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).

Japanese Embargo on U.S. Beef Must End: NCBA producer-members expect October 2005 to be considered a critical deadline in the push for resumption of U.S. beef exports to Japan. "It is simply unacceptable for this Japanese embargo to cause further economic damage to our industry," says Jim McAdams, NCBA president and Texas rancher. "We have been extremely patient, giving Japan a generous amount of time to work through its internal processes. But, as of October 2005, it will be a full year since Japanese officials heralded the completion of a framework agreement designed to resume U.S. beef exports to Japan. We’ve given Japan everything it has requested, and a year after this promise the ban on our products has not budged. Our patience is wearing thin."

Japan initially stopped beef trade with the United States on December 24, 2003 based upon the discovery of a BSE-positive cow in Washington that was imported from Canada. After almost a year of deliberations, on October 23, 2004, U.S. and Japanese officials announced a framework agreement to facilitate the resumption of U.S. beef trade. The agreement would be final following completion of regulatory processes in both countries. Ten months later, on August 1, 2005, Japan removed its domestic 100 percent testing requirement and began testing cattle 21 months and older, considered to be a key step.

On September 13, eighteen U.S. Senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, urging her to make the resumption of beef trade with Japan of highest economic priority in upcoming international talks. Over the past two years, members of Congress, top officials within the Bush Administration, NCBA leaders, and even President Bush have discussed the need to resume beef trade with senior Japanese officials. Despite the extensive efforts made by the United States, Japan remains closed to U.S. beef exports. Re-opening this valuable market remains a top priority for NCBA, and we urge continued support from our government leaders at the highest levels.

Animal ID Hearing: Cattle industry leaders and government officials from Canada and Australia told the U.S. House Agriculture Committee today that private-based animal ID systems have proven effective in their countries, and said producer support, a phased-in approach, competitive pricing for ID tags, and minimizing the role of government were key to their system’s success. House Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) convened the hearing today to review Canada’s and Australia’s experience with implementing national animal identification systems.

NCBA is leading the effort to implement an industry-led multi-species national ID program for livestock in the United States, and says early discussions with industry leaders in other countries have helped to shape the U.S. system. Just like producers in Canada and Australia, U.S. producers want to make sure their rights and confidentiality will be protected. An industry-led approach is the best way to alleviate these concerns, and maximize producer participation. NCBA says the U.S. industry program will be coordinated by a consortium of leaders representing multiple species groups, achieve the 48-hour trace-back capability and utilize existing and developing ID technologies. Find more information on NCBA’s efforts to implement a national animal identification system at: http://www.beefusa.org/AnimalID.aspx.

Also In Congress:

-The Senate began confirmation hearings for John Roberts this week, nominated by President Bush to be the next Supreme Court Chief Justice.

-Of importance to cattlemen, the full House passed their Mandatory Price Reporting bill on Wednesday which reauthorizes the program for five years. In the Senate, a bill championed by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) passed by unanimous consent. Grassley and Harkin have requested a GAO report on the program's operation, which is still pending. In the meantime, with such different bills passed in the House and Senate, the fate of Mandatory Price Reporting is uncertain.

-In debate on appropriations, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) offered an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill, which if adopted, would have prohibited the United States from negotiating any agreement, bilateral or in the World Trade Organization, which would modify U.S. trade remedy laws, such as safeguards. The vote on this amendment failed 39-60.

-NCBA, along with 19 other national agriculture and food organizations lobbied against the Dorgan amendment and urged support for an amendment offered by Sen. Grassley that would ensure that funds can only be utilized to negotiate trade agreements that preserve the ability of the United States to vigorously enforce U.S. trade laws. The Grassley amendment passed 99-0 this afternoon. These votes ensure that every tool is available to our trade negotiators to conclude fair, equitable and commercially meaningful trade agreements for the food and agricultural sector and reaffirm the principles set out by the Trade Act of 2002.

-After the CJS bill is completed, Congress will continue work on the Ag Appropriations Bill which is likely to contain a number of amendments of importance to cattlemen.

