2005 CCC Archive
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).
NCBA, Congress Call for Immediate Action on Japan: NCBA President and Texas cattleman Jim McAdams testified September 28 before the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of cattle producers nationwide. During the House Ways and Means Committee hearing attended by hoards of press and Capitol Hill leadership, McAdams told Congress there is absolutely no scientific explanation for Japan’s continued ban on U.S. beef products.
McAdams cited the October 2004 framework agreement under which the United States and Japan would begin resuming two-way trade in beef and beef products. “The United States has been extremely patient with Japan, fully responding to all requests for information and giving them a generous amount of time to work through internal processes,” says McAdams. “With no end in sight, we encourage our lawmakers to evaluate every measure possible to regain access to Japan for U.S. beef and beef products. The United States has played by the rules and honored its commitments. Now it is time for Japan to do the same and to lift the ban on U.S. beef.”
Senate Prepares Sanction Legislation: NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt is meeting with key Senate leaders to discuss possible legislation calling for economic sanctions on Japan. Truitt points to losses by the U.S. cattle and beef industries estimated at $1.7 billion annually since Japan closed its market to U.S. beef. “We have to do everything we can to protect the business climate for our producers,” says Truitt. “It’s unacceptable for this prolonged embargo to cause further economic damage to our industry.” Senate leaders say Japan’s Food Safety Commission has politicized this debate for too long. With almost a half a million high-risk animals tested for BSE under USDA’s enhanced BSE surveillance program, and only one new case discovered, this is clearly not an issue of food safety.
In related news, NCBA continues to look for support for House Resolution 137 introduced by Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan) which calls for Japan to meet its trade obligations under the agreement reached in October 2004 or be subject to retaliatory economic measures. The resolution currently has 80 co-sponsors.
Japan Food Safety Commission Stalls Border Re-Opening: Japan’s Food Safety Commission met September 26 to discuss lifting its 20-month ban on U.S. beef but said the panel “is in no hurry to make a decision.” NCBA charges that the Commission, an independent non-government panel, is making unscientific statements about the safety of U.S. beef and is feeding misinformation to Japanese consumers. NCBA President Jim McAdams says “such impeding deferral tactics reveal that this export freeze has become nothing more than an unjustified trade barrier, and these false statements must be addressed. The U.S. beef supply is the safest, most regulated and revered in the world.”
ESA Reform Sees Quick Passage in House: America’s endangered species scored a victory September 29 when the U.S. House passed H.R. 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (TESRA) by a vote of 229-193. House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) introduced the bill September 19 along with Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) in an effort to update and reform an outdated Endangered Species Act (ESA) which has recovered less than 1 percent of species listed. Ranchers strongly support the legislation, which gives a common-sense approach to species recovery and land management. As the only national trade group representing cattle producers on environmental issues, NCBA says cattlemen were dealt a huge victory today. NCBA producer-members are encouraged to urge the same support for legislation in the Senate.
Environmental Protection and Grazing Co-Exist: NCBA member and California cattleman Mike Byrne testified on behalf of the cattle industry at the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests hearing on grazing issues September 28. Byrne cited specific grazing issues which ranchers feel need addressing by the U.S. Congress. Including: (1) Interruption of grazing permits due to the National Environmental Policy Act or the National Historic Preservation Act; (2) Balance between grazing and river protection; (3) Release of Wilderness Study Areas; (4) Bureau of Land Management’s revised Grazing Regulations; and (5) Reform of the Endangered Species Act.
Also testifying was Colorado State University Wildlife Biologist Dr. Rick Knight. A noted wildlife biologist, Dr. Knight said cattle ranching enhances biodiversity. He chastised politically-motivated attempts to end public lands grazing. “The reciprocal demonization of ranchers and environmentalists – the so-called ‘rangeland conflict’ – has dominated public debate for too long. It has not contributed to on-the-ground solutions,” says Knight. “It has divided people who might otherwise be united by common goals: the conservation of magnificent open spaces, scarce water resources, and imperiled wildlife. If it continues, both sides will lose what they purport to defend.”
Animal ID Program on Track: On September 28 Rick Stott, Idaho cattle producer and member of NCBA’s Animal ID Commission, gave members of the U.S. House Ag Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture an update on development of a privately-coordinated database to support the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Stott says current efforts are focused on developing a national database implementation strategy and assembling an independent, multi-species non-profit consortium to administer the program. Explaining the three phases of implementing the NAIS, Stott says “cooperation between government and industry will be crucial.”
- Development of premises systems: The premises ID phase of the NAIS is now being implemented by USDA and each state’s animal health department and acts as the foundation for the entire NAIS.
- Development of an identification database: This is the backbone to the entire NAIS and the focus of NCBA’s efforts.
- Implementation of the NAIS throughout the industry: The most difficult and expensive phase of the process, this will require a coordinated effort between all segments of the industry, USDA, state governments, and service providers.
Find more information on NCBA’s efforts to implement a national animal identification system at: http://www.beefusa.org/AnimalID.aspx.
