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).

Cattle Call to Kill the Death Tax: Farmers and ranchers from across the nation are preparing for the 2006 Capitol Hill call-in day to urge permanent repeal of the Death Tax, set for next Tuesday, May 9. A vote on the issue is expected in the Senate this spring.

“On Tuesday May 9th, we urge farmers and ranchers to pick up the phone and call their Senators on Capitol Hill,” says NCBA President and Missouri cattle producer Mike John. “Explain first-hand how the Death Tax has hurt your family business and how it has been devastating for many agriculture operations across the country. A few minutes of your time can make a world of difference in Washington, D.C.”

For more than 20 years, members of NCBA have been working for full and permanent repeal of the Death Tax, and the upcoming Senate vote is a big one. “Now’s the time to rally the troops,” urges John. “Join NCBA in this cattle call to continue our long-term fight against the Death Tax.”

U.S. Senators can be reached via the Capitol Hill switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or individual office numbers can be found on NCBA’s website at http://hill.beef.org/pdfs/109thSenateContacts.pdf.  Contact Jenni Beck in NCBA’s D.C. office with questions, jbeck@beef.org or (202) 347-0228. 

Superfund:  Cattlemen continue to urge support for H.R. 4341 in the House of Representatives.  This legislation 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 142 co-sponsors with 10 new cosponsors signed on since last week!  They are Reps. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), John Barrow (D-Ga.), Jim Nussle (R-Iowa), Jim Leach (R-Iowa), Mark Souder (R-Ind.), Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), John Sweeney (R-N.Y.), Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.), Timothy Johnson (R-Ill.), and Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.).

Visit http://capwiz.com/beefusa to see a full list of co-sponsors.  If your Representative is not yet listed, send a message to them asking them to sign on!

WTO Update:  The American Business Coalition for Doha (ABCDoha), of which NCBA is a member, sent a letter this week to WTO Trade Ministers expressing disappointment with the lack of progress on agriculture negotiations. 

The letter says: “In Hong Kong, Ministers instructed negotiators to reach agreement by April 30 on methodologies for market opening. Regrettably, little was accomplished in the intervening four months.” The letter urges WTO members to work toward a successful and timely conclusion to the Doha Round which could boost the world economy by $300 billion over the next decade.  “Negotiations involve give and take - all Members must contribute if they expect to benefit,” the letter says. “The time to stop posturing and make tough decisions is now. If the Doha Round is allowed to fail, everyone loses.”

ABCDoha represents more than 200 leading U.S. companies, associations, and other organizations. The letter is posted at http://hill.beef.org/pdfs/ABCDohaMinistersltr.pdf.

USDA Releases BSE Prevalence Data:  USDA announced April 28 an estimate of the prevalence of BSE in the United States based upon data obtained through their Enhanced Surveillance Program and through surveillance conducted in the United States for the 5 years prior.  In their statement, USDA said “The findings indicate that the most likely number of cases present in the United States is between 4 and 7 animals. Therefore, USDA concludes that the prevalence of the disease in the United States is less than 1 case per million adult cattle, based on an adult cattle population in this country of 42 million animals.”  The data is still subject to additional peer review which is expected to be completed by the end of May.  USDA says at that time they will consider moving toward “a level of testing more appropriate for country with minimal risk.”

USDA’s Enhanced BSE Surveillance Program continues to test targeted animals identified as most likely to have the disease.  Since June 1, 2004, the program has tested 702,958 cattle and has found only two confirmed cases, evidence that our safeguards are working and the prevalence of BSE 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.

Korean Trade Update:  Korean officials will fan out across the United States beginning next week to visit more than thirty U.S. beef processing facilities that could potentially ship U.S. beef to South Korea.  Media reports quote Korean officials saying they intend to put measures in place that will allow U.S. beef to be sold locally beginning in early June pending final government approval. 

South Korean Free Trade Agreement:  In related news, the first U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation meetings are scheduled for the week of June 5 in Washington, D.C. 

NCBA is supportive of an FTA with South Korea as this market holds tremendous potential for U.S. cattlemen.  Historically, South Korea represents the third largest market for U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports at $815 million in 2003.  But NCBA points to three key areas of concern that must be addressed with these negotiations:

• Full normalization of beef trade with South Korea,
• Significant initial reductions and the eventual full elimination of all tariffs on U.S. beef products, and
• Resolution of important sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues.

The Korean Free Trade Agreement Business Coalition's website is a good source of general information on these negotiations:  http://www.uskoreafta.org/portal/koreafta/default

Prairie Dog Working Group:  The U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Dakota Dept. of Agriculture, and South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks are developing a Prairie Dog Habitat Review Committee to look at Prairie Dog concerns in South Dakota and Nebraska. 

As part of this effort, a focus group is being formed consisting of four ranchers, four conservationists and four local county commissioners.  The focus group will serve as an information conduit between the committee and their constituent groups and offer science-related questions and information to help guide the work of the committee.  Participants say they hope to complete the work this summer.

In October 2005, rancher-members of the NCBA and Public Lands Council (PLC) convened meetings in South Dakota with national and regional officials to seek assistance for ranchers and landowners in dealing with prairie dog populations on rangelands. 

USDA Announces Sign-Up for 2005 Hurricane Assistance Programs:  USDA announced May 1 details on some of the specifics for assistance programs to help farmers and ranchers impacted by the 2005 hurricanes.  Sign-ups for these programs will begin on May 17, 2006. 

The four programs - Livestock Indemnity Program, Feed Indemnity Program, Hurricane Indemnity Program and Tree Indemnity Program - are funded through Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935. Johanns authorized the use of $250 million from Section 32 funds in October 2005 for crop disaster, livestock, tree and aquaculture assistance.

To be eligible for this assistance, a producer's loss must have occurred in one of 261 counties that received a primary presidential or secretarial disaster designation due to 2005 Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia, Rita or Wilma.  Assistance is unavailable with respect to losses in contiguous counties.  A list of the eligible counties in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas along with more information is available at: http://www.usda.gov/HurricaneInfo.xml.

NAFB Events:  The National Association of Farm Broadcasters wrapped up its Annual Washington Watch meeting this week.  At the NAFB’s Issues Forum on May 1, NCBA spokespersons Jay Truitt, Gregg Doud, and Colin Woodall gave interviews on trade issues, animal ID, farm bill development, the Superfund issue, Death Tax, and BSE-related issues.  Washington Watch hosts farm broadcasters from across the country in Washington for an intensive agenda of meetings with government groups, members of Congress, and industry leaders. 

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