Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns Archive
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
July 10, 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 would like to include NCBA’s logo, contact us at 303-694-0305.
FSA stops CRP “critical feed use”: Yesterday morning, July 9th, the USDA Farm Service Agency issued a stop order to all state offices prohibiting the consideration of any changes to current Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts and the ceasing any current haying or grazing on CRP ground that was released due to a May 27th order from USDA. This stop order is the result of a “temporary restraining order” filed and won by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) as a part of their ongoing legal actions against USDA.
On June 27th, the NWF, in association with several of their affiliates, filed a “Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief” against USDA. This complaint was followed by the filing of a “Temporary Restraining Order,” on July 8th, against the filing of CRP contract changes. NWF filed their complaint after the Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer announced the release of 24 million acres of CRP ground for “critical feed use.” NWF is citing the lack compliance with regulations under both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and USDA, particularly a lack of environmental assessment and public comment before the land was released as the reasoning for their lawsuit.
Should the court grant their complaint, an injunction would be issued against USDA. This would make the Order CRP-598, releasing the ground for usage, null and void until USDA complied with the regulations within NEPA and USDA.
Many producers have already made changes to their CRP contracts and were preparing their land for either haying or grazing. NCBA, while not completely satisfied with the original order due to a lack of payment reductions, will continue to monitor this litigation.
Congress marks-up ADUFA Bill: On July 9th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health marked-up the Animal Drug User Fee Amendment of 2008 (ADUFA). ADUFA will now head to the entire Energy and Commerce Committee for a vote.
ADUFA amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to authorize FDA to collect fees to expedite and improve its review of applications for new animal drugs so that safe and effective new products will be available. ADUFA was enacted in 2003 and is set to expire in September, 2008.
NCBA is watching this legislation very closely due to the possible inclusion of language that would bar the usage of antibiotics in feed.
BLM Releases Wild Horse and Burro Plan: The rising costs of feed, coupled with the restrictions on horse slaughter, are causing major problems with unwanted horses around the country. This is also true at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) where resources are being stretched to the limits. BLM estimates that the cost of holding (short and long term) wild horses and burros “will exceed $26 million, accounting for three-fourths of the Fiscal Year 2008 Congressional Appropriation to the BLM of about $37 million.” Additionally, the agency’s projected costs by 2012 are $77 million for the horse and burro program.
With the agency facing budget constraints due to the lagging economy, BLM has announced plans to (1) sell older and unadopted animals to willing buyers and (2) euthanize those wild horse and burros for which no adoption demand exists.
It is within BLM’s authority to sell or euthanize any wild horse or burro in their care that is over 10 years old or has been passed over for adoption three or more times. BLM was given this authority as a part of a 2004 change to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.
House Ag considers speculators: The House Agriculture Committee will hold hearings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, regarding speculation within the commodity market. Throughout these hearings, legislators have been stressing the need to eliminate “excessive speculation,” or those speculators who lack the capacity to receive delivery of an actual product. Currently, the legislation and discussion has been aimed at the oil commodity market, however, changes could occur that will impact the entire commodity market. NCBA has been monitoring these hearings.
Trade with Canada continues, despite injunction: Late last week, an injunction was issued by the 8th District Circuit Court against USDA’s Minimal Risk Rule II (MRRII). USDA released their final MRRII in September, 2007. MRRII opened the U.S. – Canadian border to all cattle and beef products from cattle born after March 1, 1999. An injunction was filed in November, 2007, calling for another comment period following the issuance of the rule.
Despite the ruling against USDA in the injunction, beef trade with Canada continues. This injunction does not close the border nor does it reverse the rule, however, it does require USDA to reopen the comment period on MRRII.
NCBA hires new Sr. VP of Government Affairs: NCBA proudly announced, yesterday, the addition of J. Burton Eller, Jr. to the NCBA staff as the Sr. Vice President of Government Affairs. This is a return to the cattle industry for Eller, as he served the National Cattlemen’s Association from 1981-1996, in the roles of Sr. Vice President of Government Affairs and as Executive Vice President. Currently, Eller is the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Eller will start his new role with NCBA in the Washington, D.C. office in August.
Giambrone joins Cattlemen as new PAC Director: Quin Giambrone joins the NCBA Government Affairs staff as the Associate Director of the Political Action Committee. Prior to NCBA, Giambrone worked on the PAC for the American Council of Life Insurers, Congressman David Hobson of Ohio, and the American Red Cross. Giambrone brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to NCBA. Giambrone joined the Washington, D.C. staff on Thursday, July 10.
Cattle Industry Summer Conference Fast Approaching: Next week, July 15-19, cattle producers will gather in Denver, Colo. for the 2008 Cattle Industry Summer Conference. Pre-registration ended June 25, but cattle producers can still register on-site beginning July 15. Full registration and hotel information is available at: www.beefusa.org/convsummerconference.aspx.
Don't Miss the Award-Winning NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen: On this week’s episode of Cattlemen to Cattlemen! – airing July 15-20 – hear about brush and weed control straight from the experts at Dow AgroSciences. These experts address important topics ranging from pasture improvement to treatment options and also offer tips for success.
On next week’s episode – airing July 22-27—experts from Fort Dodge Animal Health will address the topics of parasite control and resistance including specific tips on how to best handle these issues on your operation.
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country. It airs every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, with repeat episodes on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Sundays at midnight (all times Eastern). It is also available online at www.CattlementoCattlemen.org. The program’s sponsors include: Purina Mills, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer Animal Health, and McDonald’s.
For more information or to check out past episodes, visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org.