2007 CCC Archive
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
March 22, 2007
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.
NCBA Preps for Next Week’s Spring Conference -- Each year, hundreds of NCBA’s most politically-active members come to Washington for a week of intensive one-on-one meetings with members of Congress and agency officials. This conference examines in-depth the wide scope of policy issues NCBA works on every day including farm policy, international trade, environmental issues, and tax reform.
Attendees are scheduled to hear from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, U.S. Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) Administrator James Link, House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and and National Security Council Director Allan Hubbard as part of the action-packed Spring Conference program. Washington insiders will also join NCBA members at the popular Spring Conference Reception on Capitol Hill, sponsored by Outback Steakhouse. Look for coverage of NCBA’s Spring Conference in next week’s CCC!
Cattlemen Fight for Manure Exemption from CERCLA -- One of the priority issues cattlemen will be discussing next week during NCBA’s Spring Conference is legislation that will clarify that livestock manure is not a Superfund material. Bills introduced in both the House and Senate will make clear that Superfund laws – created in the 1980’s to provide for the cleanup of toxic waste and hazardous chemical spills – were never intended to apply to manure on farms and ranches.
S. 807 and H.R. 1398 were introduced on March 8th by Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) in the Senate, and Representatives Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Ralph Hall (R-Texas) in the House. There are now 11 co-sponsors in the Senate with John Thune (R-S.D.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) signing on March 15! In the House, the number of cosponsors has increased to 67 with Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), Timothy Walberg (R-Mich.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) also signing on last week!
NCBA is urging cattle producers from across the nation to contact their members of Congress and ask them to sign on to these bills!
NCBA Sees Little Progress at Korean Negotiations -- NCBA’s Chief Economist Gregg Doud is returning from Seoul, South Korea this week and he reports that the United States and Korea remain at a stalemate over many trade issues. South Korean and U.S. negotiators discussed details of the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) this week, March 19-22, as well as movement toward reopening the Korean border to U.S. beef.
According to media reports, South Korean and U.S. officials have said they intend to tackle "super-sensitive" beef issues at the final ministerial-level meeting planned for next week. The June 30, 2007 expiration of Trade Promotion Authority means these negotiations must conclude by approximately March 31, 2007. NCBA will NOT support a free trade agreement with South Korea until full normalization of beef trade is achieved between the United States and South Korea.
Hearing on U.S.-South Korea FTA -- In related news, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade hosted a hearing on Tuesday, March 20th regarding U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Subcommittee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-Mich) said “the purpose of the hearing is to examine ongoing negotiations to conclude a free trade agreement between South Korea and the United States and to assess the state of the negotiations going into their final week.”
NCBA sent a letter to Chairman Levin this week expressing frustration with the Korean beef trade issue. The letter says, “After supposedly regaining partial access September 7, 2006, to the South Korean market, it has been proven that commercially viable beef trade with South Korea is unattainable…NCBA’s bottom line is that full normalization of beef trade must be achieved between the United States and South Korea, and trust must be rebuilt between our countries for the U.S. cattle industry to support an FTA with South Korea.”
House Introduces Bill on Tax Incentives for Conservation Easements -- NCBA is supporting legislation that will make permanent tax incentives for conservation easement donations. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Cal.) and Dave Camp (R-Mich.) introduced H.R. 1576 on March 19th to ensure that the temporary tax incentive for conservation by family farmers and ranchers keeps on working. The House bill currently has 26 cosponsors. The 2006 law, enacted last year as part of the Pensions Bill, is set to expire at the end of this year. Companion legislation in the Senate (S. 469) was introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on January 31st and currently has 4 cosponsors.
“Making this law permanent will encourage ranchers to donate their land’s development rights to local land trusts, creating a conservation easement. In return, landowners get a tax deduction equal to the land’s development value,” says NCBA’s Manager of Legislative Affairs Jason Jordan. “This helps protect agriculture lands from unwanted development pressure, while conserving natural resources and wildlife habitat.”
Senate Could Address Death Tax in the Future -- As part of the Senate budget resolution, a measure offered by Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) was approved March 21st that could pave the way for future actions that will lessen the burden of Death Tax on ranching families.
The Baucus amendment does not actually alter current tax law, but sets aside funds for the Senate Finance Committee to address some form of Death Tax relief within the next five years. The Senate Budget Committee’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget resolution approved previously did not include funding for alterations to the tax code related to Death Tax relief. The Senate will continue consideration of the budget resolution, including the Baucus amendment and possibly additional provisions related to Death Tax reform, later this week on the Senate floor.
Hearing on Brucellosis in Yellowstone National Park -- The House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held an oversight hearing on “Yellowstone National Park Bison” on Tuesday, March 20th. Jim Hagenbarth, a rancher from Dillon, Montana, testified on behalf of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.
The issue is of great concern to ranchers in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) because of the threat of exposure to Brucellosis which currently exists in the elk and bison herds. Hagenbarth’s testimony recommended that USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) develop and implement a Brucellosis elimination plan for the GYA.
