2007 CCC Archive
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
September 6, 2007
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 in full or in part. If you’d like to include NCBA’s logo, contact us at 202-347-0228.
Congressional Schedule: Both the House and Senate reconvened on September 4th, following last month’s recess. Appropriations bills will be a priority for Congress in the coming weeks. Senate Farm Bill discussions, originally scheduled for mid-September, are likely to be pushed off until next month while the Senate is preoccupied with debates on Iraq and with confirming a replacement for outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
NCBA also expects Congress to continue discussions on energy policy, environmental issues – such as a proposal to expand the Clean Water Act – and hearings related the pending Free Trade Agreements with Peru, Colombia and Panama. Congress is scheduled to take a brief recess next Thursday and Friday (September 13-14) for Rosh Hashanah.
Korea Resumes Trade of U.S. Beef, but Shipping Mistakes Continue: South Korea resumed imports of U.S. beef late last month except for products from several specific meat-processing facilities that mistakenly sent ineligible shipments to South Korea. Just this week, inspectors found unapproved product in shipments from two separate U.S. plants.
“The protocol we have in place with South Korea is not perfect,” says NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt. “But everyone clearly understands what that protocol means and what products cannot be shipped at this time.”
Key members of Congress agree. In a conference call with the media on September 5th, Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said, "I can't imagine that these errors continue to be made." Nelson emphasized that food safety is not at issue. "It's a compliance issue," he said. "It doesn't help our reputation when we can't get it right. It undermines our credibility."
Current Regulatory Framework is Sufficient to Manage CAFOs: NCBA submitted comments today to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in response to today’s hearing entitled, "An Examination of the Potential Human Health, Water Quality, and Other Impacts of the Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Industry."
“While NCBA members support efforts and work hard every day to ensure that CAFOs are environmentally sound operations, we are concerned that members of this Committee and others may be misled by activists who are opposed to the existence of CAFOs and who want to create the perception that they are problematic for human health and the environment,” NCBA says in its comments.
“The fact is that CAFOs are subject to a vast array of federal, state and local environmental laws and authorities to deal with every conceivable environmental problem presented by them. The Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), soil conservation, dust and odor control and nuisance laws apply broadly throughout the country to provide environmental protection from every aspect of animal agriculture operations.” NCBA also urges Congress to adequately fund the Acts and allow the current regulatory framework to work before embarking on any new approach.
USDA Forecasts Record Ag Exports: Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced last week that USDA forecasts a record $79 billion in agricultural exports for fiscal year 2007. For fiscal year 2008, USDA forecasts exports to reach $83.5 billion, with growth and new sales across all major agricultural product groups. The forecasts eclipse the old record of $68.6 billion set during fiscal year 2006.
"These export numbers, once again, demonstrate that U.S. agricultural products are in high demand around the world," said Johanns. “In short, the world wants what we produce, and at USDA we will continue to work aggressively to maintain and to open markets for our farmers and ranchers."
USDA says beef exports are expected to increase $400 million due to larger volume. "Trade agreements are having a huge impact," said Johanns. "If Congress ratifies the recently signed free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea, Panama and Peru, our producers will have increased access in some extremely important markets."
The summary and full report of USDA's Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Exports is posted on the ERS web site at http://www.ers.usda.gov or the FAS web site at http://www.fas.usda.gov. The next quarterly report will be issued in November 2007.
Costa Rica to Allow U.S. Cattle Imports: USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) announced September 4th that Costa Rica will allow the importation of all U.S. cattle born after the implementation of the United States' 1997 ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban.
"This decision further affirms that the United States' science-based mitigation measures for BSE effectively protect animal health and food safety," said APHIS Administrator Cindy Smith. "We are pleased that Costa Rica is following international standards that support market access for U.S. cattle, and we will continue to urge our other trading partners to do the same."
In May 2007, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) formally classified the United States as a “controlled risk” country for BSE. This status confirms that U.S. BSE regulatory controls are effective and that U.S. cattle of all ages can be safely traded.
Russian Trade Audits Begin Next Week: Russian officials are expected to arrive in the United States next week to conduct a long-awaited series of audits that will finally lead to the resumption of U.S. beef trade.
