Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns Archive
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
June 26, 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.
Korea Finally Opens to U.S. Beef – Cattlemen Anxious to See Product Moving: The agreement to allow U.S. beef exports back into South Korea was finalized in the early morning of June 26 when the Korean government officially published the new beef import rules. This was followed by a posting by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service of the Quality System Assessment (QSA) - a transitional program that will ensure that beef products exported to Korea are only from cattle younger than 30 months of age. The Korean market was to have opened to U.S. beef from cattle of all ages on May 15, but the opening was delayed for more than a month due to protests and political unrest in Korea.
While NCBA reminds all consumers that beef from U.S. cattle of all ages is absolutely safe for both export and domestic consumption, cattlemen are pleased that this transitional measure will get U.S. beef back on Korea’s store shelves and allow the industry to begin regaining the trust and confidence of Korean consumers. NCBA released the following statement earlier today from Cottonwood, Ariz., rancher and NCBA President Andy Groseta:
“The cattle producers that make up the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) are excited to once again be providing beef to consumers in Korea. The mutual decision by Korea’s importers and U.S. exporters to limit U.S. beef exports to Korea to beef from cattle under 30 months of age is somewhat disappointing to cattlemen, because all U.S. beef is safe from BSE. This well-established and long-standing safety record is due to interlocking safeguards that protect the health of the U.S. cattle herd, and the safety of the food supply. But we believe this arrangement will help regain the confidence Korean consumers have in the quality and safety of U.S. beef, which is the very same beef we feed to our own families.
“NCBA is proud of the measures the United States has taken toward control and eradication of BSE, which are the foundation for this nation’s “controlled risk” designation for BSE by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Our members look forward to the day when all trading partners recognize and accept OIE trading guidelines for beef exported by the United States - which include beef from cattle of any age, provided that appropriate specific risk materials are removed. However, the vast majority of U.S. beef enjoyed by Korean consumers has historically been from cattle under 30 months of age. So this age restriction should not significantly reduce the volume of safe and great-tasting U.S. beef available to Korean consumers, and we look forward to regaining their trust and confidence by providing them with a product of the highest quality.”
NCBA Joins Texas Governor in Support of RFS Waiver Request: Texas Governor Rick Perry hosted a press conference at the National Press Club on June 24 regarding the RFS waiver request submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the State of Texas. The petition requests that EPA reduce by 50 percent the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) mandate for production of grain-based ethanol in 2008. The reduction would trim the mandate from the current 9 billion gallons to 4.5 billion gallons of feedgrain-based ethanol. This mandate - which is scheduled to expand to 15 billion gallons by 2015 - was included as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) that passed in December 2007.
During the press conference, NCBA and other interested agricultural associations spoke in support of the waiver. NCBA Chief Executive Officer Terry Stokes and Chief Economist Gregg Doud represented the cattle industry. Doud outlined the difficult circumstances currently facing livestock producers as volatile spring weather and other factors have cut into already-tight grain supplies, and the nation struggles to find enough grain to meet renewable fuel production requirements.
"Cattlemen are now confronting $7 and even $8 corn, and that may just be the beginning," said Doud. "Even before the wet spring pushed into June, we were already seeing a lot of acres migrating away from corn this year. By the time conditions improve in many of these fields, planting corn will no longer be an option."
The comment period for the waiver petition closed on June 23. NCBA filed comments in support of the waiver. While NCBA policy supports the development of alternative energy sources and the overall goal of energy independence, cattlemen want to see a greater emphasis on fuels produced from cellulosic, non-feedgrain sources. NCBA maintains that until grain-based ethanol production operates in a climate that is less driven by federal mandates and government subsidies, the nation will continue to see extremely slow development of alternative fuel sources.
For more information on this proceeding, visit: www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels/rfs-texas-notice.pdf.
Cattlemen Open Relief Effort for Farms and Ranches Devastated by Flooding: The National Cattlemen’s Foundation, in cooperation with NCBA, has launched a disaster relief effort to assist farm and ranch families impacted by catastrophic flooding in the Mississippi River corridor and its surrounding areas.