“Great strides are being made in disease control, and tools are becoming available that will help us achieve Brucellosis eradication in the GYA elk and bison herds. We need all the interested parties to join together to design a long term plan with solid intermittent steps to achieve the eradication goal,” said Hagenbarth. “The loss of livestock on our western ranges is insignificant compared to the loss of the men and women who own and manage these ranches and have the knowledge, fortitude and love of the land to keep it productive, sustainable and open. If we lose this culture, the GYA and its wildlife habitat and openness will be fragmented beyond recognition.”
Farm Bill Trade Title -- The Senate Ag Committee hosted a hearing on March 21st on the trade title of the Farm Bill. Tim Hamilton, a representative from the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports was among the witnesses. NCBA is a member of the coalition which represents farmers and ranchers, fishermen and forest product producers, cooperatives, small businesses, regional trade organizations, and the State Departments of Agriculture.
Hamilton testified in support of the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program, and recommended that funding for these programs within the 2007 Farm Bill be increased.
“These programs are among the few tools specifically allowed in unlimited amounts under World Trade Organization rules to help American agriculture and American workers remain competitive in a global marketplace still characterized by highly subsidized foreign competition,” said Hamilton. “By any measure, such programs have been tremendously successful and extremely cost-effective in helping maintain and expand U.S. agricultural exports, protect American jobs and strengthen farm income.”
Farm Bill and Rural Development -- The House Ag Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture hosted a hearing on March 21st to review USDA rural development programs and the agency's rural development proposal for the 2007 Farm Bill.
USDA Rural Development funds provide the core services for many of citizens residing in rural communities. “As this subcommittee moves forward in writing a rural development title in the 2007 Farm Bill, it is essential that rural citizens and communities have access and opportunity to flexible development programs that strengthen the fabric of rural America,” said Subcommittee Chairman Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.). “With innovative policies, and a rapidly growing renewable energy industry, there is great hope for more jobs and economic expansion for rural areas,” said Ranking Member Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.).
Supreme Court Hearing on Wilkie v. Robbins -- Oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Wilkie v. Robbins began Monday, March 19th in Washington. The central issue for ranchers is the right of private property owners to deny federal access to their property and the legal options available to property owners for holding federal officials accountable for inappropriate actions. That’s why NCBA, the Public Lands Council (PLC), the Wyoming Public Land Coalition, the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, and the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association have joined together in filing an amicus brief in the suit. The high court is expected to issue a ruling before it adjourns in June.
Partnership for Livestock and Motorized Recreation on Public Lands -- Representatives from the livestock industry, including NCBA and the Public Lands Council, and representatives from motorized recreation organizations met in Denver last week to discuss mutual goals for the use of public lands. Attendees of the meeting agreed to form the Partnership for Livestock and Motorized Recreation on Public Lands, a group that will work “to ensure that motorized recreation and livestock production on public lands exist in a mutually compatible and beneficial manner.” Representatives from the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service range, recreation, planning and law enforcement departments were in attendance to advise the Partnership. Stakeholders will continue to meet in the future.
Johanns Sees Progress on Cellulosic Ethanol -- Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said this week that cellulosic ethanol technologies are showing promise toward helping to meet the growing demand for ethanol-based energy production. Johanns toured a cellulosic research laboratory at Purdue University in Indiana as part of a renewable energy roundtable discussion on March 21st.
"The cellulosic research being conducted is very exciting and I'm confident we are on the right path to meet President Bush's goal to reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent in ten years,” said Johanns. “Our proposals will help our nation to expand beyond corn ethanol toward cellulosic ethanol, which could be produced in virtually every state."
Johanns has promised funds to support research for cellulosic projects, as well as bio-energy and bio-based product research within the energy, conservation, and rural development titles of the Administration's Farm Bill proposal.
Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit -- The Animal Agriculture Alliance held its sixth industry-wide Stakeholders Summit, March 19-21 in Arlington, Virginia. In accordance with the conference theme, ''Animal Welfare: Roadmaps to Successful Solutions,'' sessions focused on the issues of animal welfare, antibiotic use, environmental concerns and public health. Among the speakers, Ron DeHaven, Administrator of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), discussed OIE Animal Welfare Standards and their potential impact. For more details, visit www.animalagalliance.org.
TSCRA Meetings -- NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt will be traveling to Fort Worth to participate in the 130th Annual Convention of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) March 23-26. Other notable speakers on the program include John Queen, NCBA president and cattle producer from North Carolina, and U.S. Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) Administrator James Link. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) are also listed as invited speakers. More information is available at www.tscra.org.
Don't Miss NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen: Tune into NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) this Saturday for an in-depth look at the new Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) "Livestock and Meat Marketing Study," a report done by RTI International on the use and impacts of marketing arrangements in the livestock and meat industries. We will talk to the head of GIPSA, former cattleman Jim Link, and will discuss alternative marketing agreements.
NEXT week’s episode, beginning Tuesday March 27th, will feature a discussion on the national animal identification program with Bruce Knight, the Undersecretary of Agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs at USDA. In addition, we will have an exclusive interview with USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins regarding cattle market trends and the long-term market outlook for 2007.
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, visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org.
Media Contact:
Tanya Augustson Camarra or Karen Batra at 202-347-0228, tacamarra@beef.org or kbatra@beef.org.
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.