Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns: March 11, 2004

Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns

March 11, 2004

The 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 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Canadian Trade: Producer-members of NCBA are pleased with Canada’s major step forward this week in achieving equivalency on animal health issues.  After years of efforts by NCBA and with support from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture declared Wednesday that Canada will allow year-round importation of U.S. feeder cattle into Canada from states in the U.S. that are low or medium risk for bluetongue or anaplasmosis. This is a significant development for U.S. cattle producers, and important step forward in ensuring international trade is based on upon science and fairness. Canada has made this significant policy shift in recognition of scientific facts and over 10 years of dialog between U.S. and Canadian cattle producers who have supported this effort. Currently, there are 39 states that are in these categories.  Cattle from the 11 higher-risk states (Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas) may be allowed into Canada if they have resided in a low or medium risk state for a minimum of 60 days prior to shipment to Canada.  Risk determination is conducted by the USDA.

NCBA will continue to work to expedite the process Canadian Ag Ministry and USDA that would allow for additional year round access for breeding cattle.  This step will require Canada to recognize the states and regions of the U.S. that have a health status equivalent to Canada. Canadians have assured their commitment to resolving these equivalency issues.  The NCBA expects this to be resolved in the near future.

Death Tax: The Senate is voting on the budget resolution this week.  Included in the budget is an acceleration of Death Tax repeal to 2009.  NCBA members and the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition (FBETC) have been actively opposing any amendments which are designed to try to strike this language.  We are working with the FBETC to make sure these amendments are not successful and that the budget language remains intact.  We will keep you updated throughout the process on amendment efforts.

Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption: In two wins for NCBA this week, HR 339, the "Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act" was passed by the House on Wednesday and an amendment offered by Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), which severely undermined the intention of this bill, was defeated. H.R. 339 would prohibit lawsuits in federal or state courts against restaurants and food manufacturers and distributors, based on claims that the food contributed to obesity or weight gain. It would permit suits if the defendant knowingly and willfully violated federal or state laws governing the labeling, safety, advertising or selling the food product. Rep. Ackerman’s amendment would have removed this liability protection for manufacturers and sellers if they at any time used "downed" animals. Since this bill addressed liability protection obesity issues and not safety of food issues, the amendment was not relevant and was nothing more than an attack by animals rights activists on food production.  Of more immediate concern, the amendment would have actually impeded USDA and industry efforts to protect the U.S. from the introduction of diseases by acting as a deterrent to keeping so-called "downer" animals in the formal disease detection and eradication system.  Cattle producers understand that the best consumer protection lawmakers can provide is to ensure all livestock are subject to ante and post mortem inspection by USDA inspectors to determine fitness for the food supply. The Ackerman amendment failed 141 YEAS to 276 NAYS.

Mexican Trade: This week, Mexican Ministry of Health officials are visiting U.S. beef production plants.  Secretary Javier Usabiaga re-opened the Mexican market for a significant portion of U.S. beef exports last week. Mexico is the second largest export market for U.S. beef and beef products. Boneless beef covered in the agreement makes up a significant portion of all exports to Mexico.

Animal Welfare: The Meat and Poultry Industry Media Relations Committee hosted a media workshop on Animal Welfare issues on Wednesday, March 10 at the National Press Club in Washington.  The event was sponsored by the Animal Agriculture Alliance. This is the second in a series of media workshops aimed at educating members of the press and providing them with sources for future stories on a wide variety of topics. Panelists included:  Don Butler, Murphy Brown LLC, Adele Douglass, Humane Farm Animal Care, and Gail Golab, D.V.M., American Veterinary Medical Association. 

Air Quality: NCBA's Associate Director of Environmental Issues, Megan Tipton, is in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina this Wednesday and Thursday for meetings with the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF). The group is meeting to continue discussion on critical air quality issues in relation to agriculture. Special emphasis will be placed on obtaining a greater understanding about the relationship between agricultural production and air quality. The meeting is open to the public.

Comments Still Needed: USDA reopened a comment period on its proposed rule to amend the regulations regarding imports of animals and animal products from countries that have had isolated cases of BSE. The proposed rule would include Canada in a category of regions that present a minimal risk. The initial comment period closed Jan.5; the new deadline is April 7. NCBA believes USDA is requesting comments on the rule that was previously published, as well as on whether to allow the importation from BSE minimal risk regions of beef from cattle 30 months of age or older when specified risk materials has been removed. Notice of the extension is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register today, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html. Comments may be submitted by postal mail, commercial delivery or e-mail.

Illinois and Ohio Visitors: On Wednesday, NCBA hosted a group from the pike County chapter of the Illinois Farm Bureau.  The group is in town for meetings with legislators and administration officials and met with NCBA staff to discuss BSE, Animal ID, and top political issues affecting the cattle industry. In addition, Bryan Dierlam spoke to a group from the Ohio Farm Bureau on Wednesday at the National Press Club.  In town for their Spring Legislative Conference, the group is also hosting a dinner with some of the Ohio-based reporters traveling with them. 

Environmental Stewardship Award: Last Chance!! Deadline for applications for the 14th annual Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) is this week, March 12, 2004. Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, and USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Environmental Stewardship Program recognizes cattle producers who use innovative practices to protect and enhance natural resources while maintaining or increasing the profitability of their businesses.  Any group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual/business, however the nominee must raise or feed cattle.  Individuals cannot nominate themselves.  Nominees need not be NCBA members, but they must support NCBA’s mission: A dynamic and profitable beef industry, which concentrates resources around a unified plan, consistently meets global consumer needs and increases demand.

National Ag Day/Ag Week:  March 20 marks the first day of spring and National Ag Day, when producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and others across America gather to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture.  NCBA is a proud sponsor of Ag Day 2004 and encourages members to get involved locally by planning events and promoting American agriculture within their communities. National Agriculture Week is March 14-20, 2004.  For more information visit www.agday.org

NCBA Spring Conference: NCBA continues to prepare for its 2004 Spring Conference in Washington, March 29-April 3. Hundreds of cattlemen from across the country will be in the national’s capital for this important event. Attendees will hear directly from top policymakers, meet face-to-face with key Congressional offices, government agency influencers and have the opportunity to articulate policy priorities for today’s cattle industry. NCBA has invited Vice President Cheney, and other top officials to speak with our members. For more information, go to http://hill.beef.org/spring. 

Media Contact:

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

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