Thousands of family farm and ranch operations have been devastated by flooding caused by the persistently heavy rains and subsequent levee failures on the Mississippi River and other major waterways. Many families have been completely displaced from their homes, or remain without power, potable water, and other utilities. Crop losses are enormous, including hay and forage normally used for livestock feed, as well as crops targeted for fall harvest. Downed fences and other property damage have also resulted in stranded and lost livestock, with thousands of farmers and ranchers struggling to make repairs and keep their operations as functional as possible.
NCBA is joining forces with state cattlemen’s associations across the nation to provide assistance through the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. Every dollar contributed will directly assist families struggling to keep their farms and ranches operating under these difficult conditions. Donations are tax-deductible. In conjunction with the foundation, state cattlemen’s associations from states in the affected region will manage distribution of all funds donated.
For more information, please visit the foundation’s Web site at www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org.
New BSE Case Detected in Canada: On June 23, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the country’s 13th case of BSE in a cow located in British Columbia. Canada’s BSE safeguards prevented any part of the animal from entering the human food chain or any potentially infective parts from entering the animal feed chain. The animal was detected through Canada’s national BSE surveillance program. CFIA has launched a comprehensive investigation in an effort to determine the birth farm of the animal. NCBA will report additional information regarding the age and origin of the cow as it becomes available.
FY2009 Ag Appropriations Have Stalled: Earlier today, the House Appropriations Committee was to hold a markup of the Fiscal Year 2009 Agriculture Appropriations bill, as well as the Labor, Health and Education Appropriations bill. During the debate for the Labor, Health and Education bill, an amendment was offered to include off-shore drilling. Once this amendment was introduced, the chairman promptly adjourned the meeting by a roll call vote. It is unclear when the Appropriations Committee session will be rescheduled. A similar issue came up during the markup of the FY 2009 Interior Appropriations bill last week.
NCBA is watching the FY 2009 Ag Appropriations bill closely for the possible inclusion of language linking the National Animal Identification System to the School Lunch Program.
NCBA and Public Lands Council to File Sage Grouse Comments: June 27 is the deadline for submitting comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), regarding the status of the greater sage-grouse. The greater sage-grouse habitat covers parts or all of eleven western states: California, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The implications of listing a species with such a vast habitat area are potentially disastrous. The Public Lands Council (PLC) has been working to collect data and information from these Western states regarding habitat improvements and actions taken by ranchers that have helped the greater sage-grouse. The PLC and NCBA will be submitting comments to FWS prior to tomorrow’s deadline.
Last Week of Session Before Holiday Break: Congress will recess at the end of this week for its annual weeklong 4th of July recess. Following this break, Congress will reconvene on July 7.
Policy Division Leadership Speaking to State Affiliates: This week, NCBA Policy Division Chair Bill Donald of Montana addresses producers in California at the California Cattlemen’s Association Mid-Year Meeting in Sacramento. Policy Division Vice Chair Eric Smith of Alabama speaks at the Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas 34th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Galveston. Both events are being held June 25-27.
Cattle Industry Summer Conference Fast Approaching: The 2008 Cattle Industry Summer Conference is set for July 15-19 in Denver. 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 edition – airing June 24 through June 29 - Cattlemen to Cattlemen brings you some of our favorite stories from sponsor Fort Dodge Animal Health. Experts from Fort Dodge provide critical information about maintaining proper herd health, and they’ll have tips on de-worming your cattle. Plus, Cattlemen to Cattlemen provides tips on how to effectively communicate beef industry messages, and we spend a day in the life of a Minnesota cattleman.
In the program airing July 1 through July 6, viewers can learn more about the importance of premises registration. Cattlemen to Cattlemen will visit cattle farmers and ranchers in Arizona, Maryland, Kentucky and Illinois to hear how premises registration has become an important aspect of their 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.