Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns: October 23, 2003

The 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 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Country-of-Origin Labeling:

We are expecting, any day now, the USDA’s publication of the mandatory country-of-origin labeling cost-benefit analysis and proposed rule. The release of this rule will be followed by a comment period, where all interested parties and producers may respond. USDA will then take into account all of the comments and issue a final rule. Upon this release, NCBA will immediately review the proposed rule and cost-benefit analysis. Recent press coverage regarding the impending rule reports that the mandatory program could cost as much as $3.9 billion to implement in the first year alone. NCBA continues to meet with members of Congress to discuss pursuit of a market-driven, producer-friendly labeling program consistent with the policy NCBA members adopted at the summer board meeting.  NCBA members Jamie Willrett and Lemmy Wilson were in Washington D.C. this week for meetings with members of Congress and the Administration on COL.  Wilson is Chair of NCBA’s Livestock Marketing Council and Willrett is a member of the USDA’s Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets.

Animal ID: 

NCBA and state affiliates met this week to discuss the necessary next steps in the development of a national animal identification system. We continue to be highly involved in the discussions and development of a future national identification system. At last week’s U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) 107th Annual Meeting in San Diego, the animal health industry leaders accepted the draft U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) proposed by the National Animal Identification Development Team as a work in progress. The Plan defines the standards and framework for implementing a phased-in national animal identification program. USAHA encouraged further refinement of the plan and implementation through the following Guiding Principles:

--The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), state animal health authorities, and species specific groups should work to finalize and implement standards associated with the development and administration of the premises identification system and the U.S. animal identification numbering system in a timely manner, and develop the information systems necessary to support them.

--The USDA should coordinate the organization of species specific groups to determine the final design, implementation process and oversight methods necessary for the national animal identification system for their respective species. 

-- The USDA should work with state animal health officials and the species groups to develop minimum standards necessary to implement minimum standards necessary to implement the USAIP.

NCBA CEO Terry Stokes and Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs Gary Weber, along with NCBA producer/members and affiliates including J. Lee Alley (AL), John Maas (CA), Allen Bright (NE), Wade Moser (ND), Gary Wilson (OH), Matt Brockman (TX), and Ross Wilson (TX) worked with other USAHA members and the USAIP committees to craft the resolution. NCBA will coordinate and lead this effort in the bovine species group. NCBA will focus on protecting producers’ interests – including issues of confidentiality – while ensuring the health and safety of our cattle herd.

Trade Talks:

Dana Hauck, Kansas feedlot operator, is visiting the nation’s capital this week to attend the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) on Animals and Animal Products meeting. Hauck, along with Montana cattle producer Jim Peterson, was selected in 2001 to represent cattle producers nationwide. This is an exclusive opportunity for farmers and ranchers to meet with Washington D.C.’s top international trade officials. These cattlemen make recommendations to the USDA Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative on major trade issues. The committees were formed by Congress in 1974, to ensure an ongoing liaison between the federal government and the private sector regarding agricultural trade issues.  New members are selected every two years. The concerns and benefits of numerous free trade agreements (FTAs) and multi-lateral World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations are discussed. NCBA is honored to have members that are a part of this critical team.

NAS Study on Klamath:

A report released October 22 by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) found no substantial scientific support linking irrigation in the Klamath basin to the welfare of endangered fish. The findings contained in "Endangered and Threatened Fishes in the Klamath River Basin: Causes of Decline and Strategies for Recovery" should lessen the likelihood that irrigation restrictions will be principally relied on to help the fish as has been the case in the past.  The Endangered Species Act (ESA) required higher water levels to protect endangered suckers and higher flows to protect threatened coho salmon.  The Klamath Project delivers irrigation water to 220,000 acres of farm land in Oregon, Washington, and southern California, and the restrictions forced farmers and ranchers who use the water for irrigation on their operations to cut back, further damaging already drought-stricken farmland.

North/Central American Trade:

NCBA cattlemen met with Canadian, Mexican, and Central American cattlemen this week in Houston, Texas.  Representing U.S. producer interests was Jim McAdams, Texas producer and NCBA officer, Bob McCan, President of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Dana Hauck, Kansas feedlot operator and co-chair of the U.S./Mexico Cross Border Working Group, and David Winters, Texas producer and member of the Working Group. The international contingent came together to discuss top North and Central American trade and animal heath issues affecting cattle producers from Canada to Panama.  NCBA continues to be actively involved in international trade discussions addressing North and Central American beef trade concerns.

New Trade Agreements:

NCBA and other members of the Washington D.C. beef trade community are asking the Bush Administration for specific new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that will offer the best export market opportunities for U.S. cattle producers. We are asking that the following countries be considered for Free Trade Agreements: Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, Colombia and the Ukraine. NCBA continues to support the reduction of trade barriers on a bilateral and regional basis as well as on a multilaterally, but a full World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement will provide the single largest gain to the beef industry.

Rural Telecommunications: 

NCBA Director of Legislative Affairs Bryan Dierlam spoke on behalf of the nation’s agricultural and rural areas this week as part of a panel discussion on telephone and telecommunication services and the FCC’s universal service programs.  The briefing for Congressional staff highlighted the need for federal support for rural areas where the costs for basic telecommunication services come at unreasonably high prices.  Dierlam pointed out that some ranchers and farmers still talk on party lines and cannot receive email attachments because of the high-cost of telecommunications infrastructure improvements.

Food Safety: 
A vaccine and feed additive can reduce the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 in feedlot cattle, according to a research study released by the University of Nebraska. The vaccine,along with the feed additive lactobacillus acidophilus, were tested on more than 1,100 cattle over the past two summers under typical feedlot conditions, with positive results. The vaccine reduced E. coli prevalence an average of 59 percent compared with the control group, and was developed by Canadian biopharmaceutical company Bioniche Life Sciences. The feed additive, marketed as Bovamine and already in use on a number of feedlots, reduced the prevalence of E. coli 35 percent compared with the control group.  A combination of the vaccine and feed additive showed the best results, the study says. 

Media Contact:

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

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