In November 2006, Russia agreed to an import protocol that included no age or product restrictions upon the United States’ receipt of its OIE “controlled risk” status. Before trade can resume, Russian veterinary officials must complete a series of audits of U.S. processing plants, so NCBA is hopeful that U.S. beef will be moving into the Russian market very soon.
In 2003, Russia was the fifth largest market for U.S. beef and beef product exports in terms of quantity, and the seventh largest in terms of value at $53 million. At present, Russia is the second largest beef importer in the world, behind the United States and ahead of Japan, and is forecast to import more than 900,000 metric tons in 2007.
NCBA Continues Push for Transportation Bill: As Congress returns from August recess, NCBA continues its support for a bill introduced by Reps. Dan Boren (D-Okla.) and Mary Fallin (R-Okla.) on July 19th to raise the federal exemption on the maximum weight for farm vehicles to 26,000 lbs. on a national basis. H.R. 3098 is aimed at amending title 49, United States Code, to provide certain exemptions to drivers of intrastate commercial motor vehicles engaged in agricultural purposes. Currently, this bill has 12 cosponsors, and NCBA’s lobbying staff will be working in the coming weeks to increase support for this legislation. NCBA is supportive of this bill in accordance with member policy which calls for updating the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act to create a uniform mileage exemption for farm use of vehicles over 26,000 pounds.
Fall is a Great Time to Grow Your Grassroots: This fall is shaping up to be a busy one in Congress with the Farm Bill, appropriations, free trade agreements and environmental issues all topping the agenda.
Now is a great time to get active and contact your member of Congress about the issues that matter to you. NCBA offers numerous ways to contact Congress. Visit the BeefUSA website at www.beefusa.org and click on “Call to Action.” This will take you to a site where you can send prewritten letters to your specific members. Also, from that site you can get the contact information for your member of Congress and call their office directly with your concerns.
If you have any additional questions or need additional information about any of the issues outlined in the CCC, please call Elizabeth Bostdorff in NCBA’s Washington office at 202-347-0228 or email ebostdorff@beef.org.
Sign-up for Disaster Relief Programs Begins September 10: Sign-up for the new Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) begins September 10, 2007. The ad hoc disaster programs provide benefits to farmers and ranchers who suffered losses caused by natural disasters in recent years.
LCP compensates livestock producers for feed losses that occurred between January 1, 2005, and February 28, 2007, due to a natural disaster. This can include producers who suffered losses resulting from blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into January 2007.
LIP compensates livestock producers for livestock losses that resulted from natural disasters during the same time period.
More information about LCP and LIP is available in a fact sheet titled, Agricultural Assistance Act of 2007, found on FSA's web site at www.fsa.usda.gov; click on Disaster Assistance Programs.
Codex Meetings: NCBA’s Chief Veterinarian Elizabeth Parker and Director of Food Policy Phyllis Marquitz are in Breckenridge, Colo., September 3-7 for meetings of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods. Codex is the international body that sets food safety standards. More information is posted at http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp.
BIFSCO Meetings: NCBA’s Director of Food Policy Phyllis Marquitz was in Denver for meetings of the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo) on September 5th. Phyllis participated in an advisory panel meeting where discussions took place on E. coli, the global beef study, outreach opportunities for smaller companies, and pre-harvest food safety practices. The group also began planning the next Beef Industry Food Safety Summit scheduled for March 2008.
BIFSCo brings together representatives from all segments of the beef industry to develop industry-wide, science-based strategies to solve the problem of E. coli O157:H7 and other food borne pathogens in beef. Focusing on research and consumer education, BIFSCo is coordinating a broad effort to solve pathogen issues. More information is available at www.bifsco.org.
Smith Named APHIS Administrator: Bruce Knight, USDA’s undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, announced September 5th that Cindy Smith will serve as administrator of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
In her new capacity, Smith will further the APHIS mission of protecting American agriculture and ensuring the health and care of animals and plants. She has been serving as acting administrator since August 3rd, when Dr. Ron DeHaven retired after 28 years with APHIS.
