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). Please feel free to reprint.

Congressional Schedule:  Congress has recessed to work on the campaign trail prior to the November 7 mid-term elections.  Both Houses are expected to reconvene November 13.

FDA's Regulation of Hay: NCBA has been working to address concerns regarding the implementation of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 as it relates to hay transport and sale.  Earlier this spring, NCBA sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach regarding our concerns and opposing the potential recordkeeping requirements for processing and selling hay. 

As it relates to livestock producers feeding or processing hay, FDA will NOT require recordkeeping of eligible "farms" who either harvest/process hay for feeding on their own operation or for those farms who sell hay to another eligible farm. Furthermore, hay that is transported by vehicles licensed to eligible farms will not require recordkeeping either.

In many states, this regulation is already set to be implemented.  To ensure the regulation is being implemented as directed by FDA, NCBA is asking for input from state affiliates.  FDA released a guidance document September 26 that provides further details about this regulation.  It was published in the Federal Register last week and is now open for public comment.  As FDA has already finalized its rule, the comment period on this guidance document is open-ended.  The full document is available at:  http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/recguid4.html.

NCBA encourages affiliates and stakeholders to review the FDA guidance document and contact Jenni Beck at jbeck@beef.org if you feel your state is not implementing this rule correctly.   NCBA will submit comments based on your feedback.  This is an important opportunity for states that are experiencing problems to speak up in an official way. 

USDA Announces CME Price Reporting Change:  USDA has agreed to begin accepting feeder cattle prices reported on a “delivered” basis with a freight adjustment for inclusion in Livestock and Grain Market News livestock reports.  NCBA has communicated producer concerns regarding limitations the agency had in place on the types of cattle sales they would accept for inclusion in their reports which the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) uses for calculation of the CME Feeder Cattle Index.  “This alteration will allow producers receiving feeder cattle on a delivered basis to convert the price paid to free on board (F.O.B.) by subtracting out the transport costs they incurred,” said Jason Jordan, NCBA’s manager of legislative affairs.

As producers begin to report these delivered transactions, USDA will compile the information and make it publicly available for a period of time in order to illustrate the impact of this alteration before including delivered transactions in its reports.  Also, understanding that cattle are often sold on even weights, USDA will begin including 850 lb. animals in the 800-849 lb. weight category.  “Open communication and information sharing have led to this distinct change in USDA policy,” said Jordan. “Producers are strongly encouraged to report all of their cattle trades both on a F.O.B. basis, and delivered with a freight adjustment.  This will increase the volume of animals going into calculation of the Index, and ensure that it is a true representation of current market conditions.”

Mexico Opens to U.S. Dairy Heifers: USDA Secretary Mike Johanns announced October 4 that Mexico will resume importation of live registered U.S. dairy heifers less than 24 months of age.  U.S. cattlemen are in strong support of this first step toward full restoration of live cattle trade between the U.S. and Mexico, which is a top priority that we continue to emphasize to both U.S. and Mexican leadership.

“My goal is to restore the once-vibrant live cattle commerce between the United States and Mexico and to do so in accordance with science-based international guidelines," said Johanns.  “It’s our understanding that Mexico is making full resumption of trade in breeding stock from the U.S. to Mexico contingent upon trade negotiations with Canada,”  says Jay Truitt, NCBA’s vice president of government affairs. 

U.S. producers are able to export dairy heifers to Mexico that are under 24 months of age and registered with a purebred dairy breed association or the Dairy Herd Improvement Association. Shipments to Mexico began October 4.  In 2003, the United States exported $103 million worth of dairy heifers to Mexico.

Cattlemen Pushing Superfund Bills Over Recess:  NCBA continues to urge support for a pair of bills in Congress which will clarify that manure should not be regulated under Superfund laws.  Congress adjourned September 29, but cattlemen are encouraged to continue stressing the importance of this legislation with your U.S. Senators and Representatives back home or by contacting their offices.  In the Senate, S. 3681 currently has 35 co-sponsors with Senator Jim Bunning (R-Ken.) signing on since last week!  In the House, H.R. 4341 currently has 189 co-sponsors with Reps. Jim Matheson (D-Utah), Harold Rogers (R-Ken.) and Rick Larson (D-Wash.) signing on since last week! 

Visit http://capwiz.com/beefusa to see a full list of co-sponsors.  If your Senator or Representative has not yet signed on as a supporter, send a message to them asking them to sign on and communicate to them about the importance of this issue! 

Five Nations Beef Conference: Missouri cattle producer and NCBA President Mike John and NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doug are heading to New Zealand and Australia at the end of the week to attend the Five Nations Beef Conference. Attending the conference will be the cattle producer organizations from the world’s largest beef producing nations: Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and the United States. Leaders from the five nations will discuss key industry issues such as international trade reform, animal ID, food safety, and harmonization of animal health standards.

Taiwan FTA: NCBA hosted a meeting October 2 with representatives from Taiwan to discuss views on a possible free trade agreement between the U.S. and Taiwan, one of the top consumers of U.S. beef exports in the world.  The government of Taiwan lifted its BSE-imposed ban on U.S. beef exports January 25, 2006.  Currently, Taiwan accepts U.S. boneless beef from animals under 30 months of age.  In 2003, the United States exported more than $76 million worth of beef and beef variety meats to Taiwan, with boneless beef products accounting for $56 million.  Through July 2006, imports of U.S. boneless beef and beef variety meats to Taiwan is valued at almost $58 million.

In related news, the FSIS requirements for exports to Taiwan were updated this week.  Effective with an October 9, 2006 slaughter date, beef derived from cattle imported from Canada for immediate slaughter is not eligible for export to Taiwan. Beef derived from Canadian slaughter cattle prior to that date continues to be eligible. The export requirements are posted in USDA’s website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/Taiwan_Requirements/index.asp.

EPA Administrator Checking Out Real Dust:  NCBA is currently reviewing the hundreds of pages outlining the EPA’s final rule on fugitive dust, released on September 21, which lacks scientific validity and is based on flawed assumptions regarding coarse particulate matter (coarse PM) concentration levels. Reportedly, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Stephen Johnson, has accepted an invitation from Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) to visit agricultural areas of Iowa.

In reaction to the dust rule, Senator Grassley called for a hearing on the matter and invited Administrator Johnson to Iowa to give him "the opportunity to see what America’s farmers are confronted with when harvesting," said Grassley.  “Iowa farmers should not have to worry about whether or not they have legal protection because of dust from their normal course of operations.”  NCBA is reviewing the final rule and is considering a number of options to help producers deal with the impacts of this regulation. The final rule is posted at http://www.epa.gov/air/particles/actions.html.

Election Countdown:  The 2006 mid-term Congressional elections are just about a month away, and if you’re undecided about candidates in your state, the time is NOW to research their background and voting record. The polls are continuing to show a possible rebalance in both houses of Congress. U.S. cattle producers should be urging friends, family and neighbors to get out and vote for the candidates that understand agriculture, support our livelihood, and will stand up for cattle producers in Washington D.C.

This year, we’ve made it especially easy for you to find out about the candidates in your state online. Just go to http://capwiz.com/beefusa and click on the “Election” section! If you have any questions about which candidates are best for the cattle industry, do not hesitate to contact our D.C. office, at 202-347-0228.

Eller Appointed USDA Deputy Under Secretary:  USDA has announced that J. Burton Eller, Jr., will be Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP).  Eller will assist Under Secretary Bruce Knight and work with Deputy Under Secretary Dr. Chuck Lambert to oversee the management of USDA's MRP mission area. MRP agencies are active participants in setting national and international agricultural standards. Agencies within USDA that make up the MRP mission area include the Agricultural Marketing Service; Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration.

Previously, Eller served as Director of the Office of External Affairs for USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).  Eller served as NCBA’s Executive Vice President for Public Policy until 1996.  Eller grew up on a livestock farm in Marion, Va., which he still maintains. He holds a bachelor's degree in animal science and a Master's degree in physiology from Virginia Tech.

Beef Industry Vision Award: The National Cattlemen’s Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2007 Beef Industry Vision Award. The award recognizes folks in the cattle industry who have developed innovative strategies that have enhanced their business and the industry as a whole.  Up to seven regional finalists will be selected from the applications received, and one recipient will be named the national Vision Award winner.

The national winner will receive a cash award and a trip to the 2007 Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Nashville, held January 31 – February 3. Applications should focus on a specific concept and its effect on the beef industry.

Applications and all supporting material must be received by November 30, 2006. 

The Beef Industry Vision Award program is sponsored by Micro Beef Technologies in cooperation with the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. For more information go to www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org or call 303-850-3388.

Cooperative Conservation Listening Sessions: Listening sessions on cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships hosted by the Secretaries of Interior, Commerce and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality continue this month.  Discussions will focus on how the government can better work with local communities and landowners to protect the environment and promote conservation.  In a joint statement, the agencies said they want to better respect the interests of people with ownership in land, water, and other natural resources.  An upcoming session is scheduled in Boise, Idaho on October 9. 

Written comments on cooperative conservation may be submitted by October 13, 2006 to:

Cooperative Conservation Assistant
Department of the Interior
Mail Stop 5258
1849 C St. NW
Washington DC 20240

For more information on locations and session schedules, go to: http://cooperativeconservation.gov/sessions.

Association of National Grasslands Annual Meeting:  NCBA’s Director of Federal Lands Jeff Eisenberg is in Lisbon, North Dakota, this week for the annual meeting of the Association of National Grasslands (ANG).  Eisenberg is also executive director of the Public Lands Council which represents public lands ranchers through ANG, NCBA and the American Sheep Industry Association.

Annual CCC Event Upcoming:  NCBA is coordinating and co-hosting the 20th annual "Corn, Cotton, and Cattle" (CCC) Party scheduled for Sunday, October 29 at Whitestone Farm in Aldie, Virginia.  That's right! - this year's event marks 20 years of CCC gatherings celebrating agriculture in our nation's capital! Each year, this annual event brings hundreds of Washington D.C. policymakers, members of the media, and agriculture industry representatives together for outdoor fall fun and networking. The event is hosted by NCBA, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Cotton Council.  For more information, call 202-347-0228.

Media Contact:
Tanya Augustson Camarra or Karen Batra at 202-347-0228, tacamarra@beef.org or kbatra@beef.org.