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).

Cattlemen in Force in Washington:  Hundreds of U.S. cattle producers are in Washington this week for NCBA’s Spring Legislative Conference, March 27-31.  At the cattle industry’s most important policy conference of the year, approximately 400 ranchers are working day and night in meetings with members of Congress and key agency officials to talk about the cattle industry’s priority issues.  Top of mind this week have been calls to permanently repeal the Death Tax, reform the Endangered Species Act, clarify Superfund laws to exempt manure, and continue our work on animal identification.

“At this meeting, cattlemen get to explain to their policymakers the challenges they face everyday on their farms and ranches and suggest ways to improve the laws and regulations that affect us,” says Mike John, Missouri cattleman and NCBA president. “In return, our members of Congress get to hear first-hand from their constituents.  This is a truly valuable exchange for both sides.”

At this year’s conference, sponsored by Elanco Animal Health, NCBA producer-members lined up meetings with an impressive list of officials including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Portman, Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.), Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.), USDA Under Secretary J.B. Penn, USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins, and David Anderson from the Office of Management and Budget.

“Our cattlemen have long and strong relationships with folks in our nation’s Capitol,” says John. “NCBA is highly respected in Washington, and I think that’s why administration and congressional leaders are always so welcoming when the cattlemen come to town.”

Trade, Animal ID and Robust Beef Demand Highlight Talks at USDA:  During Spring Conference’s annual USDA Briefing, Ag Secretary Mike Johanns, Under Secretary J.B. Penn, and USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins updated attendees on issues dealing with BSE and its impact on our trade relations and economic conditions.

Johanns acknowledged the March 13 case of BSE in a ten-year old Alabama cow has caused concern with some key trading partners such as South Korea, which had planned to reopen its market to U.S. beef in coming weeks.  “I would be less than candid if I did not share that this is somewhat of a setback with regard to South Korea,” he said. “But not a day goes by that we are not in consultation with the South Korean government.”  USDA and NCBA continue to push for reopening of that market not only to boneless beef, but also to bone-in products that have historically comprised much of the beef exported to that nation.

On the topic of animal identification, Johanns was questioned about USDA’s plan for having a mandatory system in place by 2009.  Johanns said he shares NCBA’s desire to achieve participation voluntarily, rather than by government mandate.  “Our hope, which I think is the same as yours, is to bring the system along and hit the benchmarks on a voluntary basis,” Johanns said. “But I just think it’s going to be absolutely necessary. Because of the retail market and foreign competition, nobody can afford to be left behind.”

The group was also addressed by Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services J.B. Penn and Chief Economist Keith Collins. Penn provided a global outlook of the progress made in restoring U.S. beef exports and added that China is also a market with tremendous potential.  Collins provided a forecast of market conditions in 2006, saying he expects exports of about 900 million pounds – 30 percent more than last year, but down from 2.5 billion pounds in 2003.  But domestic beef demand, Collins said “remains robust.”

Outback Serves It Up to Record Attendance!  At NCBA’s Annual Spring Conference Reception on Capitol Hill, Outback Steakhouse took the spotlight as a record number of guests gobbled up Outback’s delicious U.S. beef. Nearly 1,800 guests stampeded up the steps of the Longworth House Office Building on March 29 to welcome our Spring Conference attendees and celebrate the important role U.S. beef plays in a thriving food industry.  The event, sponsored by Outback Steakhouse, also hosted a record number of members of Congress who were eager to hear from cattlemen about pressing issues.

Japan Trade Update:  A USDA technical team returned from Japan this week after meeting with Japanese government officials.  Talks continue between the two governments toward easing Japan’s temporary ban on U.S. beef.

"We have had a host of meetings recently with Japanese officials that have left us somewhat encouraged," said Ag Secretary Mike Johanns. “But the fact is we’re growing impatient waiting for the resumption of trade with their country.”

The team was led by Marketing and Regulatory Programs Deputy Under Secretary Chuck Lambert with representatives from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, Agriculture Marketing Service, Foreign Agricultural Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Congressional Schedule:  Congress is back from recess this week.  In addition to their normal work schedules, members of Congress are visiting with our cattlemen in town for Spring Conference. Among the issues being discussed: 

• Superfund:  H.R. 4341 is moooving along in the House of Representatives as cattlemen continue to urge support for legislation that will clarify that manure is not considered a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA/Superfund regulations). This bill now has 95 co-sponsors with 14 new cosponsors signed on since last week!
  
  They are:  Reps. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Charles Boustany (R-La.), Gil Gutknect (R-Minn.), Ernest Istook (R-Okla.), Joe Schwarz (R-Mich.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas),  Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Ken Calvert (R-Cal.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Ray LaHood (R-Ill.), Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), Mary Bono (R-Cal.), Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa), and William Jenkins (R-Tenn.).
  
  Visit http://capwiz.com/beefusa to see a full list of cosponsors.  If your Representative is not yet listed, send a message to them asking them to sign on!
  
• ESA: NCBA and PLC remain hopeful and watchful that the Senate Environmental & Public Works (EPW) Committee could introduce a bill on ESA reform in the near future.  Producers can visit http://capwiz.com/beefusa/ to send a message directly to Senators, urging them to support ESA reform efforts led by the EPW Committee; and producers can visit http://hill.beef.org/ESA/ to share personal stories about how work on their land and operation have been impacted by excessive ESA regulations. 
  
• Death Tax:  NCBA expects the Senate to reconsider legislation to permanently repeal the Death Tax this Spring.  Now is the time for cattlemen to get back in touch with Senators and remind them of the need to repeal this devastating tax.  Producers can contact Senators in Washington via the U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121, or send letters to Senators by clicking on http://capwiz.com/beefusa. Detailed information and analysis on the issue is available as well. Also, producers are asked to submit their story to NCBA and take our 2006 Death Tax Survey at http://hill.beef.org/tax.

Trade With China:  The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing March 29 on “U.S. – China Economic Relations Revisited.”  As Committee members and witnesses outlined trade concerns, reopening the Chinese market to U.S. beef was one of the items topping the list.  Ranking Minority member Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said in regards to beef trade, China has not kept its promises. “China maintains an unjustified, WTO-inconsistent ban on U.S. beef, despite clear scientific evidence that our beef is safe,” said Baucus. 

NCBA, along with administration officials, is hoping much of these concerns can be resolved at the next meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade and prior to the scheduled visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao on April 20. 

Sayres Angus Operation Wins Chesapeake Conservation Award:  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has named the Sayre Family of Waffle Hill Farm in Harford County, Md., its Conservationist of the Year. CBF will honor the Sayres at an awards presentation tonight, March 30, in Annapolis, Md. The award is given annually to honor outstanding service and commitment to the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay.

Lawrason Sayre and his son, Ned Sayre, raise Angus cattle on their 400-acre operation just eight miles from the Chesapeake Bay. The farm has earned national acclaim for its environmental stewardship and innovative conservation practices. NCBA points out that the Sayres are previous winners of our Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP).  The Sayres are also leaders at the state and national level as members of NCBA, and both Lawrason and Ned have served as president of the Maryland Cattlemen’s Association.  Congratulations to theses outstanding NCBA members and their model cattle operation!

BSE Surveillance:  USDA’s Enhanced BSE Surveillance Program continues having already tested over half million high-risk animals for BSE since June 1, 2004.  As of today, the program has tested 667,823 targeted animals at highest risk for BSE and has found only two confirmed cases, evidence that our safeguards are working and the prevalence of this disease in the U.S. is extremely low.  Testing 268,500 animals can detect BSE at a rate of 1 in 10 million adult cattle at a 99 percent confidence level.

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