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).

President Bush Speaks Out on Japan: President Bush discussed Japan’s almost two-year long beef ban on Japanese television this week, “I'm also pleased to see that the food safety commission has ruled that U.S. beef is safe. I'm more than willing to eat U.S. beef, and do -- eat a lot of it,” said President Bush. “I hope that the government decides about opening the market and listens to the safety commission because we feel like not only our beef is safe, but it's an important part of our cattle industry to be able to sell to the Japanese consumer.” The subject came up during an interview regarding next week’s meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Japan remains in the middle of a 28-day comment period regarding the resumption of U.S. beef imports into Japan. Following the comment period, the Japanese Food Safety Commission (FSC) will have up to one week to review the public feedback received and will then submit its final recommendation to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) for regulatory and possibly legislative review. After that, the framework agreement for the resumption of U.S. beef trade with Japan finalized in October 2004 will be revisited as a final check. NCBA expects U.S. beef exports to Japan should resume shortly thereafter. NCBA continues to urge Congress and U.S. negotiators to seek any and all remedies regarding this embargo and urge that unscientific trade barriers are a subject of the upcoming World Trade Organization talks.

Cattle producers are encouraged to send letters to Congress regarding this important issue. Just go to www.beefusa.org and enter your zip code on the upper right-hand corner of the homepage to start the process. More information regarding the U.S.-Japan beef trade issue, including a timeline of events, fact sheet, and press statements, can be found online at http://hill.beef.org/japan.

WTO In-Depth: U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and USDA Secretary Mike Johanns were among the world trade leaders in London, Geneva, and West Africa this week holding meetings to work towards an agreement on world trade issues before the big talks planned for Hong Kong in December. The U.S. delegation will then head to New Delhi, India; Beijing, China; and finally to Korea for the APEC meetings.

Ambassador Portman said this week “I am sorry to report that we've not made the progress that we had hoped to make in order to put together a program for the Hong Kong meeting that would enable us to set forth a framework… I'm hopeful that within the next few weeks we can still make the kind of progress that we'd hoped to make.”

So what happens next? The long-discussed but not yet realized "breakthrough" on the market access section of the agriculture negotiations is still on hold with the European Union holding firm. “Unfortunately, the posturing will likely continue while officials prepare the next agricultural text for Hong Kong, still without a reasonable market access proposal from the European Union,” says NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud. “This is upsetting to NCBA as it strongly suggests that the meeting in Hong Kong will go forward but now it probably won't yet amount to the end-game of the agriculture negotiations." This suggests that early 2006 will represent serious crunch time for this process in order to meet the required end 2006 deadline. "The Europeans are acting like that ornery cow that knows very well where she is supposed to go but is just too stubborn to go there on her own,” says Doud.

While talks continue abroad, NCBA leaders met with various government officials and attended trade policy meetings regarding WTO talks here in Washington, D.C. this week. NCBA continues to urge the importance of 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 continues to urge negotiators to come to a compromise.

Grazing Hearing: Brenda Richards, a ranch operator from Murphy, Idaho, testified November 10 about the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health. Representing NCBA and the Public Lands Council (PLC), Richards said “Businesses, families, and communities cannot fail because the government does not complete paperwork.”

NCBA and PLC have historically worked with agency officials and called for congressional legislation that would prevent interruption of grazing permits while federal agencies struggle to meet environmental documentation obligations required by the grazing permit renewal process. Agencies have been unable to complete NEPA requirements before many permits expire, often requiring the livestock be removed from the land until the renewal process is completed.  This causes disruption and uncertainty for the tens of thousands of small businesses in rural communities that rely on use of public lands for grazing. 

President Signs Ag Appropriations Bill:  At press time, President Bush is expected to sign the $100.2 billion Fiscal Year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill this afternoon in the Oval Office.  NCBA spent countless hours on Capitol Hill this fall to assure cattlemen priorities were considered during the lengthy appropriations process. Congress wrapped up work on this bill with the Senate casting the final votes, 81-18, on November 3.  The Ag Appropriations bill is just the fourth spending bill to be signed into law, even though the fiscal year began more than a month ago.

GAO Report on Feed Testing: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report November 9 titled “An Evaluation of a Small Feed Testing Program FDA Implemented in 2003 With Recommendations for Making the Program a Better Oversight Tool.”  While the report criticizes a feed testing program conducted by the FDA since 2003, it is important to remember that the feed ban, in place since 1997, has been scientifically proven to break the cycle of BSE and, with full compliance, assures BSE is on its way to extinction. FDA reports feed ban compliance exceeds 99 percent.

In addition, the FDA proposed October 4 new measures to further strengthen its feed rule and further minimize the risk of BSE in the United States.  NCBA is finalizing its comments on the rule due December 20, 2005.  NCBA says revisions to the current rule must be science-based and reflect what is needed to best protect the U.S. cattle herd.  Since June 2004, USDA’s Enhanced BSE Surveillance Program has tested over half million targeted animals at highest risk for BSE and has found only one confirmed case, evidence that our system is highly effective. 

