"Senate Farm Bill making progress, but several amendments could be damaging to cattle industry: WOODALL"

After hitting an impasse last month, the Senate has reached some degree of compromise on the Farm Bill and it is making rapid progress this week. An agreement limiting each party to 20 amendments has helped advance the debate. Colin Woodall, executive director of legislative affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), says the progress is encouraging, but some of the proposed amendments could seriously damage the cattle industry.

Cut #1          :27          Outcue:  "... the U.S. cattle business."

Woodall says an amendment sponsored by Sen. Charles Grassley (D-Iowa) would create a task force to review mergers and competition issues in agriculture. While this idea may have surface appeal, it could cause problems for some ventures that have proven to be very profitable for cattle producers. 

Cut #2          :27          Outcue:   "… for value-added beef."

An amendment by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) could also pose a threat to marketing alliances and value-added branded beef programs by encouraging frivolous litigation.

Cut #3          :38          Outcue:  "… that type of liability."

Contrary to popular belief, marketing alliances and value-added programs are not the exclusive domain of large cattle feeders. Woodall says these programs benefit thousands of cattle  producers of every size and type of operation.

Cut #4          :41          Outcue:  "… in killing these."

A portion of the Senate Farm Bill that is very much needed is the language on mandatory country-of-origin labeling (M-COOL). Woodall says this language isn’t perfect, but it’s a major improvement over the current statute – which is set to take effect in Sept. 2008.

Cut #5          :36          Outcue:  "… bit more palatable."