PLC Annual Meeting This Week: This week, members of the Public Lands Council (PLC) convened in Cottonwood, Arizona for their PLC Annual Meeting, September 13 – 15. Among the priority issues discussed by PLC members were Endangered Species Act reform and property rights and eminent domain legislation. The PLC gathering also included a conservation range tour and workshop sponsored by the Environmental Stewardship Awards Program (ESAP), where previous ESAP winners and conservation experts with the National Resources Conservation Service showcased examples of environmental and conservation projects on cattle operations. For more information on ESAP or our conservation workshops, contact Stacey Katseanes at NCBA skatseanes@beef.org or 202-347-0228.

Property Rights: Focus in Washington and across the countryside continues to be on the issue of property rights and the possible implications from the Supreme Court’s June 23 Kelo v. City of New London decision. One week after the controversial ruling was handed down, the House or Representatives, by a margin of ten to one, passed a motion disagreeing with the Court. Since then, at least 5 bills have been introduced in Congress to help remedy the situation, but it will ultimately be up to state legislatures to truly overturn the decision at the local level.

Protecting private property rights is one of the founding principles of NCBA dating back to 1898, and cattlemen agree that the court’s decision is deeply troubling to anybody who believes in civil liberties and a limited government. Under the rationale of the majority decision, government bodies now have authority to condemn property (including ranches and farms) and/or convert it if it is found to have a higher economic value.

In her dissent to the ruling, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote: "All private property is now vulnerable to being taken and transferred to another private owner, so as long as it might be upgraded. The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Northing is to prevent [local governments] from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory."

It’s important that cattlemen continue to make their voices heard on this issue.

WTO Hormone Ban Proceedings: U.S. and European Union (EU) lawyers debated the EU beef hormone ban on U.S. beef during the pubic proceedings of a Dispute Settlement Panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva this week. This is the first time ever a legal proceeding is open for public viewing. The proceedings ran September 12-15. The panel was asked to rule on the EU's complaint against U.S. and Canadian sanctions on EU imports resulting from their ban on U.S. beef. The current EU ban on U.S. hormone-treated beef was already found to be an illegal trade barrier by the WTO, violating international trade rules, and not at all based on sound science. This EU beef ban is pure protectionism, and U.S. cattlemen will continue to fight the EU on this matter. We look forward to the outcome of these proceedings. A ruling is expected to take as long as nine months.

NCBA Hears from EU Ag Commissioner: The European Union’s Agriculture Commissioner, the Honorable Mariann Fischer Boel, spoke to NCBA and other food/commodity industry groups this week in Washington D.C. during an event at the National Press Club. The Commissioner discussed complex trade issues between the U.S. and the European Union, including the long-standing question of agricultural subsidies and the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. The CAP dates from the early 1960s, but the Commissioner discussed changes in the CAP for the future.

Eliminating Trade Barriers: Also this week, U.S. and EU negotiators met to discuss trade barriers in preparation for the upcoming WTO talks in Geneva. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Commissioner Boel conducted meetings and discussed a compromise deal on agriculture in the current global trade negotiations. There is substantial work that needs to be done over the next few months, before the upcoming Hong Kong meetings, in the hopes of bringing the Doha Round to a successful conclusion by the end of 2006.

Bush Challenges Subsidies: President Bush addressed the United Nations High-Level Plenary Meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York this week challenging all nations to eliminate trade barriers and subsidies. "We must work together in the Doha negotiations to eliminate agricultural subsidies that distort trade and stunt development, and to eliminate tariffs and other barriers to open markets for farmers around the world," said the President. "Today I broaden the challenge by making this pledge: The United States is ready to eliminate all tariffs, subsidies and other barriers to free flow of goods and services as other nations do the same. This is key to overcoming poverty in the world's poorest nations. It's essential we promote prosperity and opportunity for all nations."

Japanese Election: Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won national elections, giving Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi an extension to his four and a half year term. The landslide victory Sunday boosted his LDP’s standing in the lawmaking lower house by nearly 20 percent and gave ruling lawmakers a two-thirds majority. Koizumi is considered an ally of President Bush, and NCBA will continue its urging for the re-opening of Japanese export markets for U.S. beef.