South Korea, other Asian Markets: President Bush is heading to South Korea, China, Japan, and Mongolia next week for bilateral meetings and to attend the 13th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' meeting in Busan, South Korea. NCBA expects the continued embargo on U.S. beef in these Asian nations to be a topic of discussion in trade talks next week. This week, Alexander Vershbow, U.S. Ambassador to Republic of Korea, said “we hope that the ROKG [Republic of Korea Government] will resume the U.S. beef imports quickly based on the outcome of its review of the scientific evidence.” The president is scheduled to meet with South Korea President Roh-Moon Hyun November 17 at Gyeongju, South Korea.

Small Business Issues: NCBA participated in a meeting with Democratic leaders of the House Small Business Committee to discuss issues of importance to cattlemen.  NCBA’s Associate Director of Legislative Affairs Colin Woodall spoke on behalf of cattlemen with Ranking Member Nydia Velazques (D-N.Y.), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), John Barrow (D-Ga.), and Mark Udall (D-Colo.).  Issues discussed include agri-business and ranching issues that will shape the next Farm Bill, the high cost of energy and its impact on ranching, and international trade and market access.  Woodall reports that these key members of Congress want a better understanding of the current challenges the cattle industry faces and how they may be of assistance in the future.

USAHA Meeting: NCBA’s Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs Gary Weber was in Hershey, Pa. at the 109th Annual Meeting of the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) and the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), November 3-9.  Topics discussed included Animal Identification, Animal Emergency Preparedness and Management, and Assessment of Risk in the Food Supply. USAHA, the nation's animal health forum for over a century, is a science-based, national organization made up of representatives from  state and federal animal health agencies, other federal government agencies, veterinarians, university researchers, laboratory diagnosticians, wildlife disease experts, producer groups and national allied industry organizations.  USAHA, founded in 1897, addresses issues of animal health and disease control, food safety, public health, homeland security and animal welfare.  

Washington Cattlemen’s Association Meeting: Jeff Eisenberg is in Chelan, Wash. for the Washington Cattlemen’s Association (WCA) 2005 Convention and Trade Show, November 10-12.  Jeff will speak to the group about public lands issues during lunch on Friday.  Also at the Washington meeting, NCBA President and Texas cattlemen Jim McAdams, R-CALF President Leo McDonnell, WCA President Pete Guglielmino, and WCA Vice President Jim Sizemore will participate in a panel discussion and Q&A session. The forum will focus on key issues such as: ESA, Estate Tax, Public Lands Issues, Animal ID, and the future of the industry.

Property Rights Legislation: The House of Representatives voted 376 to 38 to approve H.R. 4128, the “Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005,” November 3.  This bill withholds federal funds for the seizure of property for development by states or localities as allowed by the June 2005 Supreme Court decision Kelo v. City of New London. For ranchers, state and local eminent domain authority expanded by the Court's opinion must be controlled by statute, and NCBA supports all legislative efforts to do so.  The House has acted decisively, and now ranchers must communicate the importance of this issue in the Senate.  Ranchers should contact their Senators and urge them to support S. 1313, the “Protection of Homes, Small Businesses, and Private Property Act of 2005,” or visit http://capwiz.com/beefusa/ to contact your Senators directly.  For more information, contact Jenni Beck jbeck@beef.org or 202-347-0228.

USDA Farm Bill Forums: USDA continues its hosting of multiple farm bill forums across the country.  USDA is conducting the public forums to give ranchers and farmers a voice in developing the 2007 farm bill. NCBA producer-members are encouraged to attend a local forum and participate in these important discussions.  This week, USDA’s Natural Resources and Environment Under Secretary Mark Rey hosted a public forum in Mesquite, Nev.
Future forums are scheduled for: 

• Nov. 12, Kona, Hawaii, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (HST), Sheraton Keauhou Hotel
• Nov. 16, New Brunswick, N.J., 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (EDT), Hilton New Brunswick

For forum transcripts or more information on upcoming forums, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill    

Congressional Breakfast: NCBA hosted a meet-and-greet breakfast with Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) on November 10.  Schmidt was named to represent Ohio’s 2nd district in a special election August 2, 2005 when Rob Portman was named U.S. Trade Representative.  Schmidt sits on the House Ag Committee.

NCBA-PAC Team Penning: NCBA’s Political Action Committee/Political Education Fund will be hosting a team penning competition upcoming Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in Denver this February. NCBA Members are encouraged to ride in the team penning - all skill levels are welcome!  This exciting evening event will be held on Friday, February 3rd beginning at 6:30pm.  It includes 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.  If you are interested in riding please contact Erin Vincent at 202-347-0228 or evincent@beef.org.

NCBA-PAC/PEF to Hold First Annual All-Breed Bull Auction: Don’t miss your chance to bid on some of the best beef genetics and seed stock in the nation while supporting NCBA-PAC.  In conjunction with the 2006 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show, 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; 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 516,496 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.