue its ban on U.S. bone-in beef and variety meats—which historically accounted for roughly half of the total value of U.S. beef exports to South Korea.

NCBA sees this as an important step in re-opening Korea's market to U.S. beef, but cattlemen nationwide are disappointed that Korea did not fully reopen its market to all U.S. beef products. “An indefinite ban on our top-selling products in Korea remains. NCBA continues to actively urge the lifting of non-science based trade restrictions on U.S. beef exports around the world, and this progress with Korea brings us one step closer to our goals,” says NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud.

“All U.S. beef and beef products are safe from BSE, and we urge trade negotiators to follow World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines in the negotiation of all agreements,” says NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt. “There is no legitimate reason for Korea to sustain a ban on safe U.S. beef products, and our cattle producers find these restrictions unacceptable.”

NCBA Hosts Chief Ag Negotiator: NCBA’s Washington D.C. office, along with the National Pork Producers Council, hosted Office of U.S. Trade Representatives (USTR) Chief Agricultural Negotiator Richard Crowder for a luncheon meeting today, January 19. Ambassador Crowder was sworn into this new position January 5, 2006, and is now responsible for directing U.S. agricultural trade negotiations across the globe. 

Ambassador Crowder will speak to cattle producers at the International Markets Committee meetings at NCBA’s Cattle Industry Convention in Denver on the morning of February 3. NCBA works with the Ambassador’s office on a regular basis to assure cattle producers’ key priorities are known during trade negotiations.  This includes multi-lateral negotiations in the World Trade Organization, as well as regional and bilateral negotiations. Previously, Ambassador Crowder was president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association and has held senior international positions with DEKALB Genetics (now part of Monsanto), Armour Swift-Eckrich (division of ConAgra), Pillsbury Company, and the USDA. Ambassador Crowder grew up on a farm in Virginia and earned a B.S. and M.S. from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University.

WTO Talks Need to MOVE: NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud says the European Union’s stubborn stalling in World Trade Organization (WTO) agricultural trade talks could mean doomsday for Doha. “We are still waiting for the EU to make a legitimate offer on agricultural market access.”

With another round of meetings coming up late January in Switzerland, the goal for the United States is to continue to drive the other 148 WTO member countries toward the U.S. proposal. Time is short: A finalized agreement must be submitted to the U.S. Congress before Trade Promotion Authority expires in July 2007.  This means negotiators need to finalize a WTO deal by the end of 2006 and the entire agricultural text must be agreed upon by no later than mid-2006.

“It’s become painfully clear that there’s little time to waste fiddling with the agricultural modalities. The Hong Kong Ministerial text includes an April 30, 2006 deadline,” says Doud. “It is hard to be optimistic right now. Getting the European Union out of reverse, into neutral and eventually into first gear could take more effort than the body politic of the WTO has the ability to muster. We’ll soon see.” NCBA was in Hong Kong for the most recent WTO talks and our full report is found online at http://hill.beef.org/pdfs/WTOUpdateJan2006.pdf or www.beefusa.org.

Animal ID:  Key industry leaders and participants in the United States Animal Identification Organization (USAIO) are in Washington this week for visits with agency officials and livestock industry representatives and to demonstrate the USAIO’s livestock movement database. The USAIO, an independent non-profit entity charged with managing the database, was announced January 11 following the group’s first board meeting. 

Congressional Schedule:  The full U.S. Senate reconvened Wednesday, January 18 to begin consideration of Samuel Alito’s nomination to the Supreme Court.  The U.S. House is scheduled to return from recess January 31.

Congress Hears from Cattlemen on Manure Bill:  NCBA continues urging support for a bill that would exempt manure from regulation as a Superfund material.  H.R. 4341 seeks to amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980 and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 by prohibiting the regulation of manure as a hazardous substance under these Acts.

Since the introduction of H.R. 4341 on November 17, over one hundred NCBA producer members have utilized our Capwiz resource to communicate to Congress that manure is not a Superfund material, and Congress is starting to take notice!

Without clarification, every cattle producer who spreads manure on a pasture as a natural fertilizer could come under the same Superfund regulations as our nation’s worst toxic chemical spills. Livestock producers are asked to contact their congressional representatives directly by visiting http://capwiz.com/beefusa. Producers can customize the letter provided, and send this message directly to their Member of Congress! 

