CONTACT:          Joe Schuele, (303) 850-3360, jschuele@beef.org

                                Tanya Augustson, (202) 347-0228, taugustson@beef.org  

Taking Control Back from the Courts

Jim McAdams, cattleman, Adkins, Texas, and president, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

July 15, 2005

“Because our trade issues landed in the courts, we now have a court ruling coming during the peak of our marketing.   I for one am hoping we can put these court battles behind us so producers can regain control over the decisions that impact their profitability.   We have too much yet to get done to distract ourselves with judicial panels and trial lawyers.

“First and foremost, this entire industry, despite wins or losses, needs to put its collective muscle behind reopening our Asian markets.  NCBA CEO Terry Stokes and the DC team are on Capitol Hill as I write this, speaking with the Department of Agriculture and Congress.  They are continuing the push to get our borders open for U.S. beef exports based on the science that says beef is safe from BSE and the fact that the United States has the mitigating measures in place to protect consumers and our cattle herd.  Yesterday’s decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit can provide an impetus to insist on beef trade with markets that remain closed. 

“We need to put repeal of the Death Tax front and center, too.  Before the end of the month, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on full and permanent repeal of this tax.  The U.S. House has already passed it.  NCBA is lobbying hard on your behalf, and we need you to reach out to lawmakers and let them know the Death Tax needs to die.  Opponents are coming out of the woodwork, suggesting this tax is not a threat to farmers and ranchers.  Now is the time to put your calls in, send your letters and emails.  Your Senators need to hear your personal stories so they can understand why death should not be a taxable event.

“In the House, a vote on the U.S. Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is expected soon.  Your Congressmen need to hear from you.  NCBA’s producer members support CAFTA-DR because it levels the playing field for U.S. beef in these countries.  Did you know beef from Central America has been coming into the United States duty-free and they have never met their quotas?  Meanwhile, U.S. beef into these countries is saddled with tariffs as high as 40 percent.  There’s nothing fair about that.  Furthermore, neither Brazil nor Argentina has exported a single live cow to any of these nations in at least ten years. If someone was really hatching an elaborate scheme to flood the United States with South American beef, it would already be happening under the existing duty-free agreement.  Finally, the United States maintains the right to restrict or prohibit any product that would present a risk.  So let’s get back to business.  We are all frustrated at the snail’s pace by which we are regaining our export markets.  Here is a chance to establish a fair trade agreement.  Let your Congressmen know they should vote ‘Yes’ to CAFTA-DR.

“BSE has received an inordinate amount of our attention.  Despite testing more than 400,000 animals in the enhanced BSE Surveillance Program, we have only found one positive animal, which was born well before the feed ban and never entered the food or feed supply. 

“When it comes to BSE, NCBA is going to continue to work hard on cattlemen’s behalf to protect consumer confidence, build demand for beef and ensure our regulatory agencies only adopt measures that are scientifically warranted.  Implementing practices that are not justified by science only cost taxpayers and cattlemen hard-earned money.

“But we have many issues to address.  There’s too much at stake that can impact the future of cattlemen that deserves our attention.”

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