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 Urge Exemption of Manure from Superfund Rules:  In Congressional testimony this week, NCBA stated cattle operations should not be subject to Superfund laws, manure is not a Superfund material, and fields using manure as a natural fertilizer are not Superfund sites.  In recent years, some have suggested Superfund laws [Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980 and Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986] should be applied to manure from animal feeding, farming and ranching operations.  The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials addressed the issue in a hearing November 16. “Manure is natural, and it’s downright absurd to suggest this organic fertilizer should suddenly be regulated under Superfund laws,” says NCBA Director of Environmental Issues Tamara McCann Thies. “Manure management is already well-regulated under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and countless state laws.” NCBA is supporting Congressional legislation to clarify manure’s exemption from Superfund. 

Cattlemen Participation Needed on CERCLA Issue:  A bill which would clarify CERCLA to exclude manure from consideration as a hazardous substance was introduced November 17 by Representatives Ralph Hall (R-Texas) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and 28 of their colleagues in the House.  It is important for all cattle producers and livestock operators to clearly communicate to their members of Congress that livestock manure is NOT a Superfund material and cattle operations are NOT Superfund sites.  Furthermore, we must stress that now is the time for Congress to clarify its original intent for the CERCLA/EPCRA statues.  NCBA producer-members can visit http://capwiz.com/beefusa where they will find more information on how to communicate with members of Congress about this issue and urge support for H.R. 4341. 

Previously, this issue has primarily affected large-scale cattle operations.  However, if opponents of animal agriculture are successful in their efforts to bring manure under Superfund regulations, any cattle producer that spreads manure on a pasture or provides it for use as a fertilizer is subject to EPA's Superfund laws, originally intended to address hazardous and toxic industrial chemical spills.

President Bush Visits Japan, Discusses Beef Trade:  In a letter to President Bush this week, NCBA urged the president to continue his push for immediate access into Japan for U.S. beef and more specifically access for U.S. beef from cattle over 20 months of age.  President Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi this week, and the resumption of U.S. beef imports into Japan was a top issue of discussion. President Bush told the media that the two leaders talked about resumption of beef trade, and stated that the Japanese government “has confirmed that U.S. beef would be safe. And I appreciate the fact that we're progressing on this issue.” A copy of the letter is posted at http://hill.beef.org/pdfs/housekoreaftaletter.pdf.

Japan remains in the middle of a 28-day comment period regarding the resumption of U.S. beef imports into Japan. NCBA continues to urge Congress and U.S. negotiators to seek any and all remedies regarding this embargo. Cattle producers are encouraged to send letters to Congress, by using our Cap Wiz function at www.beefusa.org. Enter your zip code on the upper right-hand corner of the homepage to start the process.

Korean Free Trade Agreement: NCBA is working with Congress this week to garner support for the launch of a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea. Led by Korea Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) and Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), 27 members of the House of Representatives, sent a letter to President Bush encouraging him to launch free trade agreement negotiations with South Korea.  A potential FTA with Korea is expected to be discussed at meetings in Asia this week, along with the WTO Doha round negotiations.  While Korea still has a ban on U.S. beef the letter clearly states that this agriculture issue must be resolved prior to launching negotiations. Currently, U.S. cattle and beef producers face some of the highest tariffs in the world in this market at 40 percent.  Prior to BSE in 2003, South Korea was one of our largest export markets worth over $815 million annually, second to Japan.

USDA Wants to Accelerate Action on Canadian Border:  USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrator Ron DeHaven said they want to open the Canadian border to cattle over 30 months of age by the middle of next year, according to media reports this week.  After closing the border in May 2003 because of a case of BSE in Canada, the United States went through a lengthy rulemaking period to establish minimal risk regions and resume trade of Canadian beef and cattle less than 30 months of age. On July 18, 2005, the first load of animals crossed the Canadian border on its way to a packer in Pennsylvania.  Since 2003, Canada has dramatically increased their own slaughter capacity.  Currently, Canada is able to process approximately 90,000 head per week and has a goal of processing 110,000 head (fed and non-fed slaughter) per week. 

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): President Bush’s travels this week include discussions with nations which are potentially huge markets for U.S. beef, including South Korea, China, and Japan. The president will be in Busan, Republic of Korea for the 13th Leaders' Meeting November 18-19, where he will continue his dialogue with APEC Leaders on ways to promote free trade and economic growth, and deepen regional security cooperation. The President met with President Roh Moo-Hyun in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea today, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on November 16, and will travel to Beijing, China on November 19 at the invitation of President Hu Jintao and to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to meet with President Enkhbayar on November 21. Beef trade issues and discussions regarding the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization talks are key concerns for cattle producers.

Grizzly Could Be Delisted from ESA:  Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced this week that the greater Yellowstone population of grizzly bears has achieved recovery goals and the bear could be delisted from the list of federal endangered species.  This is good news for ranchers who graze cattle in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho and this action could remove some of the restrictions that have been placed on them.  ESA listings often require that ranchers remove livestock from grazing areas determined to be “conflict areas.” In some circumstances, ranchers have actually lost their grazing allotments in areas inhabited by grizzly bears.  Ranchers are supporting congressional efforts to reform the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and promote participation in voluntary conservation efforts at the local level.  NCBA believes local partnerships can achieve conservation goals more effectively than mandated federal listings.  The proposal to delist the grizzly bear was published in the November 17 Federal Register.  More information is posted at http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov. 