Cattlemen Watch for Senate Action on ESA:  ESA reform remains one of the top priorities for NCBA and Public Lands Council members, and we’re working with key Senate offices to get legislation introduced in the Spring Session. 

Livestock producers are encouraged to support the efforts of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works lead by Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member James Jeffords (I-Vt.) and the Environmental and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water lead by Chairman Lincoln Chaffee (R-R.I.) and Ranking Member Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).  Contact your Senators’ offices directly and communicate to them the importance introducing and supporting ESA reform legislation by visiting http://capwiz.com/beefusa. 

NCBA Emphasizes Importance of Conservation: NCBA Director of Legislative Affairs Stacey Katseanes participated in a panel discussion Thursday, January 19 at the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service National Leadership Team Meeting in Arlington, Virginia.  At the session titled: "Recognizing People Who Help the Land and Motivating Others to do the Same," Stacey cited examples of environmental stewardship practices that exist on many of our nation’s cattle ranches.  As director of NCBA’s Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP), Stacey has seen first-hand ranching operations where stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation. 

Recognizing these leaders in our industry is important!  You can nominate a local cattle operation for our 16th annual ESAP award.  Applications are now available at http://hill.beef.org/esap, or contact NCBA’s Washington office for more information.  Contact:  Stacey Katseanes skatseanes@beef.org or 202-347-0228.

BSE Surveillance:  USDA’s Enhanced BSE Surveillance Program continues having already tested over half million high-risk animals for BSE since June 1, 2004.  As of today, the program has tested 589,833 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.

CONVENTION COUNTDOWN:  The 2006 Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show takes place February 1-4, 2006 in Denver! 

Convention Housing Deadline January 23:  The NCBA Housing Bureau will continue to accept Hotel Reservation Forms until January 23 (after that date, contact your desired hotel directly, and they will still honor our special Convention rates on a first-come first-served basis).  For the latest availability and for a list of the hotels, check our web site at www.BeefUSA.org/AnnualConvention.aspx.

ESAP Winner to Be Announced Feb. 2:  The National Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) Selection Committee will announce the National Winner of the 15th Annual Awards Feb. 2 at the 2006 Cattle Industry Convention.  The national winner is chosen from these seven regional winners announced last summer:  Reg. I: Li’l Ponderosa Enterprises, Carlisle, Pa.; Reg. II: Lightsey Cattle Company, Lake Wales, Fla.; Reg. III: Faris Farms, Mount Ayr, Iowa; Reg. IV: Richards Ranch, Jacksboro, Texas; Reg. V: Sims Cattle Company LLC, McFadden, Wyo.; Reg. VI: Prather Ranch, Fall River Mills, Calif.; Reg. VII: Gates Angus Ranch, Coldwater, Kan.

Plenty to Do in Denver to Support NCBA-PAC:  2006 is an election year!  Your support for NCBA’s Political Action Committee is needed more than ever!  NCBA has planned a wide array of convention events where you can support your PAC and help make a difference in this year’s election cycle!

• Silent Auction, Feb. 1-3, NCBA Booth (Booth #2330), Cattle Industry Convention Trade Show
• All Breed Bull Auction, Feb. 2 at 2pm, Booth 2400, Cattle Industry Convention Trade Show
• Team Penning/Barn Dance, Feb. 3, 6:30-11pm, National Western Complex (Transportation provided from convention hotels)
• Ski Train Trip to Winter Park, CO, Feb. 5

For more information on NCBA’s upcoming PAC events, contact Erin Vincent in NCBA’s Washington office at 202-347-0228 or evincent@beef.org.

NCBA Career Fair At Convention: NCBA's Human Resources Department will host a Career Fair Booth at the 2006 Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in the NCBA area of the Trade Show, Booth #2330.  The primary purpose of the Fair is to recruit for open positions at NCBA and in the cattle industry as a whole.  Convention attendees are encouraged to stop by the booth for career training tips and assistance in writing an effective cover letter and resume.  Industry groups, organizations, and producers are encouraged to contact NCBA with information about job openings so that the information can be included in trade show publications and listings.  The deadline to submit open positions to be included in the HR booth/Career Fair is Monday, January 23, 2006! 

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