USDA to Host Meeting on Animal ID: In related news, the USDA announced they will host a public meeting to discuss development of a privatized animal movement tracking database under the National Animal Identification System. The meeting, open to stakeholders and members of the public, will be held October 12, in Kansas City, Mo. Topics to be discussed at the meeting include:
- The formation of a new mechanism to provide ongoing oversight of the privatized animal tracking database, representing all necessary industry sectors.
- The required system specifications and user requirements necessary to support animal health surveillance programs and trace-back investigations.
More information is posted at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepro.html.
USDA Announces CRP Contract Re-Enrollments, Extensions: Ranchers and farmers can re-enroll or extend their Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expiring in 2007 through 2010. CRP is a voluntary program which helps protect environmentally sensitive land. Participants in CRP plant long-term, resource conservation covers with USDA providing rental payments and cost-share assistance. Among the environmental benefits that have resulted from CRP enrollments:
- Reductions in soil erosion and increased air quality due to less airborne contamination
- A decline in sediment and nutrient runoff into rivers and streams
- Increased wildlife habitat and species numbers including: Ducks, Ring-Necked Pheasant, Grasshopper Sparrow, Lark Bunting, Eastern Meadowlark, Prairie Chickens, Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse, and Western state populations of big game Elk, Mule Deer, White-Tailed Deer and Pronghorn Antelope.
For more information on the CRP program, contact your local FSA office or visit the FSA Web site at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
Trade Meetings: NCBA Producer-members are in Washington D.C. this week for trade policy meetings. Former NCBA President and Iowa cattle producer Wythe Willey participated in meetings of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN). ACTPN, the principal trade advisory committee of the United States, was established by Congress under the Trade Act of 1974, and directly advises U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman on trade policy decisions.
In addition, the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) held meetings this week. Illinois cow/calf producer Jamie Willrett and Iowa cattle producer Gene Wiese participated in that meeting along with NCBA’s Chief Economist Gregg Doud. The ATAC advises the Ag Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative on a wide variety of technical sanitary and phytosanitary issues related to existing and future trade agreements.
At current 12 free trade agreements are being negotiated that account for $2.4 billion in U.S. ag exports, and there are 25 countries in negotiations with the United States as part of their acceptance into the World Trade Organization (WTO). Additionally, the USTR is preparing for the next round of WTO negotiations in Hong Kong in December.
Codex Authorizes Animal Project: The Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology held its first meeting September 19-23, in Chiba, Japan. NCBA’s Director of Food Policy Leah Wilkinson participated as part of the U.S. Delegation where the Task Force determined new work projects to be addressed over the next four years. Wilkinson reports that a recombinant DNA (r-DNA) Animal Project was supported by the majority of countries present, and the Task Force agreed to move forward with the topic. A working group was established with 18 member countries (including the United States) and 7 non-governmental organizations. The group will be chaired by Australia and co-chaired by Japan. The working group’s first meeting is tentatively scheduled for early 2006, where they will begin work on development of a guideline for conducting a food safety assessment of foods derived from r-DNA animals.
NCBA and the U.S. delegation are concerned that this topic may prompt some countries to suggest pursuing cloning, ethics, animal welfare, and environmental issues even though it is not within the scope of work. NCBA says it will insist the discussions remain science-based and only on issues under the Codex mandate of food safety.
FDA Staff News: FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford resigned his position September 23. Crawford served as Deputy Commissioner, Acting Commissioner and Commissioner at FDA for the past three and a half years. NCBA Chief Executive Office Terry Stokes says Crawford’s departure was sad news for America’s cattlemen. “As a veterinarian having worked in many different sectors, Dr. Crawford applied his diverse background in academia, agriculture and scientific research to contribute mightily to the FDA and for the public good,” says Stokes. “His unwavering commitment to protecting animal and public health, as well as enhancing food safety for consumers across the country, led to sound, science-based policy for which we all strive in our work each day.” Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, Director of the National Cancer Institute, has been named acting commissioner of the FDA.
Roberts Confirmed, Sworn In as Chief Justice: The Senate confirmed John Roberts as chief justice of the United States today by a vote of 78-22. Roberts was sworn in a White House ceremony this afternoon. The Supreme Court begins its new term on Monday, October 3, with Roberts serving as Chief Justice. Next, debate will focus on the nomination of an associate justice to replace the retiring Sandra Day O'Connor.
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: Fink Beef Genetics, Manhattan, KS; Aristocrat Angus Ranch, Platteville, CO; Three Tree Ranch, Sharpsburg, GA. To make a donation please contact Erin Vincent at 202-347-0228 or evincent@beef.org.
TSCRA Meeting: Gregg Doud will travel to Abilene, Texas for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Fall Board Meeting, September 29-October 1. Gregg is scheduled to address attendees at Saturday’s General Session where he will speak on “How Does Texas Factor into Today’s World Beef Market?”
BSE Surveillance: To date, USDA’s Enhanced BSE Surveillance Program has tested 478,050 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
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