WTO Debates Continue: This week, upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) talks continue to lead international headlines. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman is urging China and other Asian countries to get more aggressively involved in WTO negotiations ahead of the decisive conference. Members of the WTO must agree to cut farm subsidies and break down export barriers at the ministerial conference in Hong Kong in mid-December. The U.S. hopes the APEC meetings in South Korea opening on Friday will issue a strong statement in favor of agricultural subsidy reforms. While talks continue abroad, NCBA continues to meet with leaders with various government officials and attended trade policy meetings regarding WTO talks here in Washington, D.C. this week. NCBA continues to push for expanded market access for U.S. beef and reiterate trade priorities for the U.S. cattle industry. NCBA will attend the Hong Kong meetings and urges negotiators to come to a compromise.

Crowder Nominated to be Chief Agriculture Trade Negotiator:  Cattlemen are applauding the nomination of Richard Crowder to be the next Chief Agriculture Trade Negotiator at the Office of the U. S. Trade Representative (USTR). “Trade is critical to U.S. cattlemen and to our ability to increase profitability,” says Jay Truitt, NCBA’s vice president of government affairs.  “Richard Crowder brings with him extensive experience in the trade arena and an aggressive approach to trade negotiations, consistent with President Bush’s trade agenda.” 

U.S./Canada Meetings:  NCBA CEO Terry Stokes and Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs Gary Weber are in Ottawa, Canada for a joint Canada/U.S.–industry and government meeting on issues related to North American trade of live cattle and beef products. The group discussed the results of a three-year study on the presence of a competent Bluetongue vector in Canada.  This research has important implications with respect to Canadian Bluetongue-related import policies for live cattle which will also be discussed.  In the afternoon, the group will examine the CFIA and FDA proposals for animal feed and discuss their implications for the future of the North American industry.

California/Nevada Cattlemen’s Convention this Week:  NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud is in Reno, Nev. for the annual convention of the California and Nevada Cattlemen’s Associations, November 16-18. Gregg spoke on the program Thursday morning on federal marketing, trade and animal ID issues, and addressed luncheon attendees Thursday afternoon in a keynote address that focused on the upcoming WTO meetings and the status of Asian export markets.

Cloning Website:  The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and other industry leaders have launched a website on livestock cloning. With the pending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision on the safety of meat and milk products from the offspring of cloned livestock, the new website – www.clonesafety.org – features fact sheets, peer reviewed research and the latest consumer opinion research.

USDA Farm Bill Forums:  USDA wrapped up its previously-scheduled national farm bill public forums this week.  On Wednesday, November 16, USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Tom Dorr hosted stakeholders in New Brunswick, N.J.  USDA is conducting the public forums to give ranchers and farmers a voice in developing the 2007 farm bill. For information on future forum dates or to read transcripts from previous forums, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. 

NCBA-PAC Team Penning: NCBA’s Political Action Committee is excited about hosting its first ever team penning competition at the upcoming Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in Denver! The evening event will be held on Friday, February 3rd beginning at 6:30pm.  It will include the team penning finals, and a delicious steak fry dinner followed by a barn dance with live entertainment by James Lann and Branded, a talented up and coming country band from Texas.  The event is sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health. Space is limited so don’t forget to order tickets when pre-registering for the 2006 Convention.  NCBA Members are also encouraged to ride in the team penning which begins at 8:00am on Friday February 3rd.  All skill levels are welcome!  If you are interested in riding please contact Erin Vincent at 202-347-0228 or evincent@beef.org.

NCBA-PAC/PEF All-Breed Bull Auction:  Also at the 2006 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show, attendees can bid on some of the best beef genetics and seed stock in the nation – and support NCBA-PAC at the same time!  NCBA’s PAC/PEF will host a bull sale during the “exclusive trade show hours” on Thursday, February 2 at 2:00pm next to booth #2330. Attendees will be provided a detailed sale catalogue including pedigree, ultrasound data, and EPD information for each lot (where applicable). Donations of seedstock and sale credits will be accepted until Friday, January 13, 2006. Offerings to date include contributions from: Marshall Cattle Company, Burlington, Colo.; Aristocrat Angus Ranch, Platteville, Colo.; Southern Cattle Company, Marianna, Fla.; Three Trees Ranch, Sharpsburg, Ga.; Fink Beef Genetics, Manhattan, Kan.; Gardiner Angus Ranch, Ashland, Kan.; Lyons Ranch, Manhattan, Kan; Coldwater Cattle Co., Holly Springs, Miss; and Ekker Herefords, Vernon, Utah. To make a donation please contact Erin Vincent at 202-347-0228 or evincent@beef.org. 

BSE Surveillance:  USDA’s Enhanced BSE Surveillance Program reached its half million mark, testing over half million high-risk animals for BSE since June 1, 2004.  As of today, the program has tested 522,678 targeted animals at highest risk for BSE and has found only one confirmed case, evidence that our firewalls 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