“Cindy Smith a great choice for that challenging position,” says NCBA’s Chief Veterinarian Elizabeth Parker. “She's has a wealth of experience, and we look forward to working with her on the myriad of APHIS issues to protect and enhance our animal health systems.”
Smith began her career with APHIS in 1979. Throughout her years, she has gained diverse experience in a broad range of APHIS programs, including plant protection and quarantine, wildlife services, biotechnology regulatory services and the former biotechnology, biologics and environmental protection unit.
NCBA’s Western Regions to Hold Joint Meeting: Cattlemen from across the western United States are invited to attend a joint meeting of the NCBA western regions, September 28 and 29 in Jackson Hole, Wyo. NCBA Region V includes the states of Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Wyoming, while Region VI is made up of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Cevin Jones, Region V policy vice president from Eden, Idaho, and Greg Moore, Region VI policy vice president from Wagon Mound, N.M., will chair the meeting.
The NCBA Region V and VI meeting is being held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Public Lands Council (PLC). The PLC is an organization of public lands ranchers throughout the West, formed by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, American Sheep Industry and Association of National Grasslands. Registration deadline is September 7. A full meeting agenda, along with hotel and registration information, is available at www.beefusa.org, under the “NCBA Events” section.
For more details on the PLC Annual Meeting, please visit: www.thepubliclandscouncil.org/plc2/Website.pdf. More information is also available by calling NCBA at 866-BEEFUSA or NCBA Western Field Representative Dan McCarty at (406) 855-2815.
Mark Your Calendars For Annual Convention!: The 2008 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show will be held February 6-9 in Reno, Nevada. The meeting will feature joint and individual meetings by NCBA, Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Board, American National CattleWomen, Inc., Cattle-Fax and National Cattlemen's Foundation.
At the NCBA Trade Show, more than 250 companies will offer attendees a chance to see the latest products and services while networking with other cattle producers. In addition, many booths will feature giveaways, games and prize drawings. Whether you are looking for farm vehicles, fencing, feed supplies, animal health products or the latest in technology, you'll find it right here under one roof.
Education, information and networking are the cornerstones of Convention. But it's not all business, there will be lots of time to kick back, relax and enjoy your mini-vacation in Reno. Bring your family along! Additional details and schedule updates are posted at http://www.beefusa.org/convcattleindustryannualconventionandncbatradeshow.aspx.
Don't Miss NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen: This week’s edition of NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen airing September 4-7 will include a discussion on trade issues including an update on the resumption of beef exports to South Korea. In related news, the U.S. Meat Export Federation reports that baseball legend Nolan Ryan is the new “pitch man” for an exciting campaign to promote U.S. beef in Japan.
Also, we’ll give an update on the final rule expected to be released soon by USDA that will expand cattle and beef imports from Canada. NCBA CEO Terry Stokes says that while NCBA has some specific concerns that USDA must address, implementing the rule is an important step toward normalizing beef trade, and it will open up many new export opportunities for U.S. cattle producers.
Cattlemen to Cattlemen will also talk with Dale Rollins, a Texas A&M professor and extension wildlife specialist, about how hunting leases can provide an important supplemental income for farmers and ranchers. And the Cattle Learning Center is back at the Camp Cooley Ranch in Texas, where experts from Purina Mills show you how proper heifer development can make a big difference in the health and profitability of your cattle herd.
In next week’s program airing September 11-15, Brett Stuart of Cattle-Fax will discuss the impact of branded beef programs on the cattle industry. This includes an explanation of how cattle qualifying for a “premium choice” grade can offer a significant return on investment. You’ll also meet the Pennsylvania family honored as the northeast region’s Environmental Stewardship Award winner, and the Kansas family that was named the Beef Improvement Federation’s Seedstock Producer of the Year. Experts from Purina Mills will discuss feed bunk management, and Cattlemen to Cattlemen will also pay a visit to the California State Fair’s Sale of Champions.
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country. The show airs Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. and is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 4:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 10 a.m. All times are Eastern. Make sure YOU tune into NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on channel RFD-TV. For more information or to check out past episodes, visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org.
Media Contact: Karen Batra at 202-347-0228 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.