2005 CCC Archive
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
May 5, 2005
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).
Country-of-Origin Labeling: House Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR), and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced the "Meat Promotion Act of 2005" (H.R. 2068) on May 4. The legislation calls for implementing a voluntary country-of-origin labeling program for the meat sector and is designed to benefit U.S. food producers by promoting American-grown foods. The bill currently has 34 co-sponsors. Cattle producers should contact their members of Congress to support and co-sponsor H.R. 2068.
NCBA, which has long supported the concept of country-of-origin labeling, says the Meat Promotion Act can finally move country-of-origin labeling forward in a common-sense and cost-effective manner. What separates this effort from other country-of-origin labeling programs debated in the past?
- The Meat Promotion Act puts the marketplace in charge. Food producers are in the business of meeting consumer demand. Where that demand is demonstrated, more products labeled with country-of-origin will become available.
- Opportunity for broad participation. This program does not discriminate against any groups in the food production, retail or food service sectors. The program is open to everyone who wants to participate. More participation equals more promotion of U.S. products!
- Successful models already exist. Under this bill, USDA will implement a labeling program that will be similar to the many voluntary labeling programs that currently exist. Hundreds of programs that label products by region, state and U.S. brand have already proven their value for producers and consumers alike.
Dominican Republic Considering CAFTA-DR this week: The Dominican Republic Senate began consideration of the U.S.–Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) on May 3. Having already achieved approval in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, the agreement still must be passed in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the United States, in addition to the Dominican Republic.
Sec. Rice Urges CAFTA-DR Support: NCBA continues pushing for final passage of the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement and is urging all members to contact their members of Congress to reiterate why this is a great deal for agriculture. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said April 29 "We will work very, very hard to pass CAFTA because we believe that it is very good for the region, for Central America, but it's also good for the United States because then we can trade freely with good and hardworking people...especially in our hemisphere." For localized state information for writing letters-to-the editor or opinion editorials in your state, please contact Tanya Augustson, taugustson@beef.org. Also, visit NCBA’s web site at
http://hill.beef.org/cafta, or go to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative online at www.ustr.gov and click on the CAFTA-DR Briefing Book.
USDA Seeking Producer Input on Animal ID:
USDA announced today the release of a discussion paper and asked for input from producers across the country on animal identification. "The documents we're releasing today offer a draft plan to move the public discussion forward on this important initiative," said Ag Secretary Mike Johanns. "I'm eager to hear from farmers and ranchers so we can develop a final plan."
NCBA’s Animal ID Commission is actively engaged in the development of an animal ID program where data would be maintained and controlled by a network within the private sector. NCBA wants to ensure that the development of any national database would protect producer privacy (confidential business information) and be operated in such a way that meets official needs (48-hour traceback) for information in the most efficient means possible.
NCBA urges producers across the country to participate in the discussion on this issue and submit comments on the materials USDA released today. USDA says they will take comments until June 6, 2005. More information is posted on USDA’s Animal ID web site at http://www.usda.gov/nais and will be published in the Federal Register.
USDA Announces Roadless Rule: Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced May 5 the final rule for conservation and management of inventoried roadless areas within national forests in cooperation with the nation’s governors. This final rule elevates the role of states and private citizens in managing roadless areas and protects the private and state-owned lands affected by roadless management plans. More than 48,400 acres of state lands and more than 418,900 acres of private property fall within the boundaries of the existing inventoried roadless areas.
Federal courts struck down three previous national roadless rules for their failure to address the rule’s impact at the local level. The USDA is hopeful this rule will provide environmental benefits and consider the needs of local communities in its roadless area conservation efforts.
Secretary Johanns also announced the establishment of a national advisory committee to assist in implementing this rule. National organizations affected by roadless area conservation are invited to submit nominations for this committee. For further details on the final rule or the advisory committee, visit www.roadless.fs.fed.us.
