Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns Archive
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
January 24, 2008
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’d like to include NCBA’s logo, contact us at 202-347-0228.
Cattlemen Speak Out on Health Care: The House Committee on Small Business held a full-committee hearing on Wednesday, January 23, entitled “Limited Health Care Options for Small Businesses in the Small Group Market,” which is an issue of great importance to cattle producers across the United States.
In comments submitted for the hearing NCBA said, “Cattle producers are an important component of the small business community and are strong contributors to the economic diversity of small towns and communities.” NCBA went on to say that, “the business climate for today’s cattle producer is increasingly difficult. Like other small and independent business owners, many cattle producers are struggling to maintain adequate health care for their families in the face of dramatically increasing prices.”
NCBA policy calls for a one hundred percent deductibility of health insurance costs for self-employed persons, among other issues that include Medicare reimbursement, incentives to attract health care providers to rural communities and better patient choices for healthcare options. Legislation has been introduced by Congressmen Rom Kind (D-WI) and Wally Herger (R-CA) to address the one hundred percent deductibility issue, and NCBA urges quick action on H.R. 3660 to help level the playing field for our producer members.
Indonesia, Barbados Completely Open Markets: USDA announced Wednesday, January 23, that Indonesia and Barbados have fully complied with international trade standards by allowing complete market access to U.S. beef and beef products of all ages. Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner said, “I applaud the Indonesian and Barbados ministries of agriculture…this shows that constructive and steady discussions with our trading partners are bearing positive results for the future of U.S. beef exports.”
According to USDA, beef and beef product exports to Indonesia were worth $17 million in 2005 with only partial access to the market, and the department estimates that these exports have the potential to double in 2008 and 2009. Additionally, exports to Barbados were roughly $2.7 million in 2007 with partial access. Conner said he hopes other trading partners will follow the lead of Indonesia and Barbados and fully open their markets.
Congressional Schedule/Farm Bill Update: Both houses of Congress were back in session this week to open business for the second session of the 110th Congress. Additionally, President Bush will deliver his final State of the Union address before all members of Congress on Monday, January 28.
NCBA is continuing to monitor the on-going Farm Bill negotiations to ensure our members’ priorities are addressed in the final package. Conference meetings have begun on the staff level, attempting to work out the differences between the House and Senate bills. The next official step in the process is the naming of conference committee members.
NCBA Farm Bill priorities include:
- Packer Ban: Remove the ban on packer ownership of cattle that exists in the current Senate version.
- Conservation Programs: Ensure adequate funding for cost-share conservation programs, such as EQIP, similar to the language in the House version of the bill; Remove payment limitations and AGI caps, which make many ranchers ineligible for programs.
- Tax Incentives for Conservation Easements: The language that exists in the Senate-passed version must be included in the final package.
- Interstate Shipping: Allows for interstate shipment of beef from state-inspected plants.
- Country-of-Origin Labeling: Include the compromise language which many problems with the current law.
- Disaster Assistance: Create a permanent disaster assistance program as defined in the Senate tax title.
Hearing Held on Schafer Nomination: The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing today, Thursday, January 24, to consider the nomination of Edward Schafer to be U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. President Bush announced the nomination of Schafer on October 31, 2007.
Schafer served as governor of North Dakota from 1992 to 2000. During that time, he gained experience dealing with issues such as disaster assistance, international trade and renewable energy policy – all issues facing today’s cattle producers.
If confirmed, Schafer would replace former Ag Secretary Mike Johanns who resigned on September 20, 2007, to pursue a Senate bid. In the interim, Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner has been serving as Acting Secretary.
President Bush Urges Free Trade Agreements: In remarks to mayors from across the United States, President Bush on Wednesday, January 23, stressed the vital role that free trade agreements serve in promoting economic growth. “I’m looking forward to working with Congress to get these packages passed,” said President Bush. “These are pro-growth, and they are good for America.”
NCBA supports well-negotiated trade agreements that help expand our international markets for beef and other agricultural goods, while simultaneously stimulating economic growth. As such, NCBA urges Congress to consider and pass the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, which represents a major achievement for U.S. agriculture. The U.S.-Colombia TPA will create a two-way street for trade between the countries and would result in immediate duty-free access for high quality U.S. beef, and the elimination of tariffs on other products in over 15 years.
“NCBA’s cattle-producing members need Congress to step up and pass the U.S.-Colombia TPA so the U.S. agricultural sector can begin reaping the benefits of this well-negotiated agreement,” says NCBA Director of Legislative Affairs Stacey Satterlee. “The best way for America’s farmers and ranchers to achieve prosperity is for Congress to support expanding trade within the global marketplace.”
New Faces Welcomed to NCBA: NCBA is excited to welcome three new faces to its team. Steve Drevet and Nate Jaeger have accepted positions as field representatives, and Dustin Van Liew will join the Washington, D.C. office as the Public Lands Council Policy and Administrative Coordinator.
Drevet will begin working in the High Plains Region at the end of January and brings the experience of more than 25 years dedicated to various aspects of the agriculture industry to NCBA. Drevet has worked in sales and marketing, as a vocational agriculture instructor and has conducted USDA audits of processors. He has a master’s degree of science in agriculture and vocational-technical education from Middle Tennessee State and has owned and operated his own cow/calf operation.
Yeager will join NCBA as the Region II field representative, working in the Southeast beginning at the end of January. He currently lives in Lexington, Ky. but will be moving to Alabama. Nate grew up in the cattle business and earned a master’s degree in agriculture from Colorado State University in the Beef Industry Leadership program. He also has field experience as a sales representative for Laura’s Lean Beef and AgInfoLink.
“NCBA’s membership department is now fully staffed with five field representatives,” said NCBA’s Vice President of Member Services Polly Ruhland. “With an accomplished team of lobbyists and experts in Washington, an unmatched producer education program and a myriad of other member benefits and services, we serve our producer members as they direct NCBA’s policy into the future.”
Van Liew will begin working with the PLC in Washington, D.C. on January 28. He received his bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Cal Poly State University and his master’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University. He comes from a ranching background in California and is excited to start working in Washington, D.C.
Check Out Our Offerings for NCBA’s PAC/PEF All-Breed Bull and Horse Auction! Held in conjunction with the 2008 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show, our 3rd annual NCBA-PAC/PEF All-Breed Bull and Horse Auction offers convention attendees a chance to purchase some of the best genetics and seed stock in the nation, and support NCBA-PAC at the same time!
The auction is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at Booth 101 in the trade show at the Reno Sparks Convention Center.
Thank you to the outstanding operations that have contributed to this exciting event, including:
- Bieber Red Angus Ranch of Leola, South Dakota
- Byrd Cattle Company of Red Bluff, CA
- Dalebanks Angus Ranch of Eureka, Kansas
- Errer Hill Farms of Friedens, Pennsylvania
- Fink Beef Genetics of Randolph, Kansas
- Gardiner Angus Ranch of Ashland, Kansas
- Genex Cooperative of Shawano, Wisconsin
- Leland Red Angus Ranch of Sidney, Montana
- Marshall Cattle Company of Burlington, Colorado
- Nichols Farms North Carolina Division of Clinton, North Carolina
- Pollard Farms of Enid, Oklahoma
- One Penny Ranch of Foley, Minnesota
- Ridgefield Farm, LLC of Dahlonega, Georgia
- Seven L Ranch of Devers, Texas
- Steele Land and Livestock of Anita, Iowa
- TC Ranch of Franklin, Nebraska
- Thomas Angus Ranch of Baker City, Oregon
- ViaGen, Inc. of Austin, TX
- Wulf Limousin Farms of Morris, Minnesota
- Yon Family Farms of Ridge Spring, South Carolina
Donators receive national marketing for their operation through the National Cattlemen's Magazine, pre- and post-convention exposure to all NCBA members in a sale catalog distributed at convention, their name displayed prominently at convention events, a ribbon badge signifying their donation, and also VIP passes to the NCBA-PAC event featuring Tracy Lawrence on Friday evening!
Thank you to these fine contributors for supporting the 3rd Annual NCBA-PAC/PEF All-Breed Bull and Horse Auction!
Countdown to Convention: The 2008 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show will be held February 6-9 in Reno, Nevada. The meeting will feature joint and individual meetings by NCBA, the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Board, the American National CattleWomen, Inc., Cattle-Fax and the National Cattlemen's Foundation.
This is the time of year when NCBA’s producer-members gather to discuss our industry’s priorities at issue forums and committee meetings. On February 9, members will vote on policy for the coming year at NCBA’s Board of Directors meeting.
Put on your best boots, hat and jeans and strut around the largest national trade show for the cattle industry. Over 250 companies showcasing the latest products and services will be on display in Reno. For more information on events held in the trade show or to view the list of exhibitors visit the NCBA website at www.beefusa.org. It’s not too late to register! Registration will be open on-site in Reno starting on Wednesday, February 6.
NCBA Career Fair at 2008 Annual Convention & Tradeshow Cancelled: The Career Fair that was scheduled to be held during the Convention and Trade Show has been cancelled. However, there still will be information regarding open positions with multiple employers at the NCBA Human Resources booth. If you are interested in exploring these opportunities further, please contact Erica Miller at 202-347-0228 or emiller@beef.org for more details.
Don't Miss NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen: NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen is proud to announce that the show has been honored with a first place finish in the broadcast category at the Best of National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Region II Awards. The entry will be now be forwarded to the national NAMA competition.
On this week’s episode of NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen, airing January 22 to January 27, we return with all new shows. Kicking off year two, we learn more about the upcoming Cattle-Fax Outlook Seminar from Chief Operating Officer Mike Miller. Plus, we learn more about implementing an artificial insemination program on your operation. And just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, Michaele Musel from the Beef Demonstration Center joins us with a recipe for a perfect beef appetizer to serve during the big game.
On next week’s episode, airing January 29-February 2, we continue our series on artificial insemination, and we learn more about evaluating estrus synchronization programs for your cowherd from Sandy Johnson at Kansas State University. We also visit the National Western Stock Show to interview Jarold Callahan from the Express Ranch. And we learn about the Beef University training program that has been developed for foodservice operators.
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country. The show airs Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. and is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 4:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 10 a.m. All times are Eastern. Make sure YOU tune into NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on channel RFD-TV. For more information or to check out past episodes, visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org.
Media Contact: Karen Batra at kbatra@beef.org or Mary Geiger at mgeiger@beef.org or call 202-347-0228.
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.