Codex Meetings in Japan Next Week: NCBA Director of Food Policy Leah Wilkinson will be headed to Chiba, Japan this weekend as part of the U.S. Government's Delegation to the Codex task force on biotechnology. The task force is having its first meeting September 19-23 and will be addressing topics for new work. It is expected that the task force will discuss an animal biotechnology topic, and NCBA will be there to advise the U.S. Delegate regarding NCBA positions on such work. While NCBA and the U.S. government feel that it is premature to hold such discussions on animal biotechnology, a majority of other countries want to debate such a topic. If an animal topic is addressed, NCBA will urge the U.S. Delegate to ensure that the discussions remain science-based and only on issues under the Codex mandate of food safety and not on animal welfare, environment or ethics.

The Japan Offspring Fund and International Association of Consumer Food Organization (IACFO) have permission to do an online radio broadcast of the talks. If you would like to listen in, go to IACFO Codex Blog: http://iacfo.blogs.com/codex/.

Katrina Update: NCBA is coordinating a massive relief effort on behalf of its members and state and national partners to help cattlemen around the country assist the farming and ranching families in need during this tragic time. NCBA is working in cooperation with its state affiliate staff in the impacted states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to facilitate this relief effort. NCBA set up a Disaster Relief Fund through its National Cattlemen’s Foundation during the 2004 hurricane season. For a summary of what is being done and what is still needed, contact John Braly or Courtney Pollock of NCBA at 1-866-BEEFUSA.

Drought/Disaster Relief: The USDA announced this week they are designating counties in Kansas, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas and Virginia as primary agricultural disaster areas making certain farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers in the counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). The counties were designated as primary disaster areas due to losses caused by severe storms, unseasonable rain, heavy winds, and drought. Producers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency loans to help cover part of their actual losses. For more information, go to http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/FullStory.asp?StoryID=2185.

EPA Guide on Wetlands: The Environmental Protection Agency has recently published the "National Management Measures to Protect and Restore Wetlands and Riparian Areas for the Abatement of Nonpoint Source Pollution," a technical guidance and reference document for use by state, territory, and authorized tribal managers as well as the public. This guide will assist readers in the implementation of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution management programs. The guide gives information on the best available, economically achievable means of reducing nonpoint source pollution through the protection and restoration of wetlands and riparian areas, as well as the implementation of vegetated treatment systems. For more information or to download, go to: http://epa.gov/owow/nps/wetmeasures/.

NCBA Political Action Committee Upcoming Events: NCBA-PAC is a valuable tool in helping to promote the legislative priorities of the beef cattle industry in Washington, D.C. NCBA-PAC helps fund the campaigns of candidates for the U.S. House and Senate that understand and support the beef cattle industry. NCBA-PAC depends on individual contributions to be able to continue its important work on your behalf. The upcoming 2006 Convention in Denver will be an important fundraising venue for NCBA-PAC. Here are some of the events planned:

-NCBA-PAC Silent Auction: The NCBA-PAC Silent Auction would love your goods. The booth runs Wednesday, February 1s- Saturday, February 4 (Trade Show Booth #2330). Contact Erin Vincent, evincent@beef.org or 202-347-0228 if you would like to contribute.

-NCBA-PAC Team Penning and Barn Dance: Sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health. Always the highlight of the Convention, the NCBA-PAC evening event sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health will take place on Friday, February 3 at 6:00pm. The evening will feature a team penning competition, and 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. Mark you calendars now.

-First Annual NCBA-PAC/PEF All-Breed Bull Auction: This all-breed bull sale featuring bulls and sale credits from across the nation is a first for NCBA-PAC. Don’t miss your chance to bid on some of the best bulls in the country while supporting your PAC. The auction will take place on Thursday, February 2 at 2:00pm in the Trade Show. Don’t miss this event.

-Ski Train Trip to Winter Park: A great finish to a great week- take the ski train to Winter Park and spend the day skiing, taking a snow cat tour, or simply having lunch and window shopping. Winter Park has something for everyone. Make sure to get your tickets early, this trip has limited tickets.

For information on participating in these events and competitions, please contact Erin Vincent at 202-347-0228 or evincent@beef.org.

BSE Surveillance: To date, USDA’s Enhanced BSE Surveillance Program has tested 465,150 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.  

This publication is funded by cattle producers and other industry supporters through their voluntary membership contributions to NCBA. To join the tens of thousands of cattle producers from across the U.S. in working to preserve our legacy, contact NCBA Member Services at 1-866-BEEF-USA or Membership@beef.org.