Codex: The U.S. Government submitted comments to the Codex Alimentarius regarding new work for the Ad Hoc Task Force on Biotechnology. Codex is the international body that sets food safety standards. It has been proposed that this Task Force work to establish guidelines for the safety of animals derived from biotechnology. In the comments submitted, the U.S. questioned whether there was appropriate experience in this area to consider the topic at this time. They also stated they would not approve of a topic revolving around cloned animals. NCBA had urged the U.S. Government to take these positions in comments given during the public comment period. The Task Force will hold it's first meeting in September where it will consider all comments received and establish their new work topics.
Taiwan Update: U.S. beef is now moving to Taiwan for the first time since that market closed to U.S. beef due the December 23, 2003 BSE case. According to U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. beef product was "quickly snapped up by foodservice operators and retailers who found customers willing to line up for U.S. beef….As of the end of last week, all major retailers were reporting problems keeping product on the shelves." NCBA remains hopeful that U.S. beef’s popularity in Taiwan will generate interest by South Korea and Japan to reopen their markets as soon as possible.
Portman Confirmation/WTO meetings: NCBA applauds the Senate confirmation of Rob Portman April 29 to be the U.S. Trade Representative. Senate sources say Portman’s confirmation was done quickly so he could attend World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings in Paris this week. According to media reports from Paris, negotiators at the WTO meetings reached an agreement on how to standardize the calculation of farm tariffs. This development allows Doha Round discussions to move past a significant hurdle in the ag sector.
Budget: Congress passed their FY'06 budget resolution on April 29. The House vote was 214-211; the Senate vote was 52-47. As part of the reconciliation instructions, the agriculture sector will have to trim $3 billion from mandatory spending programs over the next 3 years. It is now up to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to specify which programs will be cut. The committees have been instructed to have legislation in place by September 16 that outlines which programs will be cut. Overall, the budget resolution calls for $34.7 billion in mandatory program cuts.
Farm Bill Listening Sessions: Ag Secretary Mike Johanns announced May 2 that USDA will conduct a nationwide series of listening sessions. In preparation for debate on the new Farm Bill, USDA wants to ask farmers and ranchers how farm policy is affecting them and how USDA might make that policy better. Johanns says "I feel strongly that America's entire ag community should have a say in the process." USDA will release details on the sessions in the near future.
EQIP Listening Session: NCBA is encouraging producers to submit comments on USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). A national public listening session was held May 5 in Washington, but written comments will be accepted through June 5. USDA-NRCS will use the information gathered from the sessions to prepare for the 2006 program year. More information is posted at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/index.html#eqiplisteningsession.
NAFB: The National Association of Farm Broadcaster’s (NAFB) annual "Washington Watch" meeting took place this week May 1-3, 2005. On May 1, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt, Chief Economist Gregg Doud and Public Affairs Director Karen Batra gathered at the annual Issues Forum and gave nearly 30 on-site interviews to farm broadcasters. Issues of interest included trade with Canada, Japan, and South Korea; CAFTA-DR; Death Tax; Animal ID; and the Beef Checkoff case.
North American Agrifood Market Integration Workshop: NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud is in San Antonio this week attending the 2nd Annual North American Agrifood Market Integration Workshop sponsored by Texas A&M University. Gregg is speaking as part of a panel discussion Thursday afternoon about the Kansas State Study on the economic impacts of BSE on the cattle industry.
Save the Date for NCBA-PAC Golf Tournament!: Tuesday, July 26 is the date of the NCBA-PAC Golf Tournament at NCBA’s Summer Conference in Denver, Colorado. The tournament will be held at Arrowhead Golf Club in Littleton, CO. The ticket price is $150.00 and includes transportation, green fees, cart rental, range balls, on course refreshments and a chuck wagon buffet. All proceeds will benefit NCBA-PAC/PEF. NCBA-PAC makes the voices of cattle producers heard on Capitol Hill by supporting members of Congress who speak for and protect our policy initiatives.
Congressional Schedule: The House is in session this week, but the Senate is out on Spring Recess. The Senate reconvenes Monday, May 11.
USDA Surveillance for BSE: USDA continues its enhanced BSE surveillance program which began June 1. To date, 339,271 tests have been conducted with no positive cases reported. APHIS’s goal is to test as many cattle from the high-risk population as possible in a 12- to 18